Sixth Committee (Legal) — 74th session

Observer status for the International Trade Union Confederation in the General Assembly (Agenda item 173)

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Documentation

Summary of work

Background (source: A/74/200)

In a letter dated 16 August 2019 (A/74/292), the Permanent Representatives of France, Germany and Turkey to the United Nations requested the inclusion of this item in the provisional agenda of the seventy-fourth session.

Consideration at the seventy-fourth session

The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 20th and 35th meetings, on 21 October and 20 November 2019 (see A/C.6/74/SR.20 and A/C.6/74/SR.35).

Statements were made by the representatives of France, Spain, Turkey, the United States of America, Philippines, the Russian Federation, Sweden and China.

Several delegations supported the request for the grant of observer status to the International Trade Union Confederation. It was noted that the expertise of the International Trade Union Confederation is generally recognized and that it represents over 200 million workers from 250 countries. It was emphasized that the International Trade Union Confederation contributes to the work of the General Assembly by allowing the voices of workers to be heard on topics such as social justice, the climate, the role of women and the integration of youth at the workplace. It was also recalled that the International Trade Union Confederation had been actively involved in the implementation, promotion and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, the International Trade Union Confederation enjoys exceptional status as part of the tripartite governance structure of the International Labour Organization.

A number of delegations, while appreciating the important and unique role that the International Trade Union Confederation plays in relation to the International Labour Organization, expressed the view that it is ineligible for observer status under General Assembly decision 49/426 of 9 December 1994 because it is not an intergovernmental organization. It was recalled that the General Assembly, in its resolution 71/156, did not intend to create a limitless category and advocated for strict compliance with the criteria laid down in Assembly decision 49/426 of 9 December 1994. Some delegations indicated that in their view consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and observer status to the General Assembly are mutually exclusive. It was noted that the International Trade Union Confederation could continue working effectively within the United Nations through its consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.

Action taken by the Sixth Committee

At the 20th meeting, on 21 October, the representative of France, also on behalf of other sponsors (see A/74/442), introduced a draft resolution entitled “Observer status for the International Trade Union Confederation in the General Assembly” (A/C.6/74/L.4).

At the 35th meeting, on 20 November 2019, the representative of France requested, on behalf of the sponsors, that the Committee defer a decision on the request for observer status for the International Trade Union Confederation in the General Assembly until the seventy-fifth session of the Assembly.

At the same meeting, the Committee adopted, without a vote, a draft decision under which the General Assembly would decide to defer a decision on the request for observer status for the International Trade Union Confederation in the General Assembly to the seventy-fifth session of the Assembly.

Subsequent action taken by the General Assembly

This agenda item will be considered at the seventy-fifth session (2020).

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