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9 December, 2005ICEM News release No. 29/2005
As the world commemorates International Human Rights Day tomorrow on the 57th Anniversary of signing the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 20-million-member ICEM, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, cautions that the vision and promise of the Declaration is clouded in today's world of violence and social inequality.
"We must stop to reflect on the language and the meaning of the 1948 Declaration," said ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs. "We must strive to rid the world of sinister forces intent on domination and hear the voices of those not free from want, and of those facing insecurity brought by global strife."
Higgs reminds ICEM affiliated trade unions, as well as the global community, that the UN proclaimed a World Program for Human Rights Education last year. "Education, together with meaningful employment opportunities, is the key to remove poverty and intolerance that exists in many parts of the world today," said Higgs.
On the 10 December observance of International Human Rights Day, the ICEM points to both rich and poor nations, many of which have repressive governmental regimes, for holding back the fulfilment of standards enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Upholding human rights applies as well to trade union rights, which are violated by a large number of countries. The UN Universal Declaration includes, in Article 23, that "everyone has the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests".
The ICEM points to continued restrictions on political liberties and democratic rights in Nepal as one example. Early this year, King Gyanendra placed the Himalayan country in a state of emergency and suspended free speech and assembly in efforts to stamp our political dissent.
The Global Union Federation also directs attention on the military leaders of Burma and to the multinational companies doing business with the country, where slave labour continues to be used at a large scale. Specifically, ICEM questions the recent and sudden shift by the military junta of administrative governmental services from Rangoon to a remote area in which thousands of civil servants were forced to relocate without adequate living and other conditions.
The ICEM also calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. "A solution must be found, giving the Palestinians a viable state and economic justice" stated Higgs.
"The ICEM will continue to defend human rights across the world wherever we find abuses and injustices," added Higgs.
On 10 December 1948, Member States of the UN proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations." The UN's charter itself set "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." Fifty-seven years later, we must ask ourselves how far we have come on that legacy.