It probably goes unnoticed and does not become news that appears in the news, but today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This celebration was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1999, and takes place annually every November 25.
If we bring this issue to our pages it is because on the occasion of the date the International Labor Organization (ILO) has warned that labor discrimination against pregnant women has worsened in high, middle and low income countries as a result of the crisis economical
Companies do not want pregnant women for various reasons, which is a way to discriminate against them. And that is because maternity looks like a burden. But maternity specialists point out that maternity protection produces enormous benefits.
On the occasion of Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the ILO has revealed that there are still cases of women who have suffered harassment or have been dismissed after becoming pregnant, others who have been forced to sign agreements that renounce their maternity or are forced to undergo pregnancy tests prior to your hiring
There have also been situations in which women are denied maternity leave to which they are entitled. Figures from cases such as those in Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States or Honduras show the work that remains to be done in this regard.
The ILO also expressed concern about the working conditions of many pregnant women who are exposed to chemical substances, who must work at night or stand for long hours.
For all these reasons, it is necessary for governments, trade unions and employers' organizations to extend maternity protection to guarantee the health of women and their babies.
But this is not the only form of discrimination that women suffer in the world. Therefore, to finish, we leave you with the message of the Secretary General in the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women for 2012:
Millions of women and girls around the world are attacked, beaten, raped, mutilated or even killed in what constitute atrocious violations of their human rights. ... we must fundamentally question the culture of discrimination that allows violence to continue. On this International Day, I urge all governments to fulfill their promise to put an end to all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I urge the entire population to support this important objective.
