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Composite Emergency motion:
Passed at UNISON LGBT conference, 18-11-2007
Human Rights Issues are
LGBT Rights Issues: Human Rights Abuses
in Burma
Conference is appalled, despite
a majority of 13:2, China actively refused
to back agreement for a non-binding Presidential
statement condemning continued widespread
human rights violations inflicted on the
peoples of Burma by the military junta,
at last Tuesday's (13th November)
United Nations Security Council.
Forced labour, torture, ill
treatment, sexual violence and child labour
- together with starvation and forced migration
are widespread. Several million displaced
migrant-workers face a vulnerable and uncertain
future in neighbouring countries, as most
are 'undocumented'.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) and minority ethnic people
have also been targeted.
This is totally unacceptable
to all of us living and working in a free
and democratic society. We need to act now
to prevent the continuation of such violations
of fundamental human rights.
We welcome work being progressed
by the National LGBT Committee following
the substantive motion on Burma at last
year's Manchester Conference.
We call on UNISON members
and activists to continue to lobby the British
Government to apply robust political pressure
to prevent continued oppression of the Burmese
people, through the UN Security Council.
We call on Conference to:
-
call for fund managers
of any investments of UNISON members'
savings or pensions to withdraw funds
from any companies on the Burma 'dirty
list' (companies that invest in Burma)
-
work on actions highlighting
use of forced labour in Burma, in particular
working with the ILO (International
Labour Organisation) and Human Rights
Watch
-
campaign for the release
of all political prisoners, including
trade unionists and labour activists
-
push for a total arms
embargo: working with Amnesty to put
pressure on the Chinese government;
and with PSI (Public Sector International),
ETUC (European Trade Unions Confederation),
Indian, ASEAN (Association of South
East Asian Nations) Members and Russian
Confederation of Trade Unions calling
on them to lobby individual governments
who continue to trade and invest in
Burmese junta infrastructure, nuclear
industry and armament sale and procurement,
to withdraw, disinvest and to positively
use their political influence to bring
about peaceful transition to democracy.
-
Work with COSATU (Confederation
of South African Trade Unions) to pressurise
the South African Government to support
such a UN Security Council resolution,
isolating Russia and China further -
making their continued veto untenable.
-
provide financial and
organisational support to the Federation
of Trade Unions - Burma (FTUB) and Federation
of Karen Trade Unions (FTUK), encouraging
branches to twin with affiliates
-
support the invitation
of speakers to National, Regional, Service
and Self-organised group Conferences
and events, in conjunction with the
Free Burma Coalition, Burma Campaign
UK, AAPPB (Association for Assistance
for Political Prisoners Burma, Human
Rights Education Institute of Burma
(HREIB) and other Burma groups active
in the UK, as part of an ongoing membership
awareness programme.
-
Work with and contribute
to British based Burmese Development
Education charities BEST (Burma Educational
Scholarship Trust, Scotland) and Burmalink
UK, who work at grassroots level with
civil society activists and organisations
inside Burma and on the Burma borders;
particularly supporting initiatives
in areas of public service, education
and training, where UNISON organise
in the UK.
Moved by Black Members' Caucus
on behalf of Black and Disabled Caucus;
seconded by City of Edinburgh Branch.
