The ETI Gender Responsive Action Community (GRACE) programme highlighted that preventing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) requires long-term, systemic change rather than quick fixes. Success depends on shifting power, building trust, and creating systems that genuinely work for women, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities for brands, suppliers, and communities to drive meaningful impact.
A key lesson from the programme is the importance of meaningful stakeholder engagement. Genuine two-way partnerships with communities, business associations, trade unions, and NGOs are essential, recognising women as rightsholders with agency and a voice in decision-making processes. Prioritising women workers involves centring their rights, needs, and perspectives through consultation, representation, and transparent information sharing, supported by high-level commitment and oversight from CEOs and Boards.
Adopting gender- and intersectional-responsive approaches is crucial to address the root causes of GBVH and power imbalances, particularly in sectors like apparel and textiles where young and migrant women predominate. Tackling systemic risks, such as insecure contracts, economic dependency, and broader issues like living wages and decent work, is equally important for fostering safe and equitable workplaces.
Promoting a culture of rights and respect at work requires aligning policies with international standards, such as ILO C190, and proactively improving the working environment. Brands are encouraged to clarify expectations, identify leverage points, and adopt strategic approaches that focus on learning and continuous improvement. Strengthening collaboration and remediation through gender-responsive, worker-centred frameworks ensures that risk assessments translate into actionable prevention plans with clear short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
Creating safe, participatory reporting spaces is vital. Innovative approaches, including off-site focus groups, anonymous surveys, women’s factory safety walks, and community-based projects, help ensure that workers can safely voice concerns and participate in consultations. Measuring and integrating anti-GBVH actions into KPIs and supplier scorecards, even when challenging, reinforces accountability and tracks progress over time.
Overall, the GRACE programme demonstrates that real progress against GBVH stems from sustained collaboration, listening to women’s voices, and addressing power imbalances at every level. Meaningful change requires investing not only in policies but in the people who bring them to life.
