Congress Executive Council member and INTO Deputy General Secretary Deirdre O’Connor has delivered a speech on behalf of the workers of Ireland at the International Labour Conference in Geneva in a special session organised to discuss the report of the ILO Director General on the 'The Situation of Workers in the Occupied Arab Territories'. (Full report available here)
Deirdre O'Connor at ILC June 2024 from Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Vimeo.
Held under the auspices of the United Nations, this global event brings together representatives of governments, workers, and employers’ organisations. New policy priorities are discussed, international labour standards are adopted and their implementation is supervised.
Ms O'Connor welcomed the decision by the Irish Government to recognise the State of Palestine and urged similar leadership in relation to sanctions:
'The failure of the international community to impose meaningful sanctions has led to Israeli impunity. The INTO once again calls for an immediate end to the brutal violence, the freeing of all hostages, the provision of humanitarian aid to all in need, and the rebuilding of vital infrastructure including educational facilities where teachers in Palestine can work safely and steadfastly to secure a brighter future for their students'.
Full text of speech available here and video here
Additionally, the INTO stated that they are appalled by the Israeli attack overnight on Al-Sardi School at Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The UNRWA school was being used as a shelter. There are 36 reported fatalities with many others seriously injured. In addition to the devastating humanitarian impacts of the ongoing violence in Gaza, access to education is being obliterated. Currently, 625,000 students are being denied their right to an education. Ministry of Education reports show 6,650 students and 334 education staff have been killed and 85% of schools have sustained damage.
