Situation Of Trade Unions In Colombia

EDM number 321 in 2000-01, proposed by Eddie McGrady on 09/02/2001.

That this House notes with concern that Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world in which to be a trade unionist; notes that 1,336 officials were killed in the last decade on the grounds of their trade union affiliation, 90 were killed last year, and the trade union centre Central Unitaria Trabajadores has seen 3,000 members killed since its inception; further notes the serious danger faced by trade unionists such as Alexander Lopez, President of the Cali Municipal Workers Union, who has had three attempts made on his life for carrying out his representative duties; notes this violence is perpetuated by paramilitary organisations aided sometimes openly by the armed forced and that it forms part of a wider scheme of human rights abuses which have caused misery and impoverishment; believes trade unions to be an essential mechanism through which ordinary people can lift themselves out of poverty and express themselves in a democratic manner; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to make urgent representations to the Colombian Government to more adequately protect trade unionists, to take more effective measures to tackle paramilitary impunity and to ensure that all aid packages towards which the Government contributes do not support the armed forces at the expense of trade unionists.

This motion has been signed by a total of 97 MPs.