Giving Compass' Take:

• Workplaces in the development sector could be doing a better job of building safer spaces for women that protect them from sexual violence, especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement. 

• There are actions that workplaces can take at both the micro and macro level to create safer working environments for women. How is your employer contributing to safer environments? How are donors increasing awareness of this issue? 

• Learn about the work of the Women's Funding Network. 

The #MeToo movement gave voice to the existing pandemic of sexual violence globally, especially against women. Sexual violence against women was (and is) being perpetrated in every space–our homes, the streets, and the workplace.

While there have been seismic shifts in the conversations around sexual harassment and violence against women, active change has been slow. Corporate workplaces may lag behind in creating safe spaces and inclusive cultures to prevent sexual harassment, but workplaces in the development sector aren’t doing any better.

Here’s a short guide to how your workplace can do better.

  • drafting an Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy and ensuring its adoption and dissemination amongst all stakeholders;
  • setting up and training the Internal Complaints Committee; and
  • sharing information about sexual harassment, and building a workplace culture where complaints are met with integrity and no retaliation.

While legal compliance is an important first step, it does not resolve the problem. Deeper reflection is needed on what can make workplaces safer.

Effectively addressing workplace sexual harassment requires changing internal cultures and systems that enable such violence to continue. We have highlighted the need to transcend simple legal compliance and create shifts in workplace culture. Simultaneously, macro-level changes are also required to make workplaces safe and nurturing.

  1. Building feminist leadership  
  2. Putting values to work 
  3. Psychological safety 
  4. Radical transparency and accountability 
  5.  Responsibility for correction

Read the full article about building safer workplaces for women by Vandita Morarka at India Development Review.