15 May 2014
The Conference of European Churches expresses its solidarity with Turkish miners
The Conference of European Churches expresses its solidarity with the miners, their families and all Turkish mine workers when almost 300 workers lost their lives and more than a hundred are still missing during a mine explosion in Soma.
Deaths in mines, factories, shipyards are not a destiny, contrary to what the Prime Minister said. "The Conference of European Churches underlines the importance of safe and healthy working conditions" the General Secretary Guy Liagre said. "Precise regulations are needed, but also the application of existing rules and the recognition of workers’ rights, especially those in the extractive industries."
"One of the aims of the Conference of European churches is to raise awareness and consciousness in Churches and society about precarious working conditions and to strengthen the demand for safe working conditions" the General Secretary added.
The Conference calls the Churches to remember the dead, the injured, those still missing and their families in their Sunday prayers and urges political leaders to undertake all necessary measures to protect the social and economic rights of all workers.
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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches, partner organisations and national councils of churches from all over Europe. Its vision: A humane, socially just and sustainable Europe at peace with itself and its neighbours. Its mission: To promote and empower its members, sharing their spiritual life, strengthening their common witness and service, seeking reconciliation and fostering the unity of the Church. CEC was founded in 1959 and has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.www.ceceurope.org
For more information:
CEC General Secretariat
Phone: +41 22 791 6228
Fax: +41 22 791 627
Email: GenSecretariat@cec-kek.org