Jin Sook Lee - the passing of a true workers’ champion is a reminder to us all

Jin Sook Lee – the Global Campaigns Director for the union Building & Woodworkers International (BWI) – was a passionate, thoughtful, and skillful advocate for workers’ rights around the world.

Jin Sook was a good friend of IHRB’s, collaborating with us over the past several years particularly on the situation for migrant workers in the Gulf region. She often found ways to forge partnership and cooperation, even in the unlikeliest of situations. She recently reflected on one innovative solution she helped implement for workers to organise in Qatar, a country where freedom of association is restricted. Typically practical, creative and forward-thinking, she helped broker a way in which workers could effectively enjoy the benefits of constructive social dialogue. That is a legacy that will have a meaningful, lasting impact for the many workers on that job site who are better able to assert their rights and less vulnerable to exploitation. Every business should take heed of this example of meeting the spirit of human rights, pushing boundaries and ensuring options available in domestic laws are fully used and explored.

An early champion of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, she also worked tirelessly to improve the situation for the many thousands of workers building mega-sporting event stadia and infrastructure around the world. From Brazil and Russia to Qatar and Tokyo, Jin Sook understood that sport should never be tainted with the suffering of the workers building the very venues in which so many are brought together in unity and harmony for the love of the game. Her ability to persuade organisers, governments, governing bodies, and businesses to improve their approaches was second to none. In particular, her work pioneering joint inspections on World Cup sites in Qatar will leave a lasting legacy in that country and beyond. Indeed, that a growing movement recognises the potential for sports events to be catalysts for developing good practice and advancing human rights owes much to BWI’s campaigning efforts led by Jin Sook. 

We have lost a true workers’ champion, but Jin Sook’s passing must be a reminder of the importance of the issues she dedicated her life to. We at IHRB and the Centre will continue to be inspired by her commitment, professionalism, good humour, and infectious passion.

Sincerely, on behalf of both our teams, who were enriched by every opportunity to engage with Jin Sook over the years,

John Morrison, CEO, Institute for Human Rights and Business
Mary Harvey, CEO, Centre for Sport and Human Rights