Support for Colombian VP's bid to lead UN labor organization
Support for Colombian VP's bid to lead UN labor organization
Thursday, 19 January 2012 12:02
Charles Parkinson
Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzon has received cross-party backing in his bid to lead the International Labour Organization, despite ongoing trade unionist murders, a press release confirmed Thursday.
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The ILO is a UN body responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. It is understood Garzon would use the role to focus on labour rights and the eradication of child labor.
However union leaders have criticized Garzon's candidacy given Colombia's exceptionally poor record on workers' rights. For several decades it has been deemed the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist - it's estimated thousands have been killed since 1986, by paramilitaries and security forces, with the most recent assassination happening just this week.
Last year was the first time in two decades that Colombia was not included in the ILO black list of nations that fail to comply with international working conditions.
More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/21631-colombian-vp-supported-in-bid-to-lead-ilo-despite-union-murders.htmlkm