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29 July, 2002The ICFTU Survey 2002 reveals an increase in the assassination of trade unionists.
BRUSSELS: The annual report by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions documenting trade union rights violations and repression worldwide is out.
The 2002 ICFTU Survey, which covers the period from January to December 2001 and 132 countries and territories across the globe, reports 223 cases of murdered or "disappeared" trade unionists in 2001, or an increase of 14 over the previous year. In Colombia alone, there was a record number of 201 assassinations or disappearances.
Also because they stood up for workers' rights against the state or unscrupulous employers, some 4,000 trade unionists were arrested, 1,000 injured and 10,000 lost their jobs. The survey points out the stubborn anti-democratic stance of certain states and the fierce competition in the global economy, trends which can best be fought through international trade union solidarity.
To read the complete report or to search for information concerning a particular country, download the ICFTU Annual Survey 2002 on the associated link. The report exists in English, German, French and Spanish.