Equitable Food Initiative , the capacity - building and certification formation that partner with growers , farmworkers , retailers , and consumer advocacy groups , has plunge its annual campaign to evoke awareness of sexual molestation in the workplace , especially in farming .
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month , and EFI is using the time to radiate a spark on this important topic . A toolkit on the EFI web site , institute atequitablefood.org/harassment , provides three consciousness post-horse and an informational one - pager uncommitted for download , as well as links to enter the ' ¡ Basta ! Prevent Sexual Harassment in Agriculture ' toolkit and training module .
EFI supported the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center , a part of the University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences , in grow the ¡ Basta ! toolkit , which is free to habituate and useable for download . Printed copy of the toolkit cognitive content can be ordered for a nominal fee , and a ego - pace training module is also approachable , with erudition uncommitted . In June , EFI and the BASTA Coalition of Washington will co - host an educational and training webinar specifically for the new produce industry .
Research from the Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that 80 % of all Mexican immigrant farmworkers report being sexually hassle on the job site , while protagonism group estimate that as many as 85 % of char have have intimate harassment at work .
" We read this can be a challenging and uncomfortable subject to talk about , " say LeAnne Ruzzamenti , director of merchandising and communication for EFI , " but data show that farmworkers face intimate molestation at a rate two to three times gamey than other work sectors – and that makes this a problem we ca n’t ignore . " She continued , " Farmworkers often fear lose their problem , being removed from the U.S. , or being deny entry for speaking out . linguistic process barriers can also prevent them from empathize they should not stand incompatible behaviour , which could include verbal or physical assault from anyone , include supervisors or coworkers . "
" We believe the good way to train and prevent intimate harassment is through education that promotes community consciousness , comprehensive worksite participation , and protective policies , " say Isabel Reyes - Paz , theatre director of the BASTA Coalition of Washington . " compeer - to - peer trainings lead by those with direct experience of the workplace setting as well as common cultural and language background can bring home the bacon a deep quality training . Our resources are designed by a multistakeholder group , peculiarly for the agrarian manufacture . "
EFI offers a men exploitation and training program that focuses on integrating actor vox throughout a husbandry surgical operation by developing communicating , difference resolution , and problem - work skills among managers and worker . EFI partners with grower - shipper to produce more open , venerating , and secure crop environments that maintain a zero - tolerance insurance for sexual harassment .
Ruzzamenti concluded , " EFI is proud to bring resources to the industry that attend to employees at all layer with having these challenging conversation . We are attached to facilitating culture modification to improve the lives of farmworkers and create safe food and a more responsive , skilled labor force out . Openly advocating for zero tolerance of intimate harassment is just one way we can facilitate that . "
For more entropy : Equitable Food InitiativeTel . : +1 ( 202 ) 524 - 0540[email protected]www.equitablefood.org
