C190 - Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190)
A step towards safer workplaces in Armenia: training on violence and harassment for public officials
ILO's two-day training in Armenia equipped public officials with practical tools to address workplace violence and harassment, advancing efforts to ensure safe, respectful work environments.
23 January 2025
YEREVAN (ILO News) - A comprehensive two-day training, organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on 22-23 January 2025, aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of public officials in Armenia to address, prevent, and effectively respond to violence and harassment in the workplace. This initiative, part of the ILO's broader commitment to promoting safe and respectful working environments, provided valuable insights for public officials and other stakeholders in the country, aligning with the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190).
The training commenced with opening remarks by Ruben Sargsyan, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia, and Nune Hovhannisyan, the National Coordinator of the ILO in Armenia. The specialized programme, coordinated by Özge Berber-Agtaş, the Gender Equality and Non-discrimination Specialist and supported by Varduhi Avanesyan and Armine Galoyan, the project team of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, focused on key aspects of addressing violence and harassment as outlined in Convention No. 190.
Participants gained practical knowledge on defining and understanding the impacts of violence and harassment, assessing workplace practices, identifying signs of such issues, and responding appropriately to incidents. The training also emphasized engaging stakeholders and guiding employers to create effective systems for tackling these challenges.
Ruben Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, underlined the importance of Convention No. 190: “The ratification of the Convention will strengthen the Republic of Armenia's commitment to ensuring safe and healthy workplaces for all workers. The Convention aims to provide a work environment free from violence and harassment for all workers, regardless of their contractual status. From the perspective of strengthening legislation and policy, the ratification of the Convention will contribute to improving Armenia’s labour policies and ensuring conditions for decent work.”
The ratification of the Convention will strengthen the Republic of Armenia's commitment to ensuring safe and healthy workplaces for all workers.
Ruben Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia
Nune Hovhannisyan, the ILO National Coordinator in Armenia, emphasized the significance of Armenia’s initiative to ratify Convention No. 190: “The initiative of Armenia to ratify Convention No. 190, bringing its legal framework into compliance with international labour standards, is a significant step towards a world of work devoid of violence and harassment. The practical workshop on violence and harassment at the workplace is a unique opportunity for the representatives of the Ministries, public entities, and workers’ and employers’ organizations to discuss joint actions towards relevant policy development, as well as to prevent and address violence and harassment within their own organizations.”
Varduhi Brutyan, Head of the Training and Research Center at the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia (CTUA), highlighted the relevance of the training for trade unions: “This training was highly effective and significant, particularly from the perspective of trade unions. It included detailed discussions and analyses that helped participants gain a deeper understanding of the Convention's importance and its potential applications. Moreover, it provided an effective platform for representatives of various ministries, the Employers’ Union, and the Confederation of Trade Unions to exchange views, discuss challenges, and share best practices in combating violence and harassment. The active engagement of participants reflected their commitment to ensuring workers’ safety and promoting dignified working environments across all sectors.”
Lilit Adamyan, Chief Executive Officer of the Republic of Union of Employers of Armenia (RUEA), shared the practical value of the training: “The training offered an engaging and productive opportunity to explore the various aspects of creating safe and inclusive workplaces. It was interesting to gain a deeper understanding of the practical steps needed to address violence and harassment, along with the roles of employers, complaint mechanisms, and gender equality.”
Main outcomes of the training:
- Enhanced understanding of workplace violence and harassment among participants.
- Practical tools provided for preventing and responding to violence and harassment.
- Strengthened collaboration between ministries, employers, and trade unions to tackle these issues.
This training program represents a pivotal step in Armenia's efforts to enhance workplace safety and dignity. By equipping public officials and stakeholders with the tools and knowledge to address violence and harassment, the initiative lays the groundwork for future policy development and contributes to creating work environments free from violence and harassment for all workers.
The training programme was organised within the framework of the ILO RBSA-funded intervention on “Building the capacity of constituents of pre-empting informalisation of work and promote transition to formality in the context of a refugee crisis” in Armenia with the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).