fyi ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 16:38:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: APEC labour forum International Forum: Workers Rights & Democratic Development The Canadian Labour Congress and the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development will organize a labour forum within the framework of the 1997 People's Summit on APEC. The Forum will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia on November 20-21, 1997. The objective of the Forum is to strengthen collaboration between trade unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and labour support groups on the issues of labour rights and human rights. The Forum is comprised of two main components, The Tribunal on Workers Human Rights and the Conference on Workers' Human Rights & Democratic Development. Guests and speakers include: (* denotes confirmed participant) Luis Anderson - trade union leader Warren Allmand* - human rights activist P.N. Bhagwati - supreme court justice Edward Broadbent* - human rights advocate Irene Fernandez* - human rights advocate Han Dongfang - trade unionist Pharis Harvey* - labour activist Ranee Hassarungsee* - women's rights advocate Charles Kernaghan - labour activist Apo Leung - labour activist Francisco Sionel Jose* - author Yayori Matsui* - women's rights advocate Pierre Sane* - human rights advocate ' Bob White* - trade union leader THE TRIBUNAL ON WORKERS HUMAN RIGHTS (Open Event) November 20, 1997 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Plaza of Nations, Vancouver Six workers from six different APEC countries will testify before a panel of internationally renowned judges and the assembled delegates to the Peoples' Summit. The testimonies will emphasize the individual and collective experiences of workers in the context of the global economy and will focus on the following issues: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; migrant workers rights; workers in free trade zones; child labour; discrimination against women; forced labour. To receive a conference registration kit: Margaret Blamey The Canadian Labour Congress 1176-8th Avenue New Westminster, B.C. Canada V3M 2R6 Tel: 604-524-0392, Fax: 604-524-5165 email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Carole Samdup International Centre for Human Rights & Democratic Development 63 de Bresoles Montreal, Quebec Canada H2Y 1V7 Tel: 514-283-6073, Fax: 514-283-3792, email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> THE CONFERENCE ON WORKERS HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT (By Registration ONLY) November 21, 1997 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Landmark Hotel , Vancouver In order to develop a better understanding of the relationship between trade union rights and democratic development, the conference delegates will exchange strategies for improving respect for workers' rights, and seek to improve coordination of future initiatives. 9:00 - 9:45: Opening Plenary A brief plenary will precede a series of workshops. The plenary will introduce the context in which the workshop issues will be addressed, that is; an overview of findings at previous APEC Labour Forums in Kyoto and Manila, a briefing on developments within the Asia-Pacific Labour Network, and an analysis of the relationship between human rights and democratic development. Copies of the judges recommendations from the Workers' Tribunal will be circulated to the delegates during the plenary. 10:00 - 3:30: Simultaneous Workshops: * Making Transnational Corporations Accountable: Will examine such issues as codes of conduct, monitoring, consumer campaigns, government regulatory mechanisms and the practices of corporations in the world today. * Trade Unions and Democratic Development: Will look at the role of trade unions in fighting for democracy and how repression of trade unions is an assault on democracy. * Organizing Experiences in the Informal Economy or the Challenge of Subcontracting: Will focus largely on women who are found at the end of the subcontracting chain in both developed and developing countries including domestic workers, agricultural labourers, and migrant workers. * The International Trade Union Movement and Human Rights Groups Working Together: How can we collaborate, take part in joint initiatives and understand each others' mandates, commonalities and differences? Can the Asia-Pacific Labour Network and the broader NGO community develop specific joint initiatives for APEC in 1998? * International Trade Agreements and Labour Rights: Will compare and analyse different trade agreements and the politics of protecting labour rights. What networking strategies have been successful? What are the limitations and strengths of social clauses? * Migrant Workers: The workshop will focus on issues related to the re-integration of migrant workers, and discuss the regional and international efforts to have APEC countries ratify the UN Convention on Migrant Workers. * Workers North and South: What are our Common Interests? Will explore issues of protectionism and basic human rights. Does globalization necessarily entail a deterioration of workers rights in wealthy countries? What relationship have Mexican and Chilean workers established with Canadian and American workers in the context of NAFTA? 3:30 - 4:30: Closing Plenary The Labour Forum will conclude with a brief plenary which will establish a process for summarizing and distributing its findings. The concluding plenary will also determine a process for ongoing collaboration. Call for Papers: To submit a paper on one of the conference topics, please forward a diskette (WP5.1 or 6.0) to ICHRDD prior to October 15, 1997. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Forum: The Relationship Between Workers Rights & Democratic Development c/o Canadian Labour Congress 1176-8th Ave. New Westminster, BC Canada, V3M 2R6 phone: 604-524-0391 fax: 604-524-1531 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
