On Monday, April 28, CELSI Managing Director Marta Kahancová participated in the conference titled “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights – So Why Do We Still Have to Fight for Them?” organised by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung office in Budapest.

This important event focused on shaping a fairer labour market and featured high-level political participants from the EU and Hungary, including Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, and Bence Tuzson, Minister of Justice of Hungary.

The conference addressed key topics such as the role of social rights in ensuring quality jobs, tackling workplace sexual harassment, the impact of trade unions and legal frameworks on worker protection, and tools provided by the EU Pay Transparency Directive to close the gender pay gap.

Marta Kahancová presented key findings and implications of comparative research on sexual harassment in the workplace, conducted last year across six Central and Eastern European countries.

The report emphasises that workplace sexual harassment is not merely an individual issue — it negatively affects mental health, career progression, and workplace productivity.

As potential solutions, the study recommends raising awareness, incorporating protective measures into collective agreements, and implementing a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment.

The conference fostered valuable discussion, shared practical experiences, and contributed to more effective strategies for creating fair and respectful workplaces.

🔗 Read the comparative report by Barbora Holubová and Kristína Gotthardová (CELSI): https://celsi.sk/media/datasource/Report_on_workplace_sexual_harassment_in_six_countries.pdf