Workplace Sexual Harassment and HIV Testing Campaign

The campaign centred on a theatre performance carried out by 15 members of the Refinery’s theatre group who received training to present theatrical sketches on this topic. At the end of each skit, the theatre group led a discussion and distributed leaflets on sexual harassment, which covered the characteristics of harassment, existing legislation in Mozambique, help and support services, consequences for perpetrators, and how victims should gather evidence. The theatrical plays showed all sides of the issue and demonstrated that employees at any level, including management level, are capable of harassment. The campaign also equipped people with the knowledge of how that can defend themselves in cases of harassment.

According to the project organisers, "for members of the theatre group, it was difficult talking about harassment so openly. Likewise, during the training many group members realised they had already known of harassment cases, but did not know how to address them."

For the HIV testing campaign, during a four week period prior to its start, all workers were made aware of the upcoming campaign, which was carried out through mobile testing units that moved through various sectors of the refinery providing testing services. The testing campaign itself was an initiative led by ECOSIDA, supported by PACTO and coordinated through the HIV/AIDS in the Workplace programme at the refinery. In areas where they did not have high employee participation to get tested, implementers leveraged the awareness provided by the Harassment Campaign, making the link that the exchange of sexual favours is risky behaviour which could result in HIV infection.

Sexual Harassment, HIV/AIDS

According to the project organisers, the theatre sessions were well attended because of the close coordination between the various sectors at the Refinery and by asking upper management to handle scheduling. Generally, the involvement of management and section leads was considered key to the successful implementation of the two campaigns. Almost 6000 people participated in the Sexual Harassment Campaign, or 57% of all workers. Further, through the Campaign on HIV/AIDS Testing, all 10,589 employees (60% of whom are men) were made aware of testing and 7,189 (68%) were tested. As a result, 1,516 workers (21%) tested positive for HIV. These HIV positive employees are now aware of their status and can take the necessary steps to stay healthy.