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ILO |
The
First National Round Table Discussion on Social Dimensions of Globalization
for the Russian Federation took place on September 25 in Moscow.
Vice Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Ms. Valentina Matvienko addressed the audience with the following words: "General task formulated at the biggest international forums commemorating the beginning of the new millennium is to turn globalisation into the locomotive of the social and economic progress, make its benefits accessible for all the states.
Russia considers that the United Nations and the International Labour Organization should become the key element to achieve this aim. We have always been advocating the increased role and the enforcement of the authority of the UN and the ILO in the XXI century including the sphere of international social and economic cooperation. We are sure that the issues of social development will remain on the agenda list of priority themes of the above mentioned international organizations".
Valentina Matvienko is a member of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, established by ILO in November 2001. The Commission has 25 members and is Co-Chaired by President Tarja Halonen of Finland and President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania. The Commission was established to respond to the needs of people as they cope with the unprecedented changes which globalization has brought to their lives, their families, and to the societies in which they live.
The Commission will examine ways in which international organizations can contribute to a more inclusive globalization process that is acceptable for all and will analyze the impact of globalization on employment, decent work, poverty reduction, economic growth and development.
Russia has been identified to be among the first countries where the World Commission will pilot a series of Round Table Discussions on Social Dimensions of Globalization. Jointly with the Ministry of Economic Affairs the ILO will organize series of Round Table Consultative Discussions on key issues of Social Consequences of Globalization in Moscow aiming to understand the anticipated benefits for Russia and identify measures and changes required to ensure the "human face" of the globalization.
The following questions should be discussed during national consultations:
How aware are ordinary people of globalization?
What are the most important values and human goals that should guide the process of globalization?
Will the country gain or lose from being more integrated in the global system?
What impact will globalization have on people’s work and lives?
How can the benefits of globalization reach more people?
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According to the Global Compact, launched at the UN Headquarters in July 2000, business leaders have new opportunities to build partnerships with the UN agencies, in particular, with the International Labour Organization. On the 19th of April the ILO Moscow Office held the first of a series of breakfasts with employers that are organized around one of the 4 ILO principles of the Global Compact. The effective abolition of child labour was discussed at the first one.
In order to further promote this initiative St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly and the ILO Moscow Office jointly organized a Round Table meeting with Saint Petersburg entrepreneurs on September 26 in Mariinsky Palace.
The Russian Federation is going to ratify the ILO Convention #182 this year – a tool to combat the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Convention targets child slavery, forced labour, trafficking, debt bondage, serfdom, prostitution, pornography and various forms of hazardous and exploitative work. It calls for immediate and effective measures to secure their prohibition and elimination as a matter of urgency.
In the light of the Russia’s plans to ratify the Convention #182 the role and responsibility of the employers regarding child labour are becoming more evident. Thus the Round Table had several objectives:
– To raise the awareness of Saint Petersburg business circles on the problem of child labour and brief them on the ILO Convention #182;
– To stimulate employers’ active involvement in the implementation of the St. Petersburg Tripartite Agreement, which for the first time in Russia includes provisions against child labour;
– To initiate drafting of St. Petersburg Bill on the elimination of child labour, which is also one of the provisions of the Tripartite Agreement of Saint Petersburg;
– To brief the employers on the "Codes of Conduct" (codes of ethics) concept. This is a very new initiative in Russia, and representatives of the Shell company shared their experience. The Shell Code of Conduct could become a role model for Saint Petersburg entrepreneurs.
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Ten leading representatives of the Russian business community together with the representatives of UN agencies attended a breakfast meeting on September 24 organized by the ILO on the important issue of discrimination.
The ILO Convention #111 on Discrimination, ratified by the Russian Federation in 1961, calls for a national policy to eliminate discrimination in access to employment, training, and working conditions, on grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.
In her opening remark, Ms Barrett-Reid, Director of the ILO Moscow office said: "Leading business men and women in the Russian Federation have an important leadership role to play in ensuring that principles of non-discrimination are implemented on a day to day basis. Much good practice exists in the Russian Federation and it is important that this good practice is disseminated".
Ms
Irina Melekh, specialist on gender issues in the ILO Moscow Office explained
the nature of discrimination, the different forms it takes and why the business
community should be interested in the subject and how it can make a difference.
The Global Compact was officially launched in the Russian Federation during a high-level roundtable meeting organized conjointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the UN agencies in November 2001. For the first time a Steering Committee on the Global Compact initiative in the Russian Federation was convened on April 11, 2002. This event showed the interest from the Russian entrepreneurs in participating in this endeavor undertaken by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in order to closely associate the worldwide business community with the promotion of fundamental rights.
Four of the nine principles promoted in the Global Compact are the ILO principles, reaffirmed in the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at work:
– Freedom of association and collective bargaining;
– Elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
– Effective abolition of child labour;
– Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
The breakfast was the second of four ones that are to be organized each around one of the 4 ILO principles of the Global Compact. The next will be organized around the issue of collective bargaining.
For more information please enter the ILO Moscow website at: www.ilo.ru
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20 November Africa Industrialization Day
21 November World Television Day
29 November International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People
1 December World AIDS Day
3 December International Day of Disabled Persons
7 December International Day of Civil Aviation
10 December Human Rights Day
29 December International Day for Biological Diversity
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OCHA United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
On 9 September, the United Nations agencies resumed their humanitarian
programme in the Republic of Chechnya, 
suspended
since 29 July following the abduction of Ms Nina Davidovich, the representative
of a local non-governmental organisation, Druzhba, a UNICEF implementing
partner. The suspension was valid for two days in the Republic of Ingushetia,
where Druzhba is based, and indefinite in the Republic of Chechnya, where
the kidnapping took place.
The UN decision, though difficult given the predictable effects for those who had benefited from assistance in the region, was taken for three main reasons. First, to show solidarity with Nina Davydovich, her family, and Druzhba, second, to underline that the UN works in the region on the understanding that safety and security of aid workers can be managed and, third, to enable the UN agencies to analyze the security situation and adjust its procedures if necessary. All UN partners, whether donors or non-governmental organizations working in the North Caucasus, supported and joined the UN position. The only exception from the suspension had been the provision of potable water to the population of Grozny, a project realised by UNICEF in cooperation with the Polish Humanitarian Organization and considered to be a life saving activity.
The decision to resume operations after an unprecedented six-week suspension by all agencies and NGO partners, followed extensive consultations with the Russian government, the donor community, non-governmental organisations, and civilians in need in the republic. Rising humanitarian need amongst the civilian population in Chechnya was the main reason for re-engaging in the region.
Since
9 September, the UN agencies active in the region, together with their NGO implementing
partners, have re-launched their assistance projects in the sectors of protection,
food, shelter, health water and sanitation, education, and mine action. For
instance, the World Food Programme (WFP), in cooperation with NGOs, was able
to resume its school-feeding project, which was very timely, considering the
beginning of a new school year. By the middle of September, it delivered 60
MTs of mixed food commodities to schools in Grozny city, and Ahkhoy-Martanovsky
and Sunzhensky rayons of the republic, enabling them to provide hot meals
to 19,000 primary school children on a daily basis.
In its statement on the resumption of operations the UN expressed deep concern about the situation in the North Caucasus and the risks undertaken by humanitarian workers underlined by the recent abductions. It re-stated its solidarity with Ms Davidovich, and with the head of the Medecins Sans Frontières-Switzerland mission in Dagestan, Mr Arjan Erkel abducted in the Republic of Dagestan on Monday 12 August 2002. The UN condemned these acts, and called for the immediate release of the two humanitarian workers. The UN continues to follow-up on both issues when in contact with the authorities.
Victoria Zotikova,
Press Secretary,
OCHA Moscow
tel.: +7(095) 232-30-11,
fax: +7(095) 232-30-17
e-mail: zotikova@un.org
