The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is a comprehensive list of inalienable human rights agreed upon by all nations, celebrates its 75th anniversary in December. To commemorate the Declaration the International Labour Organization hosted an event, focusing on Freedom of Association on 13 December, as this year also marks 75 years of ILO’s fundamental Convention, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No.87).
Freedom of association is a human right and a fundamental labour right, as elaborated in the UDHR. The further development of this right in the world of work is set out in the ILO’s International Labour Standards.
The ILO calls on all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring these rights and pledges to redouble its efforts to “support a future based on human dignity, freedom and social justice for all".
The event was presided by Mr Ramesh Krishnamurthy, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordindator in India, Mr Arvind Francis, Executive Director, All India Organization of Employers, and Mr Hiranmay Pandya, President, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh.
