Ei-iE

Four Global Union Federations (GUFs) have called for the continued educational empowerment of women, especially in light of the economic crisis. The GUFs are jointly lobbying the governments that will come together in New York for the 56th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) from 27 February-9 March 2012.

Leave no girls behind

“Governments must ensure that national education plans include adequate strategies and sufficient resources to meet the education needs of rural girls,” said Teopista Birungi Mayanja, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union’s General Secretary and EI Executive Board member.

“The provision of early childhood education, free quality public education, transitional and special education and vocational training will reduce child labour and increase enrolment and retention of girls in schools. Sustainable funding for education is essential, all the more so in times of crisis. We, as education unions, must ensure that no rural or indigenous girl is left behind!”

Global tax

To ensure such sustainable funding, the four global organisations - Education International (EI), Public Services International (PSI), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) - have called on governments to sign up to a global tax on financial transactions (FTT).

In a jointly issued statement, the organisations request that additional income generated from such a tax should be used to fund quality public services to support equitable social policies and job creation, fight poverty, and mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. The statement also reaffirms the trade union perspectives and worker’s rights to the international discussions on women’s equality.

Updates on UNCSW

Daily updates on women workers’ rights issues at the UNCSW are available at the joint GUF blog http://www.world-psi.org/uncsw