UN supports Kyrgyzstan in combating harassment in the workplace

The UN met with the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration and other national partners to support the implementation of its comprehensive Action Plan on eliminating violence and harassment in the word of work under the International Labour Organization’s  (ILO) Violence and Harassment Convention No. 190. This plan addresses enhancing national legislation, identifying and addressing gaps in alignment with best international practices, and introducing monitoring mechanisms.

The ILO Convention was ratified by the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic in February 2024, which made it the 41st country in the world and the first in the region to commit to the Convention.

ILO Convention No. 190, adopted by the International Labor Organization in 2019, sets out global standards to eliminate violence and harassment in the workplace, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. It requires governments and employers to implement preventive measures, establish effective grievance mechanisms, and provide support and remedies for victims, ensuring safer and more respectful work environments. Recommendation No. 206, adopted alongside ILO Convention No. 190, provides detailed guidance on implementing the convention's provisions and integrating policies into national frameworks. 

Speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team, Ms Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia (OHCHR), welcomed the proactive measures taken by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, and emphasized the United Nations’ commitment to support the implementation of the Action Plan. 

“We are pleased that the Action Plan developed by the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration is multi-sectoral and seeks broad participation, including the Institute of Ombudsperson, trade unions, and business entities.The issues that may arise in the world of work indeed require a comprehensive, integrated response. I hope the implementation of the Convention will contribute to improving the workplace and will benefit all workers, especially by protecting the most vulnerable,” said Matilda Bogner. 

Countries that ratify Violence and Harassment Convention No. 190 are required to integrate its provisions into their national laws and regulations, ensuring that comprehensive measures are in place to address these issues. 

Bolot Orokov, the National Representative of the International Labor Organization, emphasized the importance of the adoption of the convention: “Let me congratulate the government of our country on the ratification of an important convention, implemented through the joint efforts of the ILO, the Ministry of Labor and UN agencies.”

“For us, the ratification of this convention is a great achievement. Its implementation will not only help resolve issues related to harassment and violence in the workplace, but will also ensure the protection of informal workers and guarantee that their labor rights are respected. We would like to express our gratitude to our partners for their willingness to cooperate with us - thanks to their support, we very easily advanced the ratification bill,” said the Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Zhyldyz Polotova.

The participants from the UN system and national NGOs discussed strategies for implementing the Action Plan and shared opinions and proposals on each item. The meeting concluded with the distribution of responsibilities for the implementation of individual points of the Action Plan to ensure the effective and coordinated implementation of Convention No. 190.