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\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f758\lang1033\cgrid {\f18\fs21 Date
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 
\par 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 Dear [MEP]
\par \~
\par I am a member of the University and College Union. The University and College Union (樱花动漫) represents 120,000 teachers, researchers and academic-related staff in universities and colleges throughout the United Kingdom. As an academic u
nion, we have long been deeply concerned about the victimisation and killing of trade unionists and teachers in Colombia, which is generally recognised as 'the most dangerous place on earth to be a trade unionist.'\~ 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 The British, European and internationa
l trade union community has worked for many years to end the culture of impunity which protects the perpetrators of these crimes and what appears to be the complicity of the Uribe government in the violent suppression of legitimate trade union activity. 
This suppression is actively inhibiting any move to a normalisation of living and working conditions for the majority of Colombia's population. 
\par \~
\par In this context, we share the concerns recently expressed by the Trade Union Congress and Justice for Colombia at the renewal of preferential\~trading status to Colombia\~by the European Union from January 2009 under the GSP+
 system, introduced in 2005. We note that the\~new system provides additional benefits for countries that qualify, but, crucially, requires them to ratify and 'effectively implement' a series of core international conventions on human and labour rights.

\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 These include: 
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs18 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \u-3913\'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li720\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 {\f18\fs21 the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour 
\line (ILO convention 182) 
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs18 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \u-3913\'b7\tab}freedom of association and protection of the right to organise \line (ILO convention 87) 
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs18 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \u-3913\'b7\tab}}\pard \fi-360\li720\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 {\f18\fs21 the right to organise and bargain collectively \line 
(ILO convention 98). 
\par }\pard\plain \s15\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \lang1033\cgrid {\f18\fs21 Colombia has ratified these conventions but has patently failed to implement them effectively - indeed it 
is in flagrant breach of them. 
\par }\pard\plain \s19\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f18\fs21\lang1033\cgrid GSP+ status is coming up for review later this year and\~
we join other trade union bodies in urging that the Commission starts an investigation into Colombia before it is awarded the trade preference again in January 2009. 
\par \pard\plain \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f758\lang1033\cgrid {\f18\fs21 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 We welcome the\~\ldblquote Written Declaration\rdblquote  which Richard Howitt MEP has put down\~in the European Parliament: (see }{\field{\*\fldinst {\f18\fs21  HYPERLINK "
http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/downloads/written_declaration_90.pdf" }{\f18\fs21 {\*\datafield 
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or the text), and would ask that an investigation is carried out as a matter of urgency, and its findings made public.}{\cs17\b\f18\fs21  
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\cs17\b\f18\fs21 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 樱花动漫 has written to Baroness Ashton, the European Trade Commissioner regarding this is
sue and would welcome any action you are able to take as a Member of the European Parliament to ensure that this issue is thoroughly investigated and that the Colombian bid for preferential}{\f1\fs20\cf9  }{\f18\fs21 
treatment under GSP+ is assessed according to the criteria applicable to the scheme. We are clear that it falls a long way short of the required standards and this should be made clear to the Colombian government.
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 At TUC Congress this year, 樱花动漫\rquote s delegation met Tarsicio Mora, the president of the largest trade union confederation in Colombia, the CUT and he impressed on them the 
severe restrictions, repression and not to say terror suffered by our fellow trade unionists there. We would urge you to do all you can to support them and to insist that the Colombian government demonstrates a genuine commitment to respect core labour st
andards as laid down by the ILO before GSP+ status is renewed.
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 Yours sincerely
\par }\pard \widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f18\fs21 
\par 
\par 
\par }}