GENEVA (ILO News) – The annual conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) will vote on Thursday 17 June on a new international labour standard on HIV and AIDS and the world of work.
If adopted by the International Labour Conference (ILC), the standard would be the first international human rights instrument to focus specifically on HIV and the world of work. The draft standard, along with a new resolution on its promotion and implementation, was approved Monday by the committee of governments, workers and employers convened here to discuss and agree its content.
The proposed standard contains provisions on prevention programmes and anti-discrimination measures at national and workplace levels aimed at strengthening the contribution of the world of work to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
The added resolution invites the ILO Governing Body to allocate resources to give effect to the standard and requests regular reports from member states on its implementation for review.
The proposed standard has already drawn the support of UNAIDS and WHO during the ILC discussions.
Dr. Sophia Kisting, Director of the ILO Programme on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work said today that “members of the HIV and AIDS Committee used their experience in implementing the ILO Code of Practice on HIV and AIDS to craft this landmark instrument that is real proof of the power of social dialogue. If adopted on Thursday, this standard will take workplace interventions to a higher level in the global response to HIV and AIDS.”
The Chairperson of the HIV and AIDS Committee, Ms Thembi Nene-Shezi (South Africa) said the Committee “had made history” in the “crafting of this instrument which should be a source of pride for the ILO and its constituents”.
For information please read our Q&A on the proposed Recommendation on HIV/AIDS and the world of work.
Note for the media:
A press conference will be held at the Palais des Nations on Thursday at 15:00 in Press Room 1.
For more information or to interview experts on HIV and AIDS, please contact the ILO Department of Communication and Public Information on +4122/799-7912 or Adam Bowers on +4122/799-6126 / +41/78-840-4373 or bowers@ilo.org
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