Colombia: First global unions-led workshop to support LGBTQI+ workers under C190

Around sixty trade union representatives from different sectors and LGBTQI+ activists came together on 28 and 29 February in Bogotá, Colombia, to advance the rights of LGBTQI+ workers. Based on a comprehensive toolkit launched by global unions, the workshop provided a safe space to learn, discuss and address violences against LGBTQI+ people and seize ILO Convention 190 as a framework for creating more equal and inclusive working places.

Credit: Nataly Arias.

“An atmosphere of respect and affection is essential to address questions and concerns about the realities and needs of LGBTQI+ workers,” noted Public Services International (PSI)’s Andean representative on the LGBTQI+ committee, Néstor Osvaldo Pérez Muñoz. “In order to seek solutions, we must build upon dialogue and education”.

The discrimination of workers on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics remains one of the major challenges facing the labour movement globally. The global union federations (GUFs) working group on LGBTQI+ rights launched a timely toolkit to support LGBTQI+ workers under ILO Convention 190, which was used for the first time as the backbone of the workshop held in Bogotá, Colombia.  

“This workshop not only represents a step forward to workplace equality and inclusivity but also to building a stronger global trade union movement with solid human rights for all,” reflected Pérez Muñoz. 

The two-day session, led by members of PSI’s LGBTQI+ committee, examined the need for reforming trade union culture towards more diversity and inclusivity. C190 was at the core of the discussions, which delved into the first internationally agreed definition of violence and harassment in the world of work from a gender perspective and analysed ways of integrating C190 into collective bargaining negotiations and workplace cultures. The delegate of the Colombian ministry of labour dealing with LGBTQI+ issues participated in the workshop and engaged in in-depth exchanges with attendees.

 

Vice president of the Colombian Federation of Journalists (FECOLPER) María Elvira Marulanda Fernández praised the joint efforts made by global unions to educate on the rights of LGBTQI+ people. “Disseminating knowledge of the most basic concepts can make a difference to avoid stigmatisation at the workplace and in the media. Reporting accurately and portraying society in all its variety is an issue of representation and journalism ethics, but more education on the topic is urgently needed”. 

Training and education are among the pillars of the GUFs working group that aim at empowering unions and their members worldwide to fight for workplaces free of discrimination and harassment. 

“Spaces for discussion and exchange of experiences are fundamental to generate real changes," said the regional vice secretary of International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Emiliano Addisi .

At a time when LGBTQI+ people are facing a global backlash against their rights, trade unions must understand the significance of this emerging threat and develop a comprehensive response that affirms LGBTQI+ equality as a fundamental trade union value. And education is key to safeguarding the rights of LGBTQI+ workers. An injury to one is an injury to all. 

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