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Compilation of decisions of the Committee on Freedom of Association

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Trade union and employers organizations rights and civil liberties2

Right to life, security and the physical and moral integrity of the person

  1. The right to life is a fundamental prerequisite for the exercise of the rights contained in Convention No. 87.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3511203
2609Guatemala359630
2664Peru3551090
2859Guatemala364551
2923El Salvador367710
Digest: 200642
  1. Freedom of association can only be exercised in conditions in which fundamental rights, and in particular those relating to human life and personal safety, are fully respected and guaranteed.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2203Guatemala342509
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)3481323
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)372733
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)374908
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)378843
2445Guatemala343896
2489Colombia346461
2528Philippines3461437
2540Guatemala348813
2540Guatemala351894
2540Guatemala35961
2570Benin350269
2609Guatemala355863
2609Guatemala359630
2609Guatemala368484
2727Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)3561646
2727Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)358975
2745Philippines3601070
2761Colombia363427
2859Guatemala364551
2982Peru371700
3070Benin375113
Digest: 200643
  1. Freedom of association can only be exercised in conditions in which fundamental human rights, and in particular those relating to human life and personal safety, due process and the protection of premises and property belonging to workers and employers organizations, are fully respected and guaranteed.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)3341088
  1. The rights of workers and employers organizations can only be exercised in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats of any kind against the leaders and members of these organizations, and it is for governments to ensure that this principle is respected.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1787Colombia340607
1787Colombia343418
1787Colombia348274
1787Colombia353507
1787Colombia356554
2068Colombia35457
2169Pakistan344140
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)3481323
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)378848
2268Myanmar3401090
2268Myanmar3511037
2298Guatemala342548
2313Zimbabwe3431167
2323Iran (Islamic Republic of)342695
2382Cameroon35725
2393Mexico3401062
2445Guatemala343896
2445Guatemala359571
2486Romania3441213
2486Romania3491242
2516Ethiopia348684
2528Philippines3461437
2540Guatemala348813
2540Guatemala351894
2554Colombia350504
2609Guatemala355863
2609Guatemala359628
2609Guatemala368458
2609Guatemala378300
2619Comoros353580
2669Philippines3561253
2713Democratic Republic of the Congo3571102
2723Fiji358555
2723Fiji362834
2723Fiji370441
2735Indonesia358609
2761Colombia363427
2761Colombia367443
2768Guatemala363636
2850Malaysia363873
2859Guatemala364551
2913Guinea367806
2923El Salvador367710
2957El Salvador370411
2959Guatemala368505
2978Guatemala368519
2982Peru371700
3018Pakistan372494
3050Indonesia374468
3067Democratic Republic of the Congo376953
3113Somalia376987
3119Philippines378668
Digest: 200644
  1. It is important to take strong measures to prevent threats, statements of incitement to hatred and the looting of property, all of which are harmful to individuals and organizations that are legitimately defending their interests under Conventions Nos. 87 and 98, which have been ratified by the State in question. The rights of workers and employers organizations can only be exercised in a climate free from violence, intimidation and fear, as such situations of insecurity are incompatible with the requirements of Convention No. 87.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)374908
  1. A genuinely free and independent trade union movement cannot develop in a climate of violence and uncertainty.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1865Republic of Korea346787
2540Guatemala348813
2540Guatemala351894
2540Guatemala35961
2602Republic of Korea355671
2609Guatemala355863
2882Bahrain364288
Digest: 200645
  1. A free and independent trade union movement can only develop in a climate free of violence, threats and pressure, and it is for the Government to guarantee that trade union rights can develop normally.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2241Guatemala355760
  1. The exercise of trade union rights is incompatible with violence or threats of any kind and it is for the authorities to investigate without delay and, if necessary, penalize any act of this kind.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2786Dominican Republic376348
  1. A climate of violence, such as that surrounding the murder or disappearance of trade union leaders, or one in which the premises and property of workers and employers are attacked, constitutes a serious obstacle to the exercise of trade union rights; such acts require severe measures to be taken by the authorities.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)378843
2528Philippines3461437
2528Philippines3511203
2609Guatemala350905
2745Philippines3601070
Digest: 200646
  1. Acts of intimidation and physical violence against trade unionists constitute a grave violation of the principles of freedom of association and the failure to protect against such acts amounts to a de facto impunity, which can only reinforce a climate of fear and uncertainty highly detrimental to the exercise of trade union rights.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2723Fiji362834
  1. Facts imputable to individuals bring into play the States responsibility owing to the States obligation to prevent violations of human rights. Consequently, governments should endeavour to meet their obligations regarding the respect of individual rights and freedoms, as well as their obligation to guarantee the right to life of trade unionists.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2442Mexico342799
2446Mexico342834
2528Philippines3461440
2528Philippines3511203
2570Benin350269
2745Philippines3601070
Digest: 200647
  1. The mere absence of a labour dispute or trade union campaign does not necessarily preclude any connection of the crime with the exercise of trade union activities, membership or office.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines37081
  1. Blanket linkages of trade unions to an insurgency have a stigmatizing effect and often place union leaders and members in a situation of extreme insecurity.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3561182
  1. The killing, disappearance or serious injury of trade union leaders and trade unionists requires the institution of independent judicial inquiries in order to shed full light, at the earliest date, on the facts and the circumstances in which such actions occurred and in this way, to the extent possible, determine where responsibilities lie, punish the guilty parties and prevent the repetition of similar events.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1865Republic of Korea346794
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)378843
2268Myanmar3401090
2268Myanmar3511037
2313Zimbabwe3431167
2318Cambodia342253
2318Cambodia346388
2318Cambodia351252
2318Cambodia354264
2318Cambodia358327
2318Cambodia370164
2396El Salvador343645
2528Philippines3461438
2528Philippines3511203
2528Philippines3561155
2528Philippines3591112
2528Philippines364949
2609Guatemala359631
2859Guatemala364551
2923El Salvador367711
2923El Salvador377307
3032Honduras378386
Digest: 200648
  1. Crimes such as extrajudicial killings, due to their seriousness should be investigated and prosecuted ex officio, i.e. even in the absence of a formal criminal complaint being lodged by a victim or an injured party.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3591112
  1. It is important that investigations into the murders of trade unionists should yield concrete results in order to determine reliably the facts, the motives and the persons responsible, in order to apply the appropriate punishments and to prevent such incidents recurring in the future.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1787Colombia353512
  1. The Government is under a responsibility to take all necessary measures to have the guilty parties identified and punished in particular by ensuring that witnesses, who are crucial for the successful identification and prosecution of suspects, are effectively protected and to successfully prevent the recurrence of human rights violations. Even in the absence of a formal filing of charges, each case should be thoroughly investigated and, where witnesses have come forward, appropriate and adequate protection should be provided.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3561166
  1. The Committee has emphasized the importance that the guilty parties should be punished in proportion to the seriousness of the crimes committed and the employer organization compensated for the loss and damage on account of illegal acts.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)3631332
  1. Investigations should focus not only on the individual author of the crime but also on the intellectual instigators in order for true justice to prevail and to meaningfully prevent any future violence against trade unionists. It is crucial that the responsibility in the chain of command also be duly determined when crimes are committed by military personnel or the police so that the appropriate instructions can be given at all levels and those with control held responsible in order to effectively prevent the recurrence of such acts.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3561173
  1. The Committee requested a government to issue appropriate high-level instructions to: (i) bring to an end prolonged military presence inside workplaces which is liable to have an intimidating effect on the workers wishing to engage in legitimate trade union activities and to create an atmosphere of mistrust which is hardly conducive to harmonious industrial relations; (ii) to ensure that any emergency measures aimed at national security do not prevent in any way the exercise of legitimate trade union rights and activities, including strikes, by all trade unions irrespective of their philosophical or political orientation, in a climate of complete security; and (iii) to ensure the strict observance of due process guarantees in the context of any surveillance and interrogation operations by the army and police in a way that guarantees that the legitimate rights of workers organizations can be exercised in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats of any kind against their leaders and members.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3561184
  1. All allegations of violence against workers who are organizing or otherwise defending workers interests should be thoroughly investigated and full consideration should be given to any possible direct or indirect relation that the violent act may have with trade union activity.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3561143
  1. It is important that all instances of violence against trade union members, whether these be murders, disappearances or threats, are properly investigated. Furthermore, the mere fact of initiating an investigation does not mark the end of the Governments work; rather, the Government must do all within its power to ensure that such investigations lead to the identification and punishment of the perpetrators.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1787Colombia343422
  1. The Committee condemned the existence and actions of paramilitary organizations, which, in violation of human rights and of freedom of association principles, regard trade unionists as targets. It recalled that the responsibility to stop such organizations rests with the Government.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2489Colombia346461
  1. In cases in which the dispersal of public meetings by the police has involved loss of life or serious injury, the Committee has attached special importance to the circumstances being fully investigated immediately through an independent inquiry and to a regular legal procedure being followed to determine the justification for the action taken by the police and to determine responsibilities.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1865Republic of Korea346795
1865Republic of Korea353736
2365Zimbabwe3441434
2413Guatemala340903
2528Philippines3461449
2528Philippines3511236
2693Paraguay3561047
2743Argentina367160
2745Philippines3601070
2745Philippines364999
2745Philippines370679
2765Bangladesh360289
2765Bangladesh368200
2867Bolivia (Plurinational State of)363351
Digest: 200649
  1. In the event of assaults on the physical or moral integrity of individuals, the Committee has considered that an independent judicial inquiry should be instituted immediately with a view to fully clarifying the facts, determining responsibility, punishing those responsible and preventing the repetition of such acts.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2027344247
1937 344247
2169Pakistan36086
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)372734
2382Cameroon35725
2399Pakistan36095
2609Guatemala378317
2664Peru357813
2713Democratic Republic of the Congo371879
2723Fiji362834
2723Fiji365769
2902Pakistan3651121
2906Argentina365259
3018Pakistan372494
3050Indonesia374468
3113Somalia376987
Digest: 200650
  1. In the event that judicial investigations into the murder and disappearance of trade unionists are rarely successful, the Committee has considered it indispensable that measures be taken to identify, bring to trial and convict the guilty parties and has pointed out that such a situation means that, in practice, the guilty parties enjoy impunity which reinforces the climate of violence and insecurity and thus has an extremely damaging effect on the exercise of trade union rights.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
Digest: 200651
  1. In a case concerning a number of murders of trade union leaders and members, the Committee especially urged the Government to guarantee that the Public Prosecutors Office would systematically request information from the unions involved to determine the victims membership to the trade union movement and to identify possible anti-union motives behind the offences under investigation.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2609Guatemala368484
  1. In cases of physical or verbal violence against workers and employers leaders and their organizations, the Committee emphasized that the absence of judgements against the guilty parties creates, in practice, a situation of impunity, which reinforces the climate of violence and insecurity, and which is extremely damaging to the exercise of trade union rights.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2027344247
1787Colombia356562
1937 344247
2048Morocco346115
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)372734
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)374911
2318Cambodia342253
2318Cambodia346388
2318Cambodia351252
2323Iran (Islamic Republic of)3461118
2323Iran (Islamic Republic of)350987
2382Cameroon35725
2445Guatemala368419
2445Guatemala373319
2478Mexico37339
2528Philippines3461439
2528Philippines3511220
2528Philippines351
2528Philippines3561154
2528Philippines3591112
2528Philippines364956
2528Philippines364
2540Guatemala348813
2540Guatemala351894
2609Guatemala355863
2609Guatemala363611
2609Guatemala368484
2609Guatemala368
2609Guatemala378309
2723Fiji362834
2723Fiji365769
2745Philippines3601070
2902Pakistan3651121
2982Peru378643
Digest: 200652
  1. The Committee emphasized the need, in a case in which judicial inquiries connected with the death of trade unionists seemed to be taking a long time to conclude, of proceedings being brought to a speedy conclusion.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2609Guatemala368466
Digest: 200653
  1. The Committee has considered that detained trade unionists, like all other persons, should enjoy the guarantees enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights according to which all persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2268Myanmar3401094
2486Romania3491244
2508Iran (Islamic Republic of)3501097
2566Iran (Islamic Republic of)para983an
2591Myanmar3491081
2812Cameroonpara397
Digest: 200654
  1. As regards allegations of the physical ill-treatment and torture of trade unionists, the Committee has recalled that governments should give precise instructions and apply effective sanctions where cases of ill-treatment are found, so as to ensure that no detainee is subjected to such treatment.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2268Myanmar3401094
2723Fiji362834
2723Fiji365769
Digest: 200655
  1. In cases of alleged torture or ill-treatment while in detention, governments should carry out independent inquiries into complaints of this kind so that appropriate measures, including compensation for damages suffered and the sanctioning of those responsible, are taken to ensure that no detainee is subjected to such treatment.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2169Pakistan344140
2508Iran (Islamic Republic of)375363
2591Myanmar3491081
2882Bahrain364294
2882Bahrain37485
Digest: 200656
  1. As regards allegations relating to the ill-treatment or any other punitive measures said to have been taken against workers who took part in strikes, the Committee has pointed out the importance that it attaches to the right of trade unionists, like all other persons, to enjoy the guarantees afforded by due process of law in accordance with the principles enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2882Bahrain364294
Digest: 200657
  1. A climate of violence, coercion and threats of any type aimed at trade union leaders and their families does not encourage the free exercise and full enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set out in Conventions Nos. 87 and 98. All States have the undeniable duty to promote and defend a social climate where respect of the law reigns as the only way of guaranteeing respect for and protection of life.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2254Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)378842
2441Indonesia342627
2528Philippines3461459
2528Philippines3511226
2561Argentina349381
2669Philippines3561253
Digest: 200658
  1. Attacks against trade unionists and trade union premises and property constitute serious interference with trade union rights. Criminal activities of this nature create a climate of fear which is extremely prejudicial to the exercise of trade union activities.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2913Guinea367806
Digest: 200659
  1. The environment of fear induced by threats to the life of trade unionists has inevitable repercussions on the exercise of trade union activities, and the exercise of these activities is possible only in a context of respect for basic human rights and in an atmosphere free of violence, pressure and threats of any kind.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2853Colombia367482
3119Philippines378668
Digest: 200660
  1. As regards death threats made against the president of an employers organization, the Committee observed that the Government took the necessary measures to protect this employers' leader and his residence. It requested the Government to continue providing such protection for as long as his life is in danger.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
1700Nicaragua291308
  1. The Committee requested a government to take the necessary accompanying measures, including the issuance of appropriate high-level instructions, to bring to an end prolonged military presence inside workplaces which was liable to have an intimidating effect on the workers wishing to engage in legitimate trade union activities and to create an atmosphere of mistrust which was hardly conducive to harmonious industrial relations.
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Related CountryReportParagraph
2528Philippines3561184
2745Philippines3601076
3119Philippines378671
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