Organising International SOLIDARity in Latin America: NGOs and Trade Unions together to promote economic and social rights
In the framework of the DEVCO – SOLIDAR Framework Partnership Agreement “Organising International SOLIDARity”, NGOs and trade unions from Latin American and European countries will meet in Bogotá from 8 to 10 November, with the objective of identifying joint actions to ensure the full implementation of economic and social rights in both regions.
Through five thematic working groups (Women’s Rights; Youth Activism; Human Rights Defenders; Labour Clauses in Trade Agreements and Due Diligence for Multi-National Enterprises; Peace Processes in Latin America) participants will be able to present and discuss the different national and sub-regional challenges as well as to identify good practices for a move towards a sustainable economic model in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which all UN Member States signed up to in 2015.
The event – jointly organised by SOLIDAR, the Belgian Trade Union Development Cooperation Institute of the trade union confederation FGTB, the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), and FES Americas – is held in a continent where more and more people are taking to the streets to express their discontent towards economic reforms and the corruption of the political elite that is fuelling inequality. As in the case of Ecuador and Chile, protests have been accompanied by repression, violence and human rights violations.
In this context, the event wants to join forces to reiterate fundamental values: the respect of human rights, including freedom of association and the right to peaceful protest is a pre-condition to promote sustainable development.
Moreover, SOLIDAR considers that the EU should build its reinforced partnership with Latin America upon the joint commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through coherent political actions to ensure that no-one is left behind and that planetary boundaries are respected.
