Chile: ILO and the Museum of Memory present Database on Freedom of Association in the period 1973-1990
The initiative, which emerged in 2018, is of great relevance for the country's historical memory and the promotion of human and labour rights.
3 October 2023
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Santiago de Chile - As part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the coup d'état in Chile, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in conjunction with the Museum of Memory, presented an online database containing reports and documents relevant to human and labour rights violations that occurred during the period of the dictatorship in Chile.
This initiative comes after the ILO released in 2018 documents belonging to the Committee on Freedom of Association, a body of the ILO Governing Body that, since 1951, has examined complaints related to violations of international conventions and standards, especially those that have affected freedom of association. This historic development follows earlier steps taken by the ILO, when it opened files on the military dictatorship in Argentina and in the case of Poland.
Some of the documents - now publicly available - contain strategies pursued by trade union leaders and labour law experts to protect workers and trade union leaders who faced torture or illegal detention. These strategies consisted of filing complaints with the ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association, seeking justice and support.
The Museum of Memory and Human Rights already housed a database of the Committee on Freedom of Association, which includes public complaint documents and reports. However, the release of documentation by the ILO further enriches this invaluable archive. Access to this information not only benefits researchers interested in the promotion and defence of human rights, but also the general public, providing a direct insight into the magnitude of the historical events that marked the country.
The presentation of the database took place this Tuesday in the framework of the event: "Labour and Human Rights", organised by the Directorate of Labour, the ILO and the Museum of Memory, which was attended by more than 300 people, including the Undersecretary of Labour, Giorgio Boccardo, the Director of Labour, Pablo Zenteno, and the President of the CUT, David Acuña.
On the occasion, Patricia Roa, ILO Southern Cone Programming Officer, presented the joint basis, highlighting that this initiative takes on an even more significant dimension in the context of the commemoration of 50 years since the coup d'état in Chile, serving as a reminder of the importance of learning from history and protecting the fundamental rights of all people.
It is worth noting that on 11 September this year, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, referred to this national commemoration stating that: "Today, we pay tribute to the victims of that dark period and to all the people who have worked tirelessly to heal wounds and build a more inclusive and just society," adding that the coup and death of Salvador Allende - seven months before the Carnation Revolution in Portugal - moved him deeply, as did the stories of persecuted Chileans he later met as refugees.
Free access to the reports that make up the database represents a step forward in the search for justice, truth and reconciliation, and underscores the ILO's continuing commitment to the promotion of fair labour conditions and universal human rights.
The database can be consulted at: https://oit.cedocmuseodelamemoria.cl/
This initiative comes after the ILO released in 2018 documents belonging to the Committee on Freedom of Association, a body of the ILO Governing Body that, since 1951, has examined complaints related to violations of international conventions and standards, especially those that have affected freedom of association. This historic development follows earlier steps taken by the ILO, when it opened files on the military dictatorship in Argentina and in the case of Poland.
Some of the documents - now publicly available - contain strategies pursued by trade union leaders and labour law experts to protect workers and trade union leaders who faced torture or illegal detention. These strategies consisted of filing complaints with the ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association, seeking justice and support.
The Museum of Memory and Human Rights already housed a database of the Committee on Freedom of Association, which includes public complaint documents and reports. However, the release of documentation by the ILO further enriches this invaluable archive. Access to this information not only benefits researchers interested in the promotion and defence of human rights, but also the general public, providing a direct insight into the magnitude of the historical events that marked the country.
The presentation of the database took place this Tuesday in the framework of the event: "Labour and Human Rights", organised by the Directorate of Labour, the ILO and the Museum of Memory, which was attended by more than 300 people, including the Undersecretary of Labour, Giorgio Boccardo, the Director of Labour, Pablo Zenteno, and the President of the CUT, David Acuña.
On the occasion, Patricia Roa, ILO Southern Cone Programming Officer, presented the joint basis, highlighting that this initiative takes on an even more significant dimension in the context of the commemoration of 50 years since the coup d'état in Chile, serving as a reminder of the importance of learning from history and protecting the fundamental rights of all people.
It is worth noting that on 11 September this year, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, referred to this national commemoration stating that: "Today, we pay tribute to the victims of that dark period and to all the people who have worked tirelessly to heal wounds and build a more inclusive and just society," adding that the coup and death of Salvador Allende - seven months before the Carnation Revolution in Portugal - moved him deeply, as did the stories of persecuted Chileans he later met as refugees.
Free access to the reports that make up the database represents a step forward in the search for justice, truth and reconciliation, and underscores the ILO's continuing commitment to the promotion of fair labour conditions and universal human rights.
The database can be consulted at: https://oit.cedocmuseodelamemoria.cl/