Statement of Support for World Day for Decent Work 30/09/2009 4:43 pm

AMSTERDAM, September 30, 2009- The World AIDS Campaign expresses its emphatic support for the World Day for Decent Work, October 7, 2009, taking special note of the trade union call for action to continue to bring the world out of recession and to construct a new global economy. Decent work means ending the huge inequality between rich and poor which helped cause the global economic crisis and perpetuates and magnifies the conditions that help drive the epidemic.

The global economic crisis threatens recent gains in health and poverty reduction in developing countries resulting in further delaying action to reach the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. As a consequence even larger numbers of people living in the most economically productive periods of their lives will join the ranks of those living with HIV. Trade unions, led by the International Trade Union Confederation/Global Union’s “Global Unions AIDS Programme” (GUAP), play an invaluable and unique role in promoting and supporting national and international efforts to responding to the AIDS epidemic both in and through the workplace.

GUAP’s work raises the prospects for a world where decent work is the rule rather than the exception by reminding everyone that protection of workers’ rights extends to all workers including the HIV+ and those that are most vulnerable to HIV infections. Their Discrimination on the grounds amongst others of their sexuality, gender identity, etc. increase their poverty and vulnerability. GUAP belives ending all discrimination at the workplace, child labour and forced labour, and providing social safety nets for those who are out of work are not just the right thing to do, but are also essential elements in responding to AIDS.

Through social dialogue and collective bargaining workers gain protections and have a means to work with employers to respond to shared concerns—like bringing an end to stigma, promoting dignity at work and establishing joint trade union/ employer HIV prevention programmes in the workplace.

To build on the WDDW, the World AIDS Campaign will work to gain attention for GUAP’s efforts throughout the year and in keeping with the World AIDS Day theme—Universal access & Human Rights—the World AIDS Campaign calls on all member states of the International Labour Organization to adopt a strong, human rights oriented Recommendation on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work.

The World AIDS Campaign reaffirms its partnership with the Global Union AIDS Programme in our common efforts to hold governments accountable for their HIV/AIDS related commitments and to insist they provide the resources necessary to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Robert E. Lovelace tel: + (301) 762-5692 skype: rlovelace5042

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