Colombia: The Most Dangerous Place In The World To Carry A Union Card

galway | worker & community struggles and protests | event notice Sunday September 27, 2009 11:34 by Sarah - Amnesty International

Siptu and Amnesty International mark the ILO's Worldwide Day for Decent Work with a panel discussion on the situation for trade union activists in Colombia

Amnesty International Freedom Café 2-3 Middle St Galway

Tuesday 6 October 7.30pm

Panelists: Sarah Clancy (Amnesty International Campaigns Officer). Michael Mc McCaughan (Galway One World Centre, journalist & former Latin America correspondent for The Irish Times and The Guardian) Paul Michael Garrett (Chairperson, and Siptu NUIG Academic Section Shop Steward).

According to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) more than 2500 trade union activists have been killed in Colombia during the last fifteen years. Despite the fact that trade union activists in Colombia are seldom guilty of anything more than seeking to secure decent working conditions for themselves and their communities, they face severe ongoing repression including abduction, torture, intimidation and murder. There is a culture of impunity in Colombia, and those who commit these acts are seldom held accountable.

Siptu and Amnesty International Ireland are collaborating to mark the International Labour Organisation’s Worldwide Day for Decent Work to promote action on this urgent situation.

According to the organizers: ‘This event aims to be much more than just a “talking shop” - we aim to begin to organize solidarity actions between trade union and human rights campaigners in Galway and those in Colombia’.

There will be time for questions following the panel discussion and some suggestions will be presented for ways in which those attending may become involved in campaigning for the human rights of those involved in the Colombian Trade Union movement.

There is no charge for this event and all are welcome to attend.

For more information:

Sarah Clancy (Campaigns Officer at our Amnesty 's Galway office)

sclancy at amnesty.ie or 086 7924095

Paul Michael Garrett (SIPTU Academic Section, Shop Steward, NUIG)

PM.Garrett at nuigalway.ie or 091 495243