The SDGs’ Summit and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Leaders of United Nation Member States are set to endorse the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Framework (now to be called the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) at the General Assembly on 25-27 September 2015. Following what has been a long and at times arduous process to develop and agree this framework, throughout which the Trade Union movement has been actively engaged, the Post-2015 Summit in September will no doubt go down as an historic event.
There are definitely grounds for celebration, not least simply because an agreement was actually reached, signalling a win for multilateralism on the whole, but also because it represents the culmination of one of the most inclusive efforts by governments to include the voices of civil societies and other non-state, non-executive actors in an international agreement. It would be fair to say that this is reflected in the level of ambition achieved in key parts of the outcome. Nevertheless, some reservations and concerns remain.
The Trade Union Climate Summit in Paris on 14-15 September in Paris endorsed three topline demands for the Paris Agreement calling on governments to: put back the language of just transition that has been stripped from the draft agreement; raise ambition before 2020 and invest in the potential of jobs and climate action and commit to a binding review of effort; and support the most vulnerable with the promised financial commitments.
8th Steering Committee of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation
ITUC's Deputy General Secretary Wellington Chibebe participated in the 8th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC). The Steering Committee agreed on priority areas to sharpen GPEDC's vision, proposed establishing inclusive working groups on country focus/multi-stakeholder partnerships at country level. It also agreed to undertake formal and informal outreach to key stakeholders (mainly the BRICS) and start realizing and communicating results of the Global Partnership Initiatives and link it to broader work of GPEDC. The Steering Committee also accorded to pull together country level and stakeholder-led practices, and to take measures to ensure strong participation in Second Monitoring Round from all stakeholders. It also stressed the need to develop and expand further communication channels and efforts, as well as establishing a working group on the 2nd High Level meeting in Nairobi (Fall of 2016), to support hosts with agenda and thematic preparations. Additionally, it was agreed to establish a working group to mobilise GPEDC resources.
Ishor, 24, migrated from Nepal to Malaysia last November to work for a company at Johor Bahru’s busy commercial shipping port. What he did not know before he arrived is that the job involved working 16-hour days and being physically abused and harassed by his employer. Like most migrant workers, Ishor likely paid a labour broker a large amount of money to secure the job.
L20 calls for urgent action to create quality jobs and reduce income inequality at the G20 Joint Labour, Employment and Finance Ministers’ Meetings
The L20 (TUAC, ITUC and the GUFs) attended consultations with G20 Labour and Finance Ministers, who met in Ankara on 3-5 September 2015.The L20 Statement outlines main priorities ranging from responses to the persistent jobs, youth employment and inequality gaps, to the need for responsible investment practices to lift growth and productivity, the current refugee crisis and the rise in informal work.
"FRACKING, water, air, land… death" - subtitled in English
“FRACKING, water, air, land… death”, a film by Matías Estévez, co-produced, among others, by SOTERMUN, with the support of the cooperation agency of the Principality of Asturias, has just been subtitled in English, thanks to the Argentinian co-producers, trade unions ATE and CTA.
August Newsletter of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation
In this edition: GPEDC in the Addis Ababa Agenda for Action!; Outcomes from the GPEDC side-event at Addis Ababa International Conference; 8th GPEDC Steering Committee meeting; Preparing for the Second Monitoring round.
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the ITUC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
