The Norwegian Human Rights Fund and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) will host a briefing and panel discussion on the state of workers’ rights and workers’ rights defenders. Women have been particularly vulnerable during the pandemic as they represent a disproportionately high proportion of the informal work force and the lack of protection of workers’ laws, social benefits, health insurance or paid sick leave that this type of work offers. We want to shed light on developments and initiatives by international and Norwegian actors to address the dire situation of workers around the world. Including the new initiative from the Norwegian government to combat modern forms of slavery through compulsory legislation for Norwegian companies, which is to be discussed at the Parliament this spring, and a new strategy by the Ministry of Development to combat modern forms of slavery.
Panelists
• Ms. Bushra Khaliq – Executive Director, Women in Struggle for Empowerment, Pakistan
• Ms. Joanna Bernice Coronacion – Deputy Secretary General, SENTRO, Philippines
• Ms. Anita Cheria – NHRF Local Consultant, India
• Mr. Aksel Jacobsen, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
• Ms. Julie Lødrup – First Secretary, LO, Norway
• Mr. Tomoya Obokata – UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Japan
• Ms. Golda Benjamin – Programme Director, and Labour Rights, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Welcome and introduction by Ms. Sandra Petersen, Executive Director, the Norwegian Human Rights Fund
Moderator: Mr. John Peder Egenæs, Secretary General of Amnesty International Norway.