Even in the workplace, employees all too often face sexual violence. According to FNV, 57% of Dutch employees experienced inappropriate behavior at work in the past year, 12% of whom said it involved sexual harassment. To show the business world that sexual violence is never acceptable—anywhere—we’re participating for the second year in a row in the Night Against Sexual Violence, an initiative by Plan International. Our Senior Program Manager Jamie Holton was interviewed by Plan International about why it's crucial for businesses to take action too.

Time to change the narrative

"It’s sometimes hard to truly grasp the statistics around sexual violence," says Jamie Holton, Senior Program Manager at UN Global Compact NL. "More than half of Dutch women have experienced sexually transgressive behavior. So even if it hasn’t happened to you personally, there’s a good chance you know someone who’s been through it."

That includes Jamie herself, who also walked in last year’s Night Against Sexual Violence with the UN Global Compact team and helped raise a significant amount. "Family members of mine have experienced sexual violence and still bear the emotional and physical scars. What strikes me is that victims often feel shame—when in fact, they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. It’s the perpetrators, and we as a society, who should feel ashamed. For me, it’s incredibly important that we change that narrative. The fact that this still happens is outrageous."

Businesses must take action

That’s why this year, UN Global Compact NL isn’t just walking themselves—they’re also actively recruiting businesses from their network to join the effort. "We talk to so many companies that, like us, are committed to creating safe workplaces, fostering diversity and inclusion," Jamie explains. "So we opened up registration and are encouraging businesses in our network to walk with us."

Jamie stresses that the business world has a key role to play in preventing sexual violence."Not just for the employees, but for the employers too. Sexual misconduct leads to stress, reduced performance, sick leave, resignations—and in the most tragic cases, even suicidal thoughts. Work is a major part of life, which is why companies must continue to raise awareness and actively commit to a culture where this behavior has no place. A workplace where people treat each other with respect and there’s a clear code of conduct. Because sexual violence is never okay. Anywhere."