6th June 2024
INTO Deputy General Secretary Deirdre O’Connor is due to deliver a short speech on behalf of the workers of Ireland at the International Labour Conference in Geneva. Held under the auspices of the United Nations, this global event brings together representatives of governments, workers and employers’ organisations. New policy priorities are discussed, international labour standards are adopted and their implementation is supervised.
As part of the discussion on the report of the International Labour Organization’s Director General, Ms. O’Connor will highlight the situation for workers including education and health staff in the Occupied Palestinian Territories at around 15.30 Irish time today, Thursday, 6 June and can be viewed live here.
The report is available here.
The INTO is appalled by the Israeli attack overnight on Al-Sardi School at Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The UNRWA school was being used as a shelter. There are 36 reported fatalities with many others seriously injured. In addition to the devastating humanitarian impacts of the ongoing violence in Gaza, access to education is being obliterated. Currently, there are 625,000 students being denied their right to an education. Ministry of Education reports show 6,650 students and 334 education staff have been killed and 85% of schools have sustained damage.
The failure of the international community to impose meaningful sanctions has led to Israeli impunity. The INTO once again calls for an immediate end to the brutal violence, the freeing of all hostages, the provision of humanitarian aid to all in need and the rebuilding of vital infrastructure including educational facilities where teachers in Palestine can work safely and steadfastly to secure a brighter future for their students.