Objective

REACH was born and conceptualized out of recommendations from a 2003 research study conducted by Joanie on the incidences of sexual harassment and its interlinking problems on farms. In 2006, a follow-up research study was conducted by REACH. The aim was to re-investigate the incidences of and contributing factors to sexual harassment on farms and use the findings as a basis to evaluate the feasibility of REACH’s work methodology. In April of that year, REACH received its first projects grant and used these funds to conduct a pilot research study.

Area

5 farming areas within the Overberg and Boland Regions of the Western Cape

Beneficiaries

128 women and men

Findings

The findings revealed that the situation facing farm workers and rural farming communities was more severe than it had been before with young female children below the age of 13 being the main targets of sexual violations. Some of the other main findings of the research revealed that:

32 % of both men and women were victims of sexual harassment, the worst form being rape

Perpetrators were friends, family members, colleagues, managers, and community leaders

A large majority knew of perpetrators harassing other victims

The effects of sexual harassment ranged were severe enough to lead to alcohol and drug abuse and suicidal ideations

Community members felt that alcohol and drugs played a role in aggravating sexual harassment and other forms of violence.

Affirmations

On the eve of the second South African Rural Women's Day, we at ILRF congratulate REACH and your colleagues on this ground-breaking and incredibly important event. It is a symbol of local communities' call for action and establishes a way for them to speak on issues concerning their lives. ILRF continues to support REACH'S important and path-breaking work, as this research is an integral component for building empowerment for rural women and also for providing a space for women to be honored. Women the world over work, and whether their work is paid or unpaid, their contribution to the family's economic well-being is critical. Yet, many women face abuse rather than respect in the workplace. Women are forced to suffer excessive working hours, exposure to poisonous chemicals, and illegal wage deductions and fines that leave them with little take-home pay. It is not uncommon for women to be subjected to bodily searches or fired for refusing sexual advances. Subcontracting and other forms of flexible work, particularly in agriculture, make it very difficult for women to organize against abuse. In many countries and many industries, traditionally male-dominated trade unions have failed to effectively organize or represent the interests of women workers. While the problems of low wages and forced and excessive overtime have by now been well documented, other equally horrific abuses remain shrouded in silence. In particular, the issue of violence against women in the workplace has until now been virtually absent from most discussions of workers' rights. Recognizing the almost complete lack of documentation of this problem in the developing world, we at the International Labor Rights Forum have undertaken a concerted effort since 2001 to support new research in developing countries on the extent of the problem of workplace sexual violence, and to support creative strategies at the grassroots level to tackle this serious and endemic problem. The work of REACH has been extremely important to our global understanding of sexual violence in the workplace. Their research and documentation has been thorough and systematic, and their strategies to raise awareness of this issue and break through the silence has been inspiring. It is our hope that REACH'S research and future work concerning the issue of sexual harassment on farms is successful in supporting the empowerment of women and open dialogue on the issues of importance for women workers. In solidarity, Bama Athreya, Executive Director of the International Labour Rights Fund.

Highlights

In December 2007 REACH was short-listed as a top 5 finalist for a medal on outstanding research! REACH submitted a paper based on our research study to the Global Development Network to stand a chance to win a medal in the ‘Women’s Rights, Security & Development: Challenges & Opportunities’ category. We were invited to present this paper at the GDN’s 9th annual conference titled “Security for Development: Confronting Threats to Survival and Safety” in Brisbane, Australia in January 2008! REACH was thoroughly praised for a wonderful, insightful and successful presentation.

Funder