Global Unions Statement: Support the inclusion and retention of the full and substantive role of the ILO in the UNCSW61 Agreed Conclusions

Member states at the annual Sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) are currently negotiating ‘Agreed Conclusions’ on this year’s priority theme: ‘Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work’.

While the first draft of the Agreed Conclusions contained language on the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Global Unions are appalled and deplore the removal of the substantive role of the ILO from implementation and monitoring of the CSW Agreed Conclusions (Version: CSW61–Rev.2 UPDATED-20 March 2017), references to specific ILO Conventions and to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

This deletion, dilution and diminution of the ILO's role flies in the face of the CSW's espoused commitment towards women's economic empowerment. This is a regressive and retrograde step and will leave women and workers bereft of protection and minimum standards at work.

We call on all trade unions, workers and the public to urgently contact and lobby their governments to reject this regressive policy and support the inclusion and retention of the full and substantive role of the ILO in the CSW61 Agreed Conclusions and specifically its implementation and monitoring role.

We further call on Governments and negotiators at the CSW61 to do the right thing and reinforce the rights of women and workers to minimum standards at work. The application of core Labour Standards, the right to decent work, labour and trade union rights are fundamental to protecting women's economic empowerment, dignity and human rights.

Global Unions represent 72 million women workers worldwide and are present with a trade union delegation at the UNCSW61 represented by:

  • International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
  • Education International (EI)
  • International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF)
  • International Federation of Journalist (IFJ)
  • International Transport federation (ITF)
  • Public Services International (PSI)

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