ITUC Asia-Pacific (ITUC-AP), has been elected as one of the three co-chairs of the Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) on 9 September 2023.

With this new role, ITUC-AP reinforces its capacity to raise the profile of trade unions as key actors in development, amplify the priorities of trade unions in various development processes at the regional level, and build close linkages with civil society organisations in Asia-Pacific to advance development justice.

The position of Co-Chair has to be added to the role that the ITUC-AP already plays within the APRCEM as Trade Unions and Workers Constituency Focal Point in the APRCEM’s Regional Coordinating Committee.

ITUC-AP shares the leadership position of APRCEM Co-Chair with Ajay Jha Kumar, APRCEM’s Farmers’ Constituency Focal Point and Director of the Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (India), and Olga Djanaeva, Central Asia Constituency Focal Point and Director of ALGA (Kyrgyzstan). ITUC-Asia Pacific is represented in APRCEM by Joy Hernandez, Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer.

“Co-Chairs are tasked to provide leadership to the APRCEM, to ensure an effective and strong cross-constituency coordination, and that the voices of all sub-regions of Asia Pacific are heard in regional and global intergovernmental processes,” said Joy Hernandez.