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Some 55 per cent of female vendors interviewed in 2011 said they had experienced some form ofviolence in the markets and 22 per cent spoke of incidents of sexual violence. Most women did not reportthese crimes or seek justice. Women were also targeted for extortion, where they were forced to makepayments in return for security or safekeeping and storage of produce. Police and security personneloften lacked training and in some cases were themselves implicated in the violence.The Port Moresby Safe City Free from Violence against Women and Girls Programme is implementedby UN Women and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat) in partnership with thelocal authority, the police, women’s organizations, vendors and customers. 135 It focuses on making thecity’s markets safe for all who use them.Local market bylaws now include articles that address women’s safety. Women vendors are returningto the markets following a first phase of infrastructure improvement. A targeted public awarenesscampaign on sexual harassment and sexual violence has been developed. One innovation of theprogramme has been a partnership between the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) andfinancial institutions to enable the collection of market fees via the use of mobile phone technology. Thisreduces women’s exposure to extortion and improves revenue collection by the NCDC.The International Trade Union Congress (ITUC)and other trades unions are calling for a new ILOconvention on gender-based violence to spurstronger action on this issue by governmentsand employers. A convention is needed thatwould address all forms of violence and sexualharassment in the workplace as well as outlinemeasures for employers to support womenexperiencing intimate partner violence. It wouldcover socio-economic and legal issues, accessto justice, occupational health and safety,and education. 136 In 2015, with support fromworkers’ groups and some governments, the ILOGoverning Body will consider putting this issueon the agenda of a future International LabourConference. 137RecommendationsOccupational segregation plays a significant partin maintaining and reinforcing women’s socioeconomicdisadvantage. This has a direct impacton pay and perpetuates the gender pay gap.Policies are needed that ensure women have equalaccess to a full range of economic opportunitiesand can make the best use of their talents.Governments, trade unions, educational institutionsand employers need to:• Ensure that laws are in place that prohibitdiscrimination against women in hiring, trainingand promotions and repeal laws that restrictwomen’s access to certain occupations• Enable women’s lifelong access to education,training and mentoring, including basic literacy,on-the-job training to upgrade their skills andtraining in non-traditional skills to support themto move up the occupational ladder• Provide career advice and encouragement toyoung women through, for example, mentoringto study STEM and other male-dominatedsubjects, as well as improved access to TVET• Adopt and implement quotas and targets toreduce vertical segregation• Address sexual harassment in the workplacethrough passing and implementing appropriatelaws as well as through training, awarenessraisingand support to women to access justice• Galvanize further action by governments andemployers through a new ILO convention ongender-based violence.95