“It is clear that Tunisia has since the revolution been in the crosshairs of Islamist terrorist groups that are trying to destabilise the country and to ruin its economic prospects through their actions,” declared Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), in Brussels.
“The massacre took place in a centre of Tunisia’s cultural heritage, the Bardo Museum, and claimed the lives of more than twenty men and women. It was an attack against the values and human rights we cherish. This cowardly act is an expression of total disregard for those values. It is a wake up call for us to mobilise our forces, to show solidarity with Tunisian civil society, and to stand up against those who are intent on demolishing the achievements of the Tunisian revolution: democracy, human rights, tolerance, and the rights of women. In that sense, we are all Tunisians today.
We have full confidence in the strength of the Tunisian civil society, especially in the capacity for resistance of the Tunisian General Union of Workers, a driving force for democratic change. The ETUC has stood, is standing and will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Tunisian trade union movement.
The European Union and its Member States are called upon to strengthen their support for economic recovery in Tunisia – a priority for the stabilisation and development of the country. Every effort must be made to help the New Tunisia succeed and to defeat terrorism.”
The ETUC will be present in Tunisia at the World Social Forum from 24 to 28 March 2015 to reiterate its support for Tunisia and its fight against terrorism.
