Welcome to CARE Insights

Violence and harassment in the workplace - whether in Westminster, Hollywood or McDonalds - continues to make headlines. Its impact on workers and business is increasingly becoming apparent. CARE research in the Cambodian garment sector revealed that there is an estimated 89M$ cost to the economy per year from absenteeism and lost productivity. Legislative changes are also afoot – with proposed changes in the UK and a new global convention due to be agreed in 2019. What then, can companies that want to take the issue seriously do to prepare and improve?

Understanding of the extent to which sexual harassment affects industries across the globe has increased exponentially. Numerous studies emphasise the frequency with which women experience violence and harassment at work. The Australian Human Rights Commission’s recent report on sexual harassment in the Australian workplace found that 1 in 3 women have experienced sexual harassment in the past five years. Emerging evidence in South-East Asia suggests this figure is higher than 1 in 2 in some industries. Such studies, combined with the spotlight shone on this topic by the #metoo movement, mean the prevalence of sexual harassment globally is undeniable. 

From Cox’s Bazaar to Kinshasa, women are not passive beneficiaries of assistance. Women responders – volunteers, activists, leaders, women-led groups, organisations and networks – are taking actions to mitigate and respond to protection risks. Yet too often, women are sidelined by humanitarian programming. That’s not just discriminatory – it’s ineffective.