Freedom of association (FOA) is a vital human right included in many international and regional instruments, such as:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 20);
- The International Covenant in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 8);
- A great number of ILO Conventions, and in particular Convention Nos. 87 and 98.
To function properly, workers’ organizations must be able to carry out their activities in a broader climate of freedom and security which includes a number of freedoms.