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The speed of political and social change in the Middle East and North Africa has astounded the international community.

In less than two months, dictatorial regimes in Tunisia and Egypt have been toppled by the will of their citizens, fed up with years of repression and corruption. Despite the plurality and complexity of the Arab world, it is sharing experiences that go beyond the historic, linguistic and cultural ties. The so-called Jasmine Revolution has blossomed in Tunisia and Egypt, as the success of people power has inspired similar uprisings against undemocratic regimes throughout the region. Mass demonstrations have taken place on a daily basis in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya and Yemen. In each country the governing regime’s reaction has been markedly different. As the authorities in Bahrain call for social dialogue with protesters, Yemeni authorities have incited clashes between pro- and anti- government protesters, while the Libyan regime has unleashed an unrelenting attack on protesters with machine guns and fighter planes in what has been described as a ‘genocide’, killing hundreds of protestors and injuring thousands more. EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, who was in the Middle East last week to meet affiliated union members, has urged governments in the region and around the world to step up the pressure on the Libyan regime to bring an immediate end the atrocities being committed against civilian demonstrators, and to bring those responsible for the heinous human rights violations to justice. EI unreservedly condemns the violence against protestors, including the intimidation and detention of trade unionists, for making legitimate demands for fundamental rights and freedom. Mr van Leeuwen said: “I understand diplomatic efforts have been actively seeking solutions to the crisis. I implore every EI member organisation to lobby their government to step up pressure on the regime, through the Arab League and the UN Security Council. We must end this ferocious repression, bring the perpetrators to justice, and secure immediate reforms that guarantee respect for human and trade union rights.” EI President, Susan Hopgood, said: “The people of Libya are being gunned down for demanding freedom, health, education and a decent wage. These are basic needs that we all share. As a global community of education workers we must raise our voices to condemn the massacres, and support the Libyans' right to call for change.”Trade unions’ crucial roleAcross the region, demonstrations have been marked by unprecedented levels of spontaneity. The successes in Tunisia and Egypt’s revolutions owed much to the cyber-activism of young people who shared information and organised themselves despite heavy censorship of the media and internet. However, social media does not make a revolution. People do. The fundamental role of independent and democratic trade unions and teachers unions, of human rights organisations, youth movements and opposition parties have, over the years, laid the foundations for dramatic change. InTunisia, trade unionists from all sectors joined together under the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) to play a key role in harnessing popular anger, by rotating strikes in major cities. UGTT’s regional and local branches supported the popular uprising by organising strikes and demonstrations, including 14 January, which hastened President’s Ben Ali’s resignation. InEgypt, demonstrators in Tahrir Square were joined by workers from the newly formed Independent Federation of Workers and Teachers, which was a decisive coalition in enabling the revolution.Algeria’sIndependent Labour Movement, which includes EI member SATEF, has been joined by the national committee for human rights and opposition parties to take the lead in the National Co-ordination Committee for Change and Democracy, which is challenging the military dictatorship in the streets of Algiers with daily demonstrations. Independent trade unions have played a pivotal role in building unparalleled levels of democracy and social justice within the region, heralding a milestone in their nations’ journeys to restore civil, political and trade union freedoms, establish democratic institutions, tackle corruption, and invest resources to develop quality public education, health, employment and root out all inequality. As one Tunisian teacher, affiliated to an EI member organisation, said: “The Tunisian people... men and women from all regions and generations, have brought down a corrupt dictatorship that brought ruin to the country, shame to its ancient civilisation, and was unfit to lead a people who prize justice and progress. Our struggle to preserve our gains in the education system and the status of women, to develop our opportunity for democracy, progress and social justice will go on.”