(ANSA) - UDINE, 25 NOV - The ETUC wrote to Ursula von der Leyen, the president-elect of the European Commission, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The letter calls for violence against women to be added to the list of EU crimes and calls on the EU to encourage the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by those six EU member-countries who have not yet done so: Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the UK.

More than 50 women trade union leaders signed the letter.

"Physical or psychological violence against women also happens in the workplace, irrespective of the sector they work in, their profession, or educational level." "The risk is real for all: 63% of women workers in transport across Europe have experienced at least one recent act of violence; 50% of health workers in Bulgaria have experienced violence at work-" (ANSA).