Making the invisible visible: Understanding and combating violence and harassment at work in three West African countries

New research in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal sheds light on the pervasive and profound effects of violence and harassment in the world of work – a universal phenomenon that spares no country – calling for inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive action under ILO Convention No. 190.

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This report provides the most comprehensive evidence to date on the prevalence, forms and effects of violence and harassment in the world of work in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, reinforcing global evidence of its widespread and pervasive nature. It highlights the profiles of victims and perpetrators, the contexts where it occurs, and the main reporting mechanisms, revealing a largely hidden phenomenon that undermines workers’ dignity, health, and productivity.

By making the invisible visible, the report provides the evidence needed to strengthen policies, improve measurement frameworks, and accelerate the ratification and effective implementation of the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment, 2019 (No. 190), contributing to a world of work free from violence and harassment for all.