Every year, millions of workers and communities around the world are exposed to deadly chemicals like asbestos—partly because a handful of countries are blocking global information on safety measures. The Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty designed to share information and protect people from hazardous chemicals and pesticides, is being deliberately stalled by corporate interests and some countries.

The lucrative scamming industry is of strategic interest to the Myanmar military and associated forces to fund their war on the Myanmar people, with Myanmar becoming a significant hub for transnational crime in the wake of the 2021 military coup. The Myanmar military has played a crucial role in establishing criminal enclaves along its borders, particularly in Karen State along the Thai border and in the Kokang area along the Chinese border.

The monthly average of Myanmar military airstrikes now exceeds 100, and this trend is expected to rise. The impact of airstrikes has been devastating, terrorising civilians by targeting schools, hospitals, religious buildings, and camps for internally displaced persons.

We are pleased to share the news that Sithar Chhim, President of the Labor Rights Supported Union (LRSU), representing workers at NagaWorld casino in Cambodia, has been released from prison. Sithar was detained in November 2022 after returning to Cambodia from the ITUC World Congress in Melbourne.

Despite the ongoing violence in Karen State, Myanmar, the KWO is standing strong to work for and with its community.

The summit united civil society, the Myanmar diaspora, and government representatives in a show of support for establishing a civilian and democratic government in Myanmar.