“We’ve been on a long journey with Qatar – and the reforms and the cooperation with the international community are indeed significant for the region. We all recognize that we are not yet at the finish line, and we will build on this solid foundation to address the gaps in implementation, and ensure that all workers and employers can fully benefit from these major reforms.” Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for the Arab States

Read ILO’s Report

Official Development Assistance (ODA) is one of the most powerful tools for enabling both governments and civil society to support those left furthest behind. But since 2005, when CONCORD began its annual AidWatch report, the European Union (EU) has failed to meet internationally agreed-upon ODA targets.

Each year, the AidWatch report monitors the quantity and quality of EU ODA through the ‘four Es’: Is it enough? Is it employed correctly? Is it effective? And is it equality-focused? AidWatch, and its ongoing activities, holds EU institutions and Member States accountable to meet their own target of allocating at least 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to ODA by 2030. It also provides recommendations for those funds to be used in a genuine and effective way.

The urgency of scaling up efforts towards more and better funding is only underscored in the current context of compounding global challenges.If we are to overcome the obstacles ahead, international cooperation will be paramount. And the EU, as the world’s largest donor of ODA, must do its part to move from a payer to player.

2022 – AidWatch Reports (concordeurope.org)

In a world of interlocking crises, Jayati Ghosh finds an antidote to despair in the potential of popular mobilisation for a new eco-social contract.

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“A climate change campaign that promises first to satisfy human needs and security, – not insatiable ‘wants’ – would be in a position to more forcefully attack right-wing complacency on the threat posed by climate breakdown and ecological collapse.”

A very interesting article by Ann Pettifor, honouring Mike Davies and in favour of economic rights!

This report presents country-specific data on the job creation potential and gender equity implications of additional investments by percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and it highlights inspiring examples where trade unions are working to put comprehensive care systems in place.

Read the ITUC report

The effects of climate change on people’s daily lives threaten the full enjoyment of human rights. The Human Rights Council adopted two landmark resolutions recognising the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (Resolution 48/13), and establishing the mandate for a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change (Resolution 48/14). Nevertheless, a broader dialogue between the UNFCCC and the UN human rights architecture seems necessary to establish a coordinated and coherent response to climate change and its effects on human rights.

This research paper analyses the intersections of these two legal systems. It does so by identifying how the climate change negotiations and the human rights architecture can contribute to strengthening international cooperation. It also recognises the need for a more profound international debate on the linkages between human rights and climate change consistent with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities included in the UNFCCC.

The working group of the Global Partnership on financing Universal Social Protection brought out some guidelines to be respected. They mainly point to:

• Emphasises the need for publicly organised, rights based social protection systems grounded in ILO standards
• Stresses the need for governments to assign greater priority for social protection financing in public budgets
• Outlines the need for strengthening progressive forms of taxation – including progressive income taxes, capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, property taxes, and corporate taxes
• Underlines the need for increased and better coordinated international support for social protection financing, and calls for considering new mechanisms for international financing such as a Global Social Protection Fund
• Discusses the importance of extending debt relief

The work was coordinated by ITUC