The #MeToo movement highlighted the endemic and pervasive nature of sexual harassment and assault in workplaces in the UK and globally. It also showed that the majority of victims are women. Now, we’re saying #ThisIsNotWorking. In UK politics, bullying and harassment is an issue which occurs on all sides of the political spectrum and particularly affects young women. In 2018, a House of Commons report revealed that 19 per cent of Westminster staff had experienced sexual harassment in a single year. And, 39 per cent of staff, MPs and peers had experienced bullying or harassment of some sort in Parliament. Legislative changes and action by all political parties is urgently needed to make Parliament a safe workplace for women, free from the threat of gender-based violence and harassment. The lack of safeguards to stop bullying and sexual harassment will push more women out of politics and deter others from seeking a career in politics and public life.
Our Aims
It is vital that women are in the room where political decisions are made and we need more women in all our diversity at every level of politics. This why we want an end to sexual harassment in the workplace, particularly in Parliament. As part of our campaign we are calling for:
- Political parties to revise their own internal sexual harassment and complaint policies to ensure that they are transparent, quick, victim-focused and independent, and cover volunteers, employees and elected and appointed representatives so that sexual harassment is prevented.
- Ratification of the ILO Convention 190 on Ending Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, which would reinstate third-party harassment laws and introduce a legal duty on employers to prevent harassment of their employees.
Wins
- In a win for unions and campaigners, in July 2021 the Government announced that employers are now legally required to protect staff from sexual harassment.
- Following our coordinated calls against the proposals which would allow MPs to debate complaints about serious bullying and harassment in Parliament, MPs instead voted in favour of the creation of an independent complaints panel which will have the ability to investigate independently and impose sanctions.
- Secured major press coverage of our demands to tackle sexual harassment in politics in major news outlets including the BBC, The Guardian and The Times, which put pressure on the government to respond.
- In June 2019, the ILO adopted a Convention on Ending Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. Our campaign was one of many that was crucial in persuading employers, unions, and states to adopt a convention which covered all areas of work.
- Over two dozen MPs and celebrities publicly pledged their commitment to ending workplace violence and harassment. This came after dozens gathered in Westminster, in March 2019, for our #ThisIsNotWorking Day of Action against workplace harassment and violence. Supporters lobbied 72 MPs to reinstate third-party harassment laws, introduce a legal duty on employers to prevent harassment, and support the ILO convention to end workplace violence.