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Africa & Arab countries

Africa and Arab countries form one of the four regions in the PSI structure. Our 153 affiliated organisations in some 43 countries represent a membership of around 1.5 million people here. The regional secretariat is based in Lomé, Togo. Contact our regional offices.

Speech by Juneia Batista on behalf of PSI at the ILC 2017

15 June 2017
Junéia Batista, PSI WOC Chair

On 14 June, Junéia Batista, PSI WOC Chair, addressed the plenary of the 106th International Labour Conference in Geneva.

Demonstration in support of Algeria

13 June 2017

JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION TUESDAY 13 JUNE 13:00. PLACE DES NATIONS, GENEVA!

Algerian independent trade unionists attending the International Labor Conference in Geneva this year, say it is high time to finally put pressure on the Algerian government to stop the brutal violations of the human rights of workers who seek to exercise their right to join and form independent trade unions.

Ride Ride Ride for Social Justice - Route of Shame 2017

13 June 2017
On 9th June 2017, Public Services International organized the Route of Shame for the fourth time, inviting global trade union leaders, local unions, international organisations, NGOs and the people of Geneva to participate in a ride for social justice, trade union rights and the right to strike for all workers.

World Day against Child Labour 2017: "In conflicts and disasters, protect children from child labour"

12 June 2017
Photo: A. Gonzalez Farran/UNAMID

“Children in areas affected by conflict and disasters are among the most vulnerable. No child must be left behind.”, says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in his statement for World Day Against Child Labour.

Route of Shame 2017

09 June 2017

Join PSI and global trade union leaders on 9 June for the “Route of Shame” bicycle ride, calling for social justice at target embassies and missions in Geneva.

PSI addresses the Committee for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work at the ILC

06 June 2017
Junéia Batista, PSI WOC Chair

The International Labour Conference has taken off with PSI and its affiliates taking an active part, including in the Committee for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, where Juneia Batista, PSI WOC Chair and Sandra Vermuyten, PSI Head of Campaigns, are working with a large group of affiliates.

Three ways trade unions are making cities and local communities more equitable and inclusive

06 June 2017

In their position on Habitat III and subsequent submissions to UN Habitat on the Zero Draft of the New Urban Agenda (NUA), trade unions elaborated and advocated a set of practicable policy recommendations that continues to be a reference towards making urban and local economies sustainable and inclusive for all and generating decent work in cities and local communities. These commitments are contained in the final text of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted on 23 December 2016 by the UN Council, which is now to be honoured by UN member states.

PSI addresses the Committee on Labour Migration of the 106th International Labour Conference in Geneva

06 June 2017
Herbert Beck (Ver.di, Germany) and Annie Geron (PSLINK, Philippines) in the Committee on Labour Migration of the 106th International Labour Conference in Geneva.

As decided at the 325th Session of the ILO Governing Body, the 2017 ILC will hold a general discussion on labour migration, which will focus on effective labour migration governance at national, bilateral, regional and interregional levels, and on fair recruitment.

Liberia health workers fighting unexpected epidemic

02 June 2017
Meningitis outbreak

An unexpected epidemic in Liberia has highlighted the gaps that remain in the country’s capacity to react quickly and effectively. Health workers are demanding access to medical and laboratory equipment to avoid delays in diagnosis.

PSI affiliates in Swaziland march against Gender-Based Violence

01 June 2017

On the eve of Africa Day, 24 May, PSI affiliates in Swaziland - the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NUPSWAU) - embarked on a march against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the workplace and in society.

Right to Health: “an enabler of other rights”

01 June 2017
Kate Gilmour, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

When the Human Rights Council met for its 34th session, Deputy High Commissioner Kate Gilmore described the right to health as “an enabler of other rights”.

PSI initiates official relations with WHO and joins the G2H2

01 June 2017

PSI commenced the process of establishing official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) in May, 2017, to conclude this before the end of July. This is in line with the WHO Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), established last year by the 69th World Health Assembly.

What is at stake at the 70th World Health Assembly?

31 May 2017
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

STOP PRESS Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected as the next Director General of the World Health Organization, by the World Health Assembly, as we headed to press. Dr Ghebreyesus, who was presented by the Ethiopian government, served as the country’s Minister of Health (2005 – 2012) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012 – 2016). On 1 July 2017, he will take over from Dr Margaret Chan. It is the first time that the WHO Director General has been directly elected by the World Health Assembly.

Health for All: taking the campaign forward

31 May 2017
Rosa Pavanelli. PSI General Secretary

The two months since the publication of the debut edition of the Right to Health have been very encouraging, as you will read in this edition. The bi-monthly newsletter was launched during the PSI Africa and Arab Countries Regional Executive Committee (AFREC) meeting at Lagos, Nigeria in March.

What is in and what is not for workers in the final text of the New Urban Agenda: a trade union assessment of the outcome document of Habitat III

26 May 2017

In October 2016, over 30,000 representatives of national, regional and local governments, trade unions, business, academia, and civil society gathered in Quito, Ecuador, for the Habitat III Conference (HIII), where state representatives adopted the New Urban Agenda (NUA), the UN guidelines meant to serve as a reference for urbanization policies for the next 20 years.