Oncoming activities IRENE

Oncoming

ONCOMING ACTIVITIES IRENE:
You are welcome to co-operate in the IRENE network.
The core themes on which IRENE plans actities are:

'Respect and Rights for Domestic Workers':
info: AvLuijken@irene-network.nl
below the recommendations of the November 06 conference
"PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS!!
and information about building an international network on domestic work.

'CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY':
info: PeterPennartz@irene-network.nl
below information about the activities of the:
OECDwatch
European Coalition for Corporate Justice – ECCJ Project

Reports of the recent IRENE activities are to be found on other pages of this IRENE web site

BUILDING UP A NETWORK RESPECT AND RIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS which is a direct result of the outcome of the international conference PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS!! organised 8, 9, 10 November 2006 - with the support of the ITUC.

For the declaration in English (2 pages) - click HERE:
Por el declaración en español (2 páginas)- click HERE:
Pour la déclaration en français (2 pages)- click HERE:

Domestic workers stem from the poorer parts of the population, migrate within countries, migrate to other countries, are predominantly women, but too often they are children. Trade unions working on the national and international level and the NGOs, which network nationally and internationally, can give the strong impetus for common strategies towards legal protection of domestic workers like:

fight for an ILO convention
fight for workers’ rights for all domestic workers
fight for ‘work permits for domestic workers’ in receiving countries
fight for ‘protection for migrant workers, by sending countries’
stop child labour.

BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK ON DOMESTIC WORKERS
Domestic workers join organisations in all regions of the world, of which some have formed regional connections. Within the trade unions there is a growing attention for unprotected, informal workers, including domestic workers. The need and notion of connected work is there. The result of international seminar is the start of a network with the tasks:

Continuation of network activities between the different NGOs and trade unions
Exchange and harmony of strategies towards the ILO, from NGOs and trade unions
Action to make ‘domestic work’ a priority area of the trade unions
Exchange of experiences of organising and supporting domestic workers
Be a platform for further initiatives.

The Global Union IUF will take the responsibility for the international network. Building up the network is a agreed a common task of the IUF and IRENE. IRENE will start be the secretariat for the international network on domestic work. An international steering group will be formed.

See for the more information
the page “workers in the informal economy’ of this IRENE website. Under "Domestic Workers"
The network is building its own website. Where possible it works in English, Spanish and French.
See http:// www.domesticworkerrights.org

See for earlier activities on DOMESTIC WORK
the page “workers in the informal economy’ of this IRENE website. Under "Out of the shadows"

info: AvLuijken@irene-network.nl

CAPACITY BUILDING - OECD WATCH PROJECT

OECD Watch is an international network of NGO's promoting corporate accountability. The purpose of OECD Watch is to inform the wider NGO community about policies and activities of the OECD's Investment Committee and to test the effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.IRENE is one of the founding members and coordinates part of the project. The project has its own web with information in English, Spanish and French: http://www.oecdwatch.org
PLANNED in 2007:

* Preparation of the third inter-regional training and strategy seminar of OECD Watch to be held in India

* as part of the project Promoting Convergence of CSR Practices and Tools among European, Socially Responsible Investors and National Contact Points for the ECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the following activities are being planned:

Organise three (3) regional roundtables in the following countries: Spain for Southern European participants; Finland for North-Eastern European participants; and Slovakia for Eastern European participants. These roundtables will raise awareness of NCPs' best practices and facilitate a dialogue between civil society organisations, governments and other stakeholders.
Organise a European-wide conference in Brussels to present proposals for the upward harmonisation of best practices among European NCPs.
Organise two (2) dialogue sessions with Eurosif and European SRI agencies.

For a short overview of the activities carried out by OECD Watch as part of the Capacity Building project of OECD Watch, which is funded by the Dutch Ministry for Development Co-operation and co-ordinated by IRENE.
download a 3-page text (pdf file) with the short overview HERE:
To view and print pdf-files you can download for free Adobe Acrobat Reader at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

The Programme has the following aspects:

Research and Fact Finding: The production/writing of case-based material
Capacity building of Southern NGOs in OECD Watch
Promotion of co-operation
Involvement of Southern NGOs in the lobby and strategy activities of OECD Watch
Exchange of information

The OECD Watch newsletters are published three times a year in English, Spanish and French. These are the links to the newsletter: http://www.oecdwatch.org

PUBLICATION: Five Years On - A Review of the OECD Guidelines and National Contact Points.
Furthermore an analysis of complaint cases has been made by OECD Watch.

info: peterpennartz@irene-network.nl

EUROPEAN COALITION FOR CORPORATE JUSTICE – ECCJ Project

ECCJ is a European coalition of NGOs and Trade Unions focusing on CSR and corporate accountability for transnational corporations and EU policies. IRENE is one of the founding members and coordinators of the project. The project has its own web http://www.corporatejustice.org
Activities for 2007 and 2008 include:

1. Develop recommendations and proposals at European level and in member States to make Companies and enterprises more accountable and responsible.
1.1 Development of a database on companies practices regarding their reporting requirements, the management of their supply chains, ways they worked with governments, and their liability).
1.2 Organisation of 4 seminars focusing on supply chains management, reporting, liability and public procurement.
1.3. Development of proposals for new legislations at national and European level.
1.4. Monitor EC proposals linked to Corporate Accountability.

2. Strengthening of the the Coalition by disseminating regular information and proposals for common actions on European CSR issues and by increasing exchange of skills and experience.
2.1. Recruit new members in southern and eastern European member States.
2.2. Disseminate outcomes of planned activities and diffusion of the EECJ newsletter to members of the Coalition; organise study visits from and to members of the coalition, espec. in the new EU member states; capacity building workshops on CSR

3. Facilitate civil society interactions by organizing common activities and events with other stakeholders.

4. Raise awareness and mobilize public support

5. Influence CSR policies at European and National level

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