Pavanelli emphasizes: “We are at the crossroads of a world struggling to overcome economic recession and high unemployment. Our rights as workers and as human beings are under threat. Our resources may be dwindling but not the strength of our solidarity.”

PSI’s recent World Congress set a new programme of action for 2013-2017 that directs that ‘PSI and its affiliates shall continue to defend and promote public services, which are at the core of democratic societies founded on human rights, the rule of law and social solidarity. Public services provide equitable redistribution of wealth; and in their delivery ensure that people are treated with equal respect, provided equal protection, and live free of discrimination without regard to age, gender, religion, national identity, race or ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation.’

“As public service workers, we will relentlessly defend equality, and to put an end to all forms of discrimination and oppression that threaten our global community, so that every worker and every member of our families and communities have the chance to live in freedom and dignity,” Pavanelli says.

Here’s what PSI affiliate members can do at the national level:

•    Lobby for the ratification of the ILO Conventions on the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, ILO Convention C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 and C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958. http://www.ilo.org/declaration/principles/eliminationofdiscrimination/lang--en/index.htm

•    Push governments to implement the 2001 United Nations’ Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. http://www.un.org/en/letsfightracism/pdfs/United%20against%20Racism_English_web.pdf

See also the UN Secretary General’s message on 21st March, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination http://www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/