Reach out to our experts
Anetha Awuku
Head of Projects and Programmes
Ramon Moraes Sales Moura
Project Officer
Elodie Richter
Project Assistant
What is the EU?
The EU is a unique economic and political union of 28 Member States that together cover much of the European continent.
The EU’s governing body is the European Commission (EC) which helps to shape the EU's overall strategy, proposes new EU laws and policies, monitors their implementation and manages the EU budget. It also plays a significant role in supporting international development and delivering aid.
Why are the EU and the EC relevant to IOE members?
Partnership with the EU is relevant for the IOE and its members because it supports private sector development and seeks to strengthen the capacity of employers’ organisations, as set out in the following documents: “A stronger role of the private sector in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries” (2014) and “The roots of democracy and sustainable development: Europe’s engagement with Civil Society in external relations” (2012).
What is the IOE’s position on the EU?
The IOE and the EU enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship and collaborate constructively on the achievement of shared goals across a range of areas.
How does the IOE’s engagementwith the EU advance the IOE agenda?
The IOE is implementing a joint initiative with the EC Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) entitled “Strengthening the capacity of the International Organisation of Employers as a global representative employers’ organisation and of national member organisations, particularly in least developed countries (LDCs)”. The collaboration aims to achieve greater coherence, consistency and impact of IOE actions; improve information flow and advocacy work; improve dialogue and the involvement of IOE members in EU development issues; and strengthen cooperation with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), thus contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 17 to “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development”.
The formal partnership agreement signed between the IOE and the EU in June 2018 means additional support for IOE efforts to enhance the capacities and services of independent and autonomous employers’ organisations to foster an enabling environment for business; to advance inclusive and sustainable development; and to promote responsible business conduct in an increasingly globalised world.
Additional joint IOE-EU activities include areas of interest endorsed by IOE members, including international labour migration, trade and employment, social dialogue and occupational safety and health.
IOE Statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day
Contact(s)
Roberto Suárez Santos
Secretary-General / North America
IOE celebrates Human Rights Day by commemorating progress made and calling for renewed efforts
Today, on Human Rights Day, the global employers’ community commemorates and celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a historic document, a milestone in international commitment towards the acceptance of a universal and effective recognition and observance of basic human rights; the Declaration presents a common understanding of the basic rights all people should enjoy and has served as a foundation for many national laws and international treaties. As such, it is also a key reference for business.
The 70th anniversary is a call for action to increase efforts to fully implement the UDHR. In too many countries and regions in the world, people, including employers, do not enjoy the rights granted to them by the UDHR. Efforts need to increase to improve its impact on the ground. Human Rights are everyone’s business. We all need to deliver.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are the authoritative framework on the roles and responsibilities of business and states in the area human rights. The IOE, as the global voice of employers representing more than 50 million companies, has fully endorsed the UN Guiding Principles and has confirmed its commitment, in its 2015 Bahrain Declaration, to promote the UN Guiding Principles and contribute to their implementation. To this end the IOE is engaged in awareness-raising campaigns, capacity building around the world, the exchange of experience and promoting the realization of human rights in concrete projects.
Human Rights will remain a key priority for the IOE. The IOE, nearly 100 years old, is committed to promoting business and human rights, including freedom of association. We are open and keen to work with governments and all stakeholders to change realities on the ground. Human rights need to become a reality for all.
Please visit our official YouTube channel and watch and listen to what our members around the world have to say! Alternatively, all the video statements are available through the links below:
Mthunzi Mdwaba – IOE Vice-President to the ILO
Guido Ricci – CACIF, Guatemala (in Spanish)
Renate Hornung-Draus – BDA, Germany
Hamidou Diop – CNP, Sénégal (in French)
Rajeev Dubey – Mahindra & Mahindra and the Council of Indian Employers (CIE)
Alberto Echavarría – ANDI, Colombia (in Spanish)
Cecilia Flores – CONFIEP, Perú and Carlos Scerpella – Head of Human Rights Working Group at the National Society of Mining Petroleum and Energy, Peru (in Spanish)
Thato Moagi – Director at Legae La Banareng Farms, South Africa
Mustain Billah – Steering committee member of ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour, Bangladesh
Kind regards,
Roberto Suárez Santos,
Secretary-General
IOE Statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day
Contact(s)
Roberto Suárez Santos
Secretary-General / North America
IOE celebrates Human Rights Day by commemorating progress made and calling for renewed efforts
Today, on Human Rights Day, the global employers’ community commemorates and celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a historic document, a milestone in international commitment towards the acceptance of a universal and effective recognition and observance of basic human rights; the Declaration presents a common understanding of the basic rights all people should enjoy and has served as a foundation for many national laws and international treaties. As such, it is also a key reference for business.
The 70th anniversary is a call for action to increase efforts to fully implement the UDHR. In too many countries and regions in the world, people, including employers, do not enjoy the rights granted to them by the UDHR. Efforts need to increase to improve its impact on the ground. Human Rights are everyone’s business. We all need to deliver.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are the authoritative framework on the roles and responsibilities of business and states in the area human rights. The IOE, as the global voice of employers representing more than 50 million companies, has fully endorsed the UN Guiding Principles and has confirmed its commitment, in its 2015 Bahrain Declaration, to promote the UN Guiding Principles and contribute to their implementation. To this end the IOE is engaged in awareness-raising campaigns, capacity building around the world, the exchange of experience and promoting the realization of human rights in concrete projects.
Human Rights will remain a key priority for the IOE. The IOE, nearly 100 years old, is committed to promoting business and human rights, including freedom of association. We are open and keen to work with governments and all stakeholders to change realities on the ground. Human rights need to become a reality for all.
Please visit our official YouTube channel and watch and listen to what our members around the world have to say! Alternatively, all the video statements are available through the links below:
Mthunzi Mdwaba – IOE Vice-President to the ILO
Guido Ricci – CACIF, Guatemala (in Spanish)
Renate Hornung-Draus – BDA, Germany
Hamidou Diop – CNP, Sénégal (in French)
Rajeev Dubey – Mahindra & Mahindra and the Council of Indian Employers (CIE)
Alberto Echavarría – ANDI, Colombia (in Spanish)
Cecilia Flores – CONFIEP, Perú and Carlos Scerpella – Head of Human Rights Working Group at the National Society of Mining Petroleum and Energy, Peru (in Spanish)
Thato Moagi – Director at Legae La Banareng Farms, South Africa
Mustain Billah – Steering committee member of ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour, Bangladesh
Kind regards,
Roberto Suárez Santos,
Secretary-General
