Development Dossier
The International Confederation Of Free Trade Unions
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- Tel: +32-2/224 0211 Fax: 32-2/201 5815
The International Confederation Of Free Trade UnionsFirst of all, let me say I am pleased and honoured to have been invited to address this gathering on behalf of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. There is no doubt that the Summit has captured the world's attention, and focused it on issues of global concern: issues that lie at the heart of trade unionism, and on the lessons that we have all learnt ‑ or should have learnt over recent years. The first lesson is that the free market system is a supremely efficient wealth‑creating machine. The second lesson is that the market will not share that wealth out. How could it? And why should it? All over the world, the gap between rich and poor is becoming a chasm. Left to its own devices, the system breeds gross inequalities that are clearly unsustainable. The recently published ILO report spells out the startling scale of the world's biggest scandal ‑ chronic and growing unemployment. And remember the ILO figures are more than points on a graph. Every one of them represents a shameful waste of our most precious resource: people What they need are jobs in conditions which release their creative potential. And then there are the millions of people in the informal sector; the women and girls toiling away in export processing zones; and the world's 200 million child laborers. All are working in degrading and unacceptable conditions. Is this the New World Order we were promised after the collapse of communism? Is it acceptable in the age of the information superhighway, that armies of citizens have to scavenge on rubbish tips to earn enough to live on? Is it acceptable that one bank can gamble away the equivalent of twice the annual education budget of India? The answer from Copenhagen has to be a resounding no. We are here because we all know that the global economic system is not working efficiently or fairly. The proponents of unregulated free markets do not have answers to the global social crisis that their philosophy is creating, or to the lingering malaise of the debt crisis. Governments determined to tackle this waste and exploitation of humanity should try looking at the world's most successful companies, rather than at the most rapacious. Almost without exception, those companies have built their success on teamwork, and participation, and decent pay and conditions. This is the message that should come from this Summit ‑ that for companies and countries, co‑operation and justice are productive. Our message is clear. And the actions we propose must show the world that we mean to tackle the problem. The Declaration and Programme of Action have not quantified the Summit's ambitions. But the political will they do express will have to be translated into tangible targets at national and international levels. We will need precise objectives around which resources and ideas can be focused and made coherent through new mechanisms for international and interagency co‑operation. We believe we can play a part in building an effective and co‑ordinated response to the Summit's commitments Ninety‑five per cent of trade union's actions end in agreement. We know that it pays to co‑operate And we believe that our presence -‑ from Copenhagen to the workplace -- in the follow‑up to the summit can help governments to realise the value of co‑operation. But we cannot take up this responsibility fully if basic workplace rights are not respected throughout the world. Let me be specific: I'm talking about freedom of association; freedom to organise; freedom from discrimination in employment; and freedom from forced labour, especially for children. These workplace values are the principles on which on which we can build the Global Solidarity Pact the Secretary‑General called for in his opening address. They are the values of a free society, and a free world. They ought to be the values of a free market. A global system that ignores them -‑ that fails to grasp the difference between liberty and licence -‑ will never marry growth to social justice. Bill Jordan International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) Bvd Emile Jacqmain, 155, 1210 Brussels Tel: +32-2/224 0211 Fax: 32-2/201 5815International Council of Women I am past president of ICW and speaking on behalf of the current president Kuraisin Sumhadi who has been unavoidably detained. But, our organization does not want to lose the opportunity to address the Social Summit especially on such an important day as the international women's' day. Priorities of ICW include the girl child, women in economies, women in development. ICW is convinced that the girl child is the women of tomorrow and we think that it is the task of a women's organization, which has worked for women since 1888 to take on the responsibility for the women of tomorrow. First priority in doing so is to see that her nutritional needs are provided; her education includes education for life, reproductive education for choice and responsible parenthood. Women in economics includes empowerment of women in decision making, financial training and opportunities which include equal access to credit and marketing. In the field of employment women must have improved access to the labour marked. Discrimination and exclusion for health reasons, especially HIV must be eliminated. In rural areas and poor urban areas and in countries with economies in transition women's small business initiatives are the backbone of the economy of their family and community. ICW has always followed the leading ideas of World Summits and World Conferences organized during this 50 years of the UN. We have also initiated programs and projects which have resulted in new proposals for the UN and which have been taken into consideration by various UN organizations through our Permanent Reps. One of these is the responsibility of the father for his offspring not only financially but also in the caring and nuturing for the children. Looking forward to the Beijing Conference and its eleven priorities, ICW will continue to work towards the elimination of violence against women in society and in the family. Violence and crime within the privacy of the home must be addressed by the civil society. The state must take responsibility regarding the defense of the integrity of the person and of the human rights. There is no difference in violence perpetrated by state agents or private persons. Where ever violence is perpetrated e.g. in prison, in the street or in the home, everywhere it is violence. I want to conclude here because there has not been time to prepare a more detailed statement after the desistement of her President. In conclusion I am sure to summarize the feelings of our membership by saying that to develop the full potential of a women generates more economic and social possibilities for the community and the civil society. 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