Trade unions

Trade unionists are at the forefront of the struggle for human rights. Many have lost their lives or risked their liberty in their attempts to claim basic human rights. These include freedom of association, the right to organise and engage in collective bargaining and freedom of speech.

Trade unionists are ordinary men and women. They have deeply held convictions, political beliefs and commitment to trade union ideals. These can make them prime targets of government repression. They have to deal with their organisations being banned, harassment, political killings and 'disappearances', arbitrary detention, torture, exile and murder.