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ILO’s International Migration Programme (MIGRANT) prepared a global policy-advice report on gender and migration for the International Conference on Gender, Migration and Development: Seizing Opportunities and Upholding Rights (ICGMD) that covered the issue of violence against women migrant workers. The conference took place in September 2008 and was organized with UNIFEM, UNICEF, Migrants Forum in Asia (MFA), and Migrant Rights International (MRI) and resulted in The Manila Call to Action and its Resolution: http://www.icgmd.info/docs/icgmd_manila_call_to_action.pdf

In June 2011, the International Labour Conference adopted the Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The new standards are a strong recognition of the economic and social value of domestic work and a call for action to address the existing exclusions of domestic workers from labour and social protection. Article 5 of Convention No. 189 calls for measures to ensure that domestic workers enjoy effective protection against all forms of abuse, harassment and violence.

ILO’s approach to violence against migrant women is also based on the promotion of labour standards for migrant workers within a Decent Work framework. Important standards to specifically promote the protection and welfare of migrant workers, including women, are the Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) 1949 (No.97), Migrant Workers Supplementary Provisions Convention 1975, (N0.143) and the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (N0.181).

A standard-setting item on “Violence against women and men in the world of work” is listed on the agenda of the ILO 107th Session (June 2018) of the International Labour Conference.

In June 2010, the International Labour Conference will hold the first round of discussions on a draft instrument on decent work for domestic workers, and in 2011 will discuss the standard(s) with a view to its adoption. A new standard on decent work for domestic workers will contribute to the effective abolition of child labour within domestic work and help to prevent and eliminate violence against domestic workers of any age.

The ILO study project on protecting migrant workers and combating trafficking: Building an information and knowledge base for policy support on international migration in the Gulf Council States examines the living and working conditions of migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, in which women domestic workers are a crucial concern. The project is based on a survey on the recruitment of migrant workers, their protection in employment including from all forms of violence, their income earning particulars, and their working and living conditions. It addresses issues concerning treatment at the hands of their employers and also with regard to channels through which they can address their grievances.

ILO, through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), is carrying out statistical work with a view to producing a global estimate on child domestic work.

Under the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, ILO has carried out analyses of the situation of girl child labour in agriculture, domestic work and in situations of sexual exploitation.

The ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Programme (TRAVAIL) conducts research on violence, including violence against women, at work including on laws, workplace policies and other initiatives to prevent and respond to it.

The ILO has supported the Ministry of Labour of Brazil to produce and disseminate training and information materials about sexual harassment at work, including a guide on responses to sexual harassment and a video series of five episodes.