Nurses' Declaration of San Francisco, June 22, 2013

Nurse Leaders from 13 countries in 6 continents who signed the declaration

We, the leaders of international nurses and healthcare unions affirm our intention to work collectively to protect our professions, our patients, our communities, our work, our health, our environment, and our planet.

To achieve these goals we declare the formation of Global Nurses United working together with all healthcare workers and other people committed to economic and social justice.

We are dedicated to international solidarity, support, and assistance around the following principles:

•  We oppose the harmful effects on our nations, our people, and our communities of globalization, neo-liberal policies, austerity, poverty, income inequality and mal distribution of wealth and resources, attacks on public workers, and climate change.
• We will resist the privatization of our public health systems and cuts in health care services.
• We will assist the efforts of nurses in all of our countries to secure safe care for all patients with safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and a safe workplace.
• We pledge our commitment for governments to guarantee the highest standards of universal health care as a fundamental, human right for all.

Nurses and health care unions from the following initial countries expressed their support to the declaration: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States