Leiden University joins Global Coalition for Social Justice
Global Coalition for Social Justice
Leiden University has become a partner of the Global Coalition for Social Justice, an international movement committed to advancing decent work and an honest wage and to eliminating child labour.
The Global Coalition for Social Justice is an initiative of the International Labour Organization, a UN agency in Geneva. The organisation wants to reduce inequality and enhance social justice in policy and action.
The coalition brings together governments, businesses, unions, NGOs and academic institutions to address concrete goals such as ensuring a living wage and safe working conditions, eliminating child and forced labour, and fighting workplace discrimination. Partners drive structural solutions to global challenges, while upholding respect for human dignity.
Obvious partner
Paul van der Heijden (Emeritus Professor of International Labour Law and former President and Rector Magnificus of Leiden University) advocated for Leiden joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice. ‘Leiden University is an obvious partner for the Global Coalition, bringing expertise in international labour law, human rights, inequality, migration and social cohesion. I think we can make a valuable contribution to this fantastic international coalition.’ Van der Heijden will coordinate the partnership for the university together with Yvonne Erkens from the Department of Labour Law.
Fairer world
Current Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl also stresses the importance of this coalition. ‘We in Leiden believe that concerted action and a shared voice can have a powerful impact. As a university, we want to make a meaningful contribution to a fairer world. When my predecessor Paul van der Heijden suggested joining the Global Coalition, we were instantly drawn to the idea. Joining aligns with not only the university’s international profile but also the values we aim to promote: an inclusive and just society, locally, nationally and globally.’