Events coverage

Juan Somavia Presents His Report to the ILO's 99th International Labour Conference

02 June 2010

The ILO Director-General Juan Somavia has called for a “balanced” policy strategy aimed at securing a “jobs-rich” economic recovery in the face of new threats to the global economy from the sovereign debt crisis and fiscal retrenchment.

Signing Ceremony with the Alliance of Civilizations and the ILO

25 May 2010

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia and Alliance of Civilizations High representative, and former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio signed a joint declaration of cooperation. The agreement is designed to promote inter-cultural dialogue in areas of common interest such as improving the situation of young people, addressing the particular situation of migrants, eliminating inequalities and combating all forms of discrimination.

UNDP's Helen Clark says Global Jobs Pact paves the way out of recession

22 March 2010

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark cited the ILO's Global Jobs Pact as the fair and just way for nations to emerge from the recession. Addressing the ILO's Governing Body, she said that if the market were left to its own devices, there could be a significant time lag between the return of economic growth and a lift in employment. The Global Jobs Pact is important because it puts jobs at the center of responses to the crisis.
"What's Working for Working Women" Panel Discussion Highlights

11 March 2010

Each year, ILO celebrates International Women's Day on March 8 with an event honouring working women of courage and conviction. In 2010, the ILO held a panel discussion about "What's working for working women", with participants from Angola, Botswana, Brazil, Ghana, and the Philippines.
Shakira Receives Social Justice Award at the ILO - Highlights

03 March 2010

Internationally-acclaimed recording artist and humanitarian Shakira was honoured today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) for her work promoting the advancement of children and youth around the world.
Shakira Receives Social Justice Award at the ILO - Extended coverage

03 March 2010

Internationally-acclaimed recording artist and humanitarian Shakira was honoured today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) for her work promoting the advancement of children and youth around the world

Actress Marlee Matlin Headlines Panel Discussion on People with Disabilities in Times of Economic Crisis

13 November 2009

Marlee Matlin, the youngest winner of an Academy Award for Best Actress and an advocate for persons with disabilities, was the special guest headlining a panel discussion on the impact of the global economic crisis on women and men with disabilities. During her visit to Geneva, Marlee Matlin also visited a classroom of deaf children who shared with her their hopes for the future and places to visit in Geneva.
Learning About Decent Work Through a Bar of Chocolate

05 November 2009

More than 2 million children from some 60 countries took part in the 2009 international letter writing competition for young people organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The theme chosen for this year was “Decent Work”, a theme at the heart of the work of the International Labour Organization (ILO). First prize was awarded to 14-year-old Dominika Koflerová from the Czech Republic. In her letter she writes about how a bar of fair trade chocolate lead her to realize the value of decent work. At an award ceremony at the International Labour Office in Geneva, Dominika read excerpts of her letter to an audience that included the UPU Director-General Edouard Dayan and ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.

Stand-Up and Take Action Against Poverty 2009, Geneva

19 October 2009

Hundreds of people gathered on 16 October at the ILO headquarters in Geneva to Stand Up Against Poverty in a joint action with UNDP and UN agencies. Together with ILO Director-General Mr Juan Somavia and UNDP Deputy Director Ms Najat Rochdi, participants read the SUTA 2009 Pledge and shared a soup for the benefit of a Red Cross Geneva training programme helping young people aged 16 to 25 to enter the labour market.
ILO and WTO Launch Joint Study on Globalization and Informal jobs in Developing Countries

12 October 2009

A joint study from the International Labour Organization and the WTO has found that high incidence of informal employment in the developing world curbs countries ability to benefit from trade openings. ILO Director General, Juan Somavia, and WTO Director General, Pascal Lamy, opened a meeting in Geneva to launch the study.