Despite decades of progress, violence against women remains rampant. The 30th anniversary of the UN’s Beijing Declaration should be a moment of pride, but instead, we face a wave of attacks on gender equality.
In the U.S., Trump targets diversity and inclusion efforts. Across Europe, far-right parties roll back reproductive rights and defund gender-based violence programmes. These aren’t isolated incidents - they’re a coordinated assault on human rights.
In transport, the situation is worrying. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that one in five workers face workplace violence, and women bear the brunt of it. An ETF study found that a staggering one in four women transport workers consider violence 'part of the job.' Passengers abuse staff in rail, public transport, and aviation, while some colleagues perpetuate harassment and assault. This violence drives women out of the industry, worsening the sector’s labour shortages.
Some argue that violence is inevitable in customer-facing roles - but that’s a dangerous lie. Violence persists because of systemic failures: poor enforcement, lack of employer accountability, and a culture that normalises abuse. The truth is, change is possible.
The ILO Convention No. 190 guarantees the right to a workplace free from violence, but rights mean nothing without action. EU member states must ratify and enforce this convention. European lawmakers must pass binding legislation against workplace violence - because the recent law on violence against women doesn’t go far enough.
Employers must step up. Protecting workers is not 'red tape'; it’s their duty. Companies must work with unions to secure concrete protections: mandatory investigations, paid leave for victims, self-defence training, psychological support, and legal aid. Violence against transport workers must be treated as a criminal offence, triggering automatic investigations.
ETF won’t stand by while women suffer. The Women’s Committee will launch a new survey to expose the scale of workplace violence. We will fight until every transport worker can do their job without fear. Because violence at work isn’t just unacceptable - it’s a choice. And we choose to end it.
Sara Tripodi, Chair of the Women’s Committee, ETF
Manuela Kropp, Policy Officer, ETF
