In 2009 the ILO celebrates its 90th Anniversary, against a backdrop of financial crisis and critical levels of unemployment around the world. Looking to the future means understanding the past, and as such the ILO’s 90th anniversary celebrations world wide focus on the theme of "90 years working for social justice" with a strong forward looking element, asking how the ILO's experience working through crisis can add a unique voice to the present day response to economic crisis.
Highlights
12 October - 2 December 2009, New York, USA Working for Universal and Lasting Peace: UN hosts exhibition celebrating ILO's 90th anniversary
The exhibit held during the UN General Assembly is drawing upon the extensive video and photographic archives of the ILO and its constituents (Employers' and Workers' organisations) to provide a visual history of the economic and social development around the world over the past 90 years.
9 November 2009, Ankara, Turkey Symposium: "The Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Declaration and Working Life in Turkey"
The University of Ankara, Faculty of Political Science, and the ILO are celebrating their anniversaries together, 150 and 90 years respectively. The Symposium focussed on the ILO's 8 fundamental conventions which are covered in its Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998). Prof. Dr. Mesut Gülmez, gave the keynote address on ILO's history as a human rights institution. Panels featured presidents of all social partner organizations as well as the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and prominent academics.
29 October 2009, Leiden, The Netherlands University of Leiden and Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment lead seminar on ILO's role in new socioeconomic order
Leiden University under the initiative of Dr. Paul v.d. Heyden, Dean of the University and Chairman of the ILO Committee on the Freedom of Association marks ILO's 90th anniversary with a seminar on ILO's role and relevance on key current issues including: the effect of ILO standards on economic performance, migration, and the role of the ILO as an international tri-partite UN Organization in the new global socioeconomic order following the financial crisis. Minister of Labour Piet-Hein Donner will open the seminar that includes Parliamentarians, policy-makers, scientists, administrators, entrepeneurs and workers.
19 October 2009, Vienna, Austria Committing to Social Justice during the ceremony at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Consumer Protection
During the tripartite commemoration of the ILO's 90th anniversary, Dr. Heinz Fischer, President of the Republic of Austria, stressed the importance of social partnership and the role of the ILO in pursuing social justice. Mr. Rudolf Hundstorfer, Minister of Social Affairs, Labour and Consumer Protection, stated Austria's support for the important milestones that are the Global Jobs Pact and the recognition of ILO as a partner in the G-20 process. Presented during the event, "Austria's Decent Work country profile" is the first such study to be published, in an effort to systematically track progress in achieving decent work for all by its Member States.
Featured
19-20 November 2009, Auckland, New Zealand Symposium. 90 years of the ILO: the significance for Australia and New Zealand The Symposium is organised by the Business and Labour History Group of the New Zealand & Labour Market Institute, Auckland University of Technology in association with the Auckland Labour History Group. AUT University is calling for papers on the following topics: What has been the significance of the ILO for Australia and New Zealand?, What influence have Australia and New Zealand had on the ILO?, What does the future hold for interaction of the ILO with Australia & New Zealand?. The abstracts of 300 words should be submitted to nzwalmi@aut.ac.nz by the 15th of September and papers accepted will be presented at the symposium. After refereeing of the full written papers, they will be published in a special issue of the NZ Journal of Employment Relations in June 2010.
