Respect

RISE’s Respect program seeks to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work. The program provides a unique opportunity for stakeholders in the garment, footwear and textile industry to turn commitments into action as

We believe that everyone has the right to go to work free of fear of violence and harassment, and we support the ILO Convention 190 adopted in June 2019. We place emphasis on protecting the safety of women workers who are at higher risk of violence and harassment both in the world of work and in their personal relationships. This violence can be economic, emotional, physical or sexual. Increasing evidence shows that harassment and violence in the world of work negatively impact businesses and economies.

RISE Respect delivers through three main workstreams:

Capacity strengthening

Respect and safety are fundamental for a workplace where people thrive and business can flourish. Through its Respect workplace program, RISE improves relationships and attitudes among workers in global supply chains to help prevent violence and harassment in the workplace and in intimate relationships.

Market transformation

RISE provides a trusted space for brands, suppliers, and worker representatives to reflect on business practices and define strategies to prevent and remediate violence and harassment in the world of work.

Influencing

RISE’s Respect program supports alignment with existing legal frameworks and generates new evidence to inform public policies on combating violence and harassment and ensuring workers’ voices are heard. RISE brings brands, suppliers, workers’ representatives and lawmakers together to co-create, exchange learnings, and examine ways to take meaningful action on violence and harassment in the workplace.

Results & impacts

78 percentage point (women) and 74 percentage point (men) increase  in understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace.

63 percentage point decrease in acceptance of supervisors shouting.

38 percentage point increase in women workers’ confidence to speak to managers.

Aggregated outcomes from Respect programs implemented across 6 factories in Bangladesh during 2023-2024.

The most important lesson I learnt is that being a woman is great! We do not realise that women have multiple roles to play both at home and at work and roles are equally important. I always saw myself as just another woman, someone who is viewed as a burden by society. I have two sons at home and I keep telling them about gender and create an opportunity for them to learn at home. Over the course of the project, I have understood that men and women are equal. We shouldn’t care much about what the society thinks of us anyway! Respect taught me to be myself and this realization is necessary for every being."

Chandana

Worker, Bangladesh