Ei-iE

ESN holds General Assembly prior to World Congress

published 20 July 2019 updated 20 July 2019

The Education and Solidarity Network (ESN), of which Education International (EI) is a founding organisation, held its General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand on July 20. These organisations from all around the world, including education unions, share the values of solidarity and democracy as their members cooperate to improve the health and well-being of educational communities, educators and students, to improve quality education.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) representative Victoria Giroud-Castiella,over half of the world’s population has no access to social protection, and only 29% of the global population is covered by comprehensive social protection systems.

She reminded participants that the sustainable development goal 1.3 requires governments “to implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all” but she was adamant that social protection is a human right, highlighting the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work which tackles social protection.

She added that “EI and the ILO,  united on the concept of social protection, have been collaborating for 10 years, and agree on the spreading of knowledge on this topic”. She also mentioned the EI Resolution on Social Protection Education adopted in 2011.

“These 10 years of solidarity compel us to take action,” stressed for his part ESN President Matthias Savignac during the ceremony celebrating the network’s 10th anniversary during the meeting.