Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin to address ILO panel on people with disabilities and the economic crisis

GENEVA (ILO News) – Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin is to address an ILO public panel discussion on the impact of the global economic crisis on women and men with disabilities on Thursday 12 November 2009.

Ms. Marlee Matlin, deaf since the age of 18 months, is the youngest ever winner of an Academy Award for Best Actress for her 1986 film debut, “Children of a Lesser God” at age 21. Since then, Ms. Matlin has appeared in many other films and has had recurring roles in numerous American television programmes. She is also the author of “I'll scream later”, a New York Times best selling autobiography, and three children’s books, including “Deaf Child Crossing” and “Leading Ladies”.

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, Employment Sector Executive Director Jose-Manuel Salazar, Ambassador Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations at Geneva, Mr. Peter Purton, Policy Officer on Equality and Employment Rights, Trades Union Congress, United Kingdom and Dr. Bernie Jones, International Director of Shaw Trust Ltd, UK’s largest third sector provider of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people, will also address the challenges of the economic crisis for people with disabilities.

The panel, to be held during the ILO Governing body meeting, will examine how people with disabilities are affected by the crisis and also the importance of including them in measures to tackle the crisis.

People with disabilities represent an estimated 10 per cent of the world’s population, or some 650 million people worldwide. They are often excluded and marginalized, and are particularly vulnerable in times of crisis.

The event will take place on Thursday, 12 November 2009, from 2 to 3.30 p.m. at the International Labour Office in Geneva, Governing Body Room, Level R-3 South. Open to the public, Photo ID required for entry to ILO, French sign language interpretation provided.

For media:

The media is invited to attend the panel discussion at the ILO. For more information, or to request interviews, please contact the ILO Department of Communication and Public Information at +4122/799-7912 - communication@ilo.org