57 UNCSW: Agreement Reached but Trade Unions Remain Vigilant

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC)

57 UNCSW: Agreement Reached but Trade Unions Remain Vigilant

Brussels, 21 March 2013 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC welcomed the adoption of Agreed Conclusions at this year's Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). However, trade unions and others civil society partners stay vigilant as the adoption of the Conclusions was a hard fought battle due to conservative countries who tried to damage women’s basic rights.

According to the ITUC-EI-PSI-UNI Global Union federation, the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls required a solid and concerted international response.

“This year’s meeting faced a serious risk not to deliver Conclusions ,” explained Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, “due to countries such as the Vatican, Egypt, Iran or Russia who were responsible for shameful interventions in order to weaken language on women’s rights, enshrined in previous agreements, and who opposed provisions which would have further enhanced the set of measures to stop violence against women and girls.” (see previous OnLine: http://www.ituc-csi.org/vatican-in-unholy-alliance-at ). “This is intolerable, and we will hold them accountable for their damaging impacts on women’s rights and gender equality.”

The international trade union movement welcomes the determination of those governments to adopt Conclusions and the inclusion of pro-active measures to stop violence against women and girls while reaffirming previously agreed international policies and securing provisions related to contraception, safe abortion and reproductive rights. It is also pleased with the recognition of trade unions as stakeholders to stop violence against women and girls and the inclusion of workplace-related provisions such as collective bargaining agreements and women’s access to full employment and decent work.

Read the adopted conclusions here: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw57/CSW57_agreed_conclusions_advance_unedited_version_18_March_2013.pdf

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 156 countries and territories and has 315 national affiliates.
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