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Korea: KFIU says yes "WE Can EN:D” violence against women in workplace
Spurred by the spirit of a burgeoning #Me Too movement, the Korea Finance Industry Union (KFIU) marked the 2nd year of its Women Committee establishment by launching its own campaign: “We Can EN:D” in conjunction with International Women's Day. The campaign is a proclamation of solidarity with the victims of sexual violence.
It saw about 100 women and men leaders of KFIU gathering in the City Hall’s conference room on March 8th holding up “We Can EN:D” signs. They declared that all people must be respected and equally treated. Putting a stop to gender based roles and breaking the silence of victims is an essential step toward achieving gender equal workplaces.
The “#Me Too” term was originally coined in 2006 by Tarana Burke, an American civil rights activist, as a bid to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society. The term was popularised after actress Alyssa Milano started using it on social media in October 2017 in response to allegations of misconduct by public figures. It soon gained worldwide attention when women started using it in relation to their own experiences.
In Korea, the movement has gained remarkable traction in less than 2 months since it first caught on. Allegations had surfaced involving prominent figures such as celebrated poets, musical directors, movie directors, professors and politicians. Although some quarters cast doubts on the sustainability of the movement in a deeply conservative and patriarchal society, the trend now looks unstoppable.
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in had stated his strong support of the campaign. Expressing his respect for the courage of victims who spoke out about the abuses they suffered, he urged law enforcement authorities to actively launch investigations, and to ensure no one goes unpunished if convicted regardless of their backgrounds.
UNI Apro’s Regional Secretary, Christopher Ng, congratulates the KFIU’s Women Committee on its 2nd anniversary and commended the union for making a strong and bold contribution to ending violence against women.