Place: New York, USA

Dates: March 26-27, 2012

Sustainlabour as part of the trade union delegation, is participating in the III intersessional meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

Representatives from major groups and from the permanent missions are taking part in consultations on the compilation of the zero draft of the outcome document.

In light of the witnessed attempts by governments to avoid references to previous commitments to global initiatives based on a rights-based approach in the negotiations, civil society organizations and other social movements are calling for member states to bring the Rio+20 negotiations back on track to deliver the people’s legitimate agenda and the realization of rights, democracy and sustainability, as well as respect for transparency, accountability and non-regression on progress made.

Major Groups are demanding that their revisions and suggestions for the zero draft document, are considered by governments for their potential inclusion in the official text, and that they are ensured a seat at the table and a voice in the room where the negotiations are taking place.

In this sense, trade unions call for references to reflected in the document to decent work, including employment aspects of environmental policies, social protection and workers' rights.