Place: Tunis, Tunisia

Dates: April 3-4, 2012

One of the most pressing tasks for the states of the MENA-region is to offer decent work opportunities and thus create social integration. This seminar was held to discuss Green Economy issues in a regional context of socio-political transformations and challenges that also present opportunities to reconsider development priorities and how to move forward on sustainable development.

According to UN-ESCWA the Middle East and North African (MENA) region faces severe challenges in implementing steps towards a sustainable transition of its economies and societies. So the question arises whether sustainable development and greening of the economy would be suitable for the creation of both green and decent jobs and the promotion of social integration.

Sustainlabour joined representatives of trade unions, civil society actors, government, intergovernmental organizations and media to discuss issues related to sustainable development and greening the economy in the MENA region, at a preparatory meeting organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Tunis, Tunisia.

Looking ahead to the UN conference for sustainable development (Rio+20) in June 2012, the seminar gathered civil society representatives from all over the region to elaborate on the issue of necessary policies for a green economy and to formulate common positions to be drafted and forwarded to the Rio conference.

Sustainlabour participated in this event and presented the international trade union movement’s key priorities and demands on the road to Rio+20, as well as preparatory activities for Rio such as the Trade Union Assembly on Labour and Environment.

The programme of the event is available here (in French)

Additional information is available here.