With more than 2,000 political activists killed and more than 15,000 arrested, it is more urgent than ever that the global labour movement refocus our efforts on the fight for rights and democracy in Myanmar.
- On October 10, the IUF, together with our sister global unions, gathered outside of the United Nations in Geneva to protest the military junta’s imprisonment of trade unionists and released a statement calling for their immediate release as well as recognition of the National Unity Government
- On September 9, the IUF Asia/Pacific region launched a campaign to support recognition of the National Unity Government [NUG] and rejection of the military State Administration Council [SAC] in conjunction with the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 13 and the International Day of Democracy on September 15
- After significant advocacy by the IUF and the broader labour movement with the UN system, including at the International Labour Conference and the UN Governing Body, the ILO announced on September 12 that it will “establish a Commission of Inquiry in pursuance of article 26 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization to examine the non[1]observance by Myanmar of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)”
IUF General Secretary Sue Longley stated, “We must do more to focus our efforts on the human rights crisis that continues to escalate in Myanmar. We will not stop our protests until the National Unity Government is recognized, and we will continue to press the companies in our sectors– including Accor– to stop doing business with known associates of the military junta.”
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