In the run-up to CSW57 and International Women’s Day on March 8, we will continue to focus on the issue of violence against women and girls. In this post, Lori Blair, Senior Director of Program Services at Soroptimist International of the Americas writes about the Soroptimist International of the Americas campaign to tackle domestic abuse in the workplace.

In 1994, Soroptimist International of the Americas made the prevention of domestic violence an organizational focus. Each year, on November 25 (the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women), members participate in the Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence. The campaign targets domestic abuse as a workplace concern.

Domestic violence is a workplace issue because it affects both women and businesses, as most women work and they do not leave abuse behind while at the workplace. Abusers often harass their partners at work. In worse case scenarios, abusers come to the workplace and threaten their partners and their co-workers. Women deserve to be safe – both at home and at work. Domestic violence abusers often isolate women from friends and family. The workplace may be the only time a woman is apart from her abuser. As business and professional women, Soroptimists are in a position to educate people in the workplace that women have the right to live free from violence.

Women who are the targets of domestic violence may often be late or absent from work. According to a World Bank study, one in five work days lost for health reasons by women is the result of domestic violence. In addition, women’s work performance and productivity is often adversely affected. As a result, businesses also suffer. Domestic violence costs businesses throughout the world millions of dollars in health care, police and court costs and lost productivity.

The goal of the Soroptimist campaign is to ensure that working women who are victims of domestic violence have access to needed support. Each year, Soroptimists distribute thousands of SAFE cards, and hold lectures and events to raise awareness about domestic violence as a workplace concern. In addition, members encourage places of business to adopt formal guidelines designed to protect employees and (their co-workers) from domestic violence situations. For the last year that measurements were available, more than 200 clubs participated in nine different countries by distributing nearly 100,000 SAFE cards to 3875 businesses. In addition, 9330 workplace policies were distributed and 556 policies were reported as implemented in local businesses.

Recently, Soroptimist extended the reach of its campaign through Live Your Dream. Now Dreamers can join Soroptimist members to ensure more women around the world have access to the resources they need through many different levels of involvement.

Read more on the Soroptimist International of the Americas website.