WFTU Representative at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Frank Goldsmith who is member of leadership of TUI of P&R, participated and addressed the 70th General Assembly of the UN marking the 70 years since its foundation which discussed the “Sustainable Development Goals” of the UN until 2030. WFTU Representatives amongst others addressed the Committee with the following words:
“The WFTU shares its own 70th anniversary with the United Nations. We were there in 1945 ready to embark on a new world of peace with people and workers rights. We believed then as now there can be no peace without justice and no justice without respect for the rights of workers and their unions. The United Nations as an organization had and still has the unique mission and international mandate to do what all of its predecessors attempted to accomplish.”
And continued: “As an organization of trade unions from all 5 continents we understand, first-hand, the reasons for these economic and social problems which therefore makes it possible to tackle them. We do recommend that ECOSOC and the UN as a whole be instructed by the United Nations’ Charter of 1945 and the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights to be the guide posts to accomplish, in whole or, in part, these “Sustainable Development Goals”.
The economic and financial crisis since 2008/09 still has many parts of the world in dire straits. The “Haves” who created this crisis are still doing well, some even better that before; and the “Have Nots” who are being asked to pay for this crisis and are doing, in too many cases, worse than ever. This makes this General Assembly mandate all the more important.”
“We must understand that there are ACUTE and CHRONIC areas. And, then there are ACUTELY CHRONIC Areas. For example, the barbaric crisis of refugees going from Syria and other Middle Eastern Countries to Europe is an acute problem.
Also, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza/Palestine is both acute and chronic. Each November Palestine is remembered but the UN must do a lot more. The Second Committee has a special mission which must become praxis: “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupation of the Palestine Territory including East Jerusalem and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.” [Item 64]. This is a dynamic period that requires the greatest creativity, understanding and militancy.
The United Nations must do a lot more and focus in Peace and Justice worldwide, Women and Youth Equality, Dignified Work, End to poverty in all forms, end to Hunger, Access to Clean Water and Sanitation for all, Protection of the Environment.
