MPs, media and communication experts sensitized to labour standards in Rwanda

KIGALI/NYAMATA (ILO News) – More than 50 Parliamentarians, media and communication professionals took part from 7-18 July to an ILO interactive training course designed to share knowledge on international labour standards (ILS) and the work of the ILO’s supervisory bodies in Rwanda.

For two weeks, Parliamentarians in charge of Labour and Social issues as well as Members of the Commission of Human Rights, journalists, press officers of key line ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and public relations of agencies and non-governmental organizations participated to an awareness-raising workshop on international labour standards.

This training is part of the Project “Awareness-raising and capacity building on human rights in Rwanda, with emphasis on labour rights”, which is co-funded by the European Union. It was organized and implemented by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO), in partnership with the Rwanda Journalists Association.

Participants were trained on the mandate and structure of the ILO; the functioning of the ILS system, from ILS adoption to their application and supervision; the role of the national Parliament in the ILS system with regard to submitting ILS, ratifying Conventions, enacting new legislation and amending existing national legislation to bring it in conformity with international standards; and the importance of collaborating with the Government on standards-related matters to ensure compliance with the obligations under the ILO Constitution.

Media and communication professionals play a leading role in shaping the public debate about social and development issues. By highlighting the relevance of ILS to social justice, the ITC-ILO trains media and communication professionals to equip them to handle labour issues in an effective way, broadening their agendas, improving their reports and analysis.

The Awareness-raising Project is part of the wider Program “Voice and Accountability” which aims at strengthening the voice of citizens and the accountability of authorities in Rwanda. It has the overall objective to promote human rights, in particular labour rights, in the country. It draws on the position of the Media, the Judiciary and the Parliament as key actors that can make a leading contribution in this respect.