In a concerted effort to combat Sexual
and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the workplace, Oxfam in Ghana, Women in Law
and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), and the Institute of Directors, Ghana
(IOD-Ghana) are set to organize a groundbreaking national conference on Tuesday,
December 19th, 2023, in Accra.
The meeting, dubbed ‘The Draft Model;
Gender Workplace Policy’, is part of the five-year ENOUGH initiative in Ghana,
which is co-funded by the European Union and Oxfam to combat SGBV. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for revolutionary change in Ghana's workplaces by
encouraging the implementation of gender-inclusive policies, notably
anti-sexual harassment measures, in both public and private companies.
Recognizing the relationship between
cultural norms and business environments, the initiative incorporates an
anti-sexual harassment policy approach to build safe, egalitarian, and
respectful workplaces.
The conference promises to have at least
12 organizations commit to implementing these policies and sign Memoranda of
Understanding, demonstrating their commitment to fostering safe and inclusive
workplaces, as well as a detailed presentation and discussion on the EU ENOUGH
project's Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy model, emphasizing its comprehensive
nature and redress measures to protect employees, particularly women.
Attendees will benefit from a comparison
of the proposed model policy to international standards, demonstrating how such
regulations comply with global norms and promote gender equality.
Panel discussions and case studies will
show how gender-inclusive policies improve business culture, employee
well-being, and productivity. Participants will be encouraged to share their
experiences and debate the practical application of anti-sexual harassment policies
during interactive sessions. Key stakeholders, such as board chairpersons,
directors, CEOs, senior managers, and group executives, have been invited to
the conference.
This conference marks an important point
in Ghana's pursuit of gender equity in the workplace, providing a forum for
cooperation, information exchange, and real commitments to building safe and
inclusive working environments. It also intends to have interactive sessions in
which participants may share their experiences and debate the actual
application of anti-sexual harassment regulations.
The National Conference on Gender Model
Workplace Policy is an important step in creating a workplace that respects and
protects the rights of all employees. We hope to influence policy adoption,
foster structural change, and contribute to the formation of workplaces that
adhere to worldwide best practices in gender equality by bringing important
stakeholders together.