Political Leaders Must Act to Stop Civil War in Ukraine

Brussels, 7 May 2014 (ITUC OnLine):

Political Leaders Must Act to Stop Civil War in Ukraine

With the imminent risk that the violence in Ukraine will escalate into a full-scale civil war, the ITUC is calling from political leaders from Ukraine, Russia and the broader international community to commit unequivocally to a non-violent, negotiated settlement which respects democracy, human rights and the fundamental principles of international law.

Trade unions from across the region called, on 19 February, for "rational solutions based on developing a consensus based on the national interest and the real needs of the working people and citizens of Ukraine" to ensure respect for their lives and rights of the Ukrainian people and a future based on their free choice. This demand from the representatives of working people and the most representative civil society organisations remains the only satisfactory solution to ending the crisis, saving lives and charting a course for the future based on peace, social and economic justice and peaceful co-existence.

All governments must urgently commit themselves to negotiations, repudiate the incitement to violence by radical extremists, and cooperate to ensure full respect for democracy and the rule of law. Continued failure to take these essential steps would leave the people of Ukraine facing the appalling consequences of all-out war.

To read the 19 February Statement: http://perc.ituc-csi.org/Ukraine-Stop-the-violence-a-real?lang=en

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 161 countries and territories and has 325 national affiliates.

ENDS

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