G20 must back promises with action

  • Text by: Education International
  • Published: 03.04.2009
  • Last edited: 03.04.2009

The G20 Summit in London produced a better than expected result. Leaders recognized that the gravity of the financial crisis demanded a common commitment to re-start the world economy. They pledged “to do whatever is necessary to... restore confidence, growth and jobs.”

EI’s Global Union partners, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Advisory Council to the OECD (TUAC) will evaluate the pledges to repair the financial system, strengthen regulation, reform the international financial institutions, promote global trade and “build an inclusive, green and sustainable recovery.” Meanwhile, two key demands of Education International were included in the leaders’ communiqué issued at the end of their Summit:
  • Renewed commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals
  • Investment in people by investing in education and training
    • EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen said these two key promises were the result of worldwide pressure on G20 governments. “It is a first sign that when we mobilize with our trade-union partners and civil society, we can get political leaders to respond,” he said. “But this is only the beginning,” van Leeuwen continued. “We have a basis for action coming out of the G20. But all too often the declarations of Summits have lacked follow-up. It is critically important to step up the mobilization and demand that words be turned into deeds. For millions of people hit by the crisis around the world, every day counts,” he added. The Summit caught headlines with a pledge to a $US 1 trillion (1,000 billion) global package for the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other development banks. EI will work with Global Union partners to analyse the contents of this package and their implications for education in countries supported by these institutions.

    Extracts from the G20 Leaders Statement

    Para 2: “We face the greatest challenge to the world economy in modern times; a crisis which has deepened since we last met, which affects the lives of women, men, and children in every country, and which all countries must join together to resolve. A global crisis requires a global solution.”

    Para 25: “… we reaffirm our historic commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals and to achieving our respective ODA pledges, including commitments on Aid for Trade, debt relief, and the Gleneagles commitments, especially to sub-Saharan Africa; …”

    Para 26: “We recognise the human dimension to the crisis. We commit to support those affected by the crisis by creating employment opportunities and through income support measures. We will build a fair and family-friendly labour market for both women and men. We therefore welcome the reports of the London Jobs Conference and the Rome Social Summit and the key principles they proposed. We will support employment by stimulating growth, investing in education and training, and through active labour market policies, focusing on the most vulnerable. We call upon the ILO, working with other relevant organisations, to assess the actions taken and those required for the future.”

    These parts of the G20 Leaders’ Statement reflect points made in the Global Unions London Declaration. EI contributed to this Declaration which was presented to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown on 30 March.

    Related Links (external)

    The G20 London Summit – Leaders Statement, 2 April 2009

    The Global Unions London Declaration, 23 March 2009 (pdf)

    TUAC provisional statement

    Global Unions Publication: Getting the World to Work

    Global Unions Publication: Getting the World to Work

    Share this page