March 2021
Education unions mobilised for vaccine equity and a safe return to onsite education all around the world. Working together at both national and international levels, unions advocated against vaccine nationalism and put pressure on their governments to prioritise lives, not commercial interests.
Education International, the global federation of education unions, urges Members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to support the “Waiver from certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19".
Statement | Education International calls on governments to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines and other medical products by waiving intellectual property rights
“Just 10 countries, some of the richest in the world, have administered 75% of vaccinations. Meanwhile, around 130 countries that account for 2.5 billion people have not administered a single dose. This is not an issue on which we can afford to be passive. The only solution to a global...
Vaccine nationalism and crisis profiteering: Unions take action
Education International welcomes the resolution adopted by the European Parliament calling the EU to support the “TRIPS waiver” proposal initiated by South Africa and India to lift intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and medical products.
TRIPS waiver: EU Council and European Commission must support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all
In the face of increasing cases of COVID-19 in the education community, the Federaçao Caboverdiana dos Professores (FECAP) has urged the Government of Cape Verde to suspend teaching activities throughout the national territory for a 14-day period.
Union calls for increased vaccination of educators and equity for students as COVID-19 cases rise
The Education International Executive Board, meeting online on 26 May 2021, Sadly notes that: 1. COVID 19 infections in India have surged since April 2021 and as of 11th May 2021, the Indian sub-continent accounts for almost 50% of the world’s new COVID cases;
India: Educators call for worldwide solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic
With a few high-income countries taking over most of the global vaccine supply, the rest of the world is left fighting new waves of the COVID-19 pandemic without essential tools. In the meantime, new variants of the virus are threatening to send us all back to square one.
No one is safe until everyone is safe
Education International welcomes theresolution adopted by the European Parliament on June 10 calling “for support for proactive, constructive and text-based negotiations for a temporary waiver of the World Trade Organisation TRIPS Agreement”.
Lives over profit: European Commission must support intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and medical products
Education International joins over 200 civil society organisations to call on the European Commission and EU Member States to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and other medical products through the temporary waiver of certain provisions of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Education International calls on the European Commission to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines
Representing over 200 million workers worldwide, the Council of Global Unions has published a statement urging governments and in particular, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, along with the European Commission, to put people over profit and waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines and medical products at the World Trade Organization.
Global Unions demand urgent action for vaccine equity as new Covid-19 variant emerges
Education International member organisations in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, the United States of America and South Africa are calling on governments to support the temporary waiver of intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines and treatments at the World Trade Organization. If adopted, the waiver would enable an expansion...
Education unions in Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, the USA and South Africa call on governments to support vaccine equity