Congress recognises and applauds the leadership role played by the ITUC in supporting the struggles of all democratic unions throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and the recent establishment of the ITUC-Arab regional organisation. The impact of Israeli- Palestinian conflict on the rights of all workers in the region and their families – Palestinians, Israelis and other communities – is rightly the central focus of ITUC concern.
Congress notes the role of workers in the inspiring political struggle in Egypt, North Africa and the Middle East, and affirms its solidarity with working people facing repression in countries including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies and caught in bitter conflicts in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Somalia.
Congress notes with regret the reversal of democratic processes and workers’ rights in the region, and extend solidarity with workers, and solidarity with working people caught in bitter conflicts in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Somalia.
Democratic unions across the region have shown the vital role they can and must play in delivering the hope for open, transparent civil societies where the rights of all people are protected irrespective of their ethnicity, nationality, religion or gender, and we extend our solidarity to them.
Congress stands in full solidarity with the ITUC in condemning terrorists and terrorism in all guises, noting that the leaders of unions have been targeted by various terrorist groups across North Africa and the Middle East.