Message to ILO Officials in the Field and at Headquarters
Geneva, 23 August 2000
Dear colleagues,
1. As you know, the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations entitled "World Summit for Social Development and Beyond : Achieving Social Development for All in a Globalizing World" was held in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000. Commonly known as Copenhagen + 5, this was a particularly significant international event for the ILO. Apart from the UN Secretariat, which was directly responsible for the organization of the Special Session, the ILO was perhaps the most active and visible international organization throughout the whole week, both at the negotiations taking place at the Special Session, as well as in a number of seminars, events and activities that took place in parallel to the Special Session, within the framework of the Geneva 2000 Forum organized by the Swiss government.
2. Many of you contributed, in one way or another, to allow the ILO's vision, objectives and activities, be known, understood and supported by a broad audience of some 6.400 delegates and participants from all corners of the world who assembled in Geneva to engage in a fruitful debate on social development. This note is intended to share with all of you a brief overview of the ILO's involvement in the whole range of activities held during the week, and of the results obtained.
Special Session of the UN General Assembly
3. The ILO delegation to the Special Session was headed by the Director-General, and included a tripartite delegation of the Governing Body consisting of Ambassador Amorim, Chairperson of the Governing Body, Mr. Thüsing and Lord Brett. This event was attended by a total of 35 Heads of State and government. The Director-General addressed the Special Session on behalf of the ILO on Monday 26 June. His statement made on that occasion can be found on http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/dgo/speeches/somavia/2000/c+52606.htm. He also chaired a high-level round table entitled "Promoting Full Employment", one of three organized during the Special Session.
4. As far as the outcome of the Special Session is concerned, consensus was reached on a wide array of initiatives to reduce poverty and spur job growth in the global economy. At a time of widely diverging interests between developing and developed countries over trade and economic issues, countries managed to agree on a series of measures to promote social development while mitigating the adverse effects of globalization. The final, comprehensive text which emerged from the Special Session is divided in three parts, namely Part I which contains a brief Political Declaration, Part II on Overall Review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development, and Part III on further actions and initiatives to implement the commitments made at the Summit. It deserves to be read in its entirety (available on the Internet at : http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/geneva2000/.)
5. It is indeed rewarding to note that a number of further initiatives adopted at the Special Session were based on proposals submitted by the ILO during the preparatory process. ILO concerns feature prominently in the overall document adopted by the Special Session, which reflects the central role of employment and labour matters in combating poverty and exclusion, and the relevance of the ILO agenda for social and economic development. An oral report on the outcome of the Special Session was presented to the meeting of the ILO Advisory Committee on International Policy (ACIP), held on 6 July 2000, and a full report will be submitted to the Employment and Social Policy Committee of the Governing Body, at its 279th Session, in November 2000.
6. Of particular significance is the explicit endorsement of the ILO's Decent Work Programme and its four strategic objectives by the overall international community. Countries recognized the "need to elaborate a coherent and coordinated international strategy on employment" and supported "the convening of a world employment forum by the ILO". They agreed to support "continued efforts towards ratifying and fully implementing the ILO Conventions concerning basic workers' rights", "to respect, promote and realize the principles contained in the ILO Declaration" and committed themselves to"support and participate in the global campaign for the immediate elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including by promoting universal ratification and implementation of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention". The ILO's role in addressing "a range of support measures to informal sector workers, including legal rights, social protection and credit" and the strengthening of "modalities of coverage of social protection systems to meet the needs of people engaged in flexible forms of employment" is also highlighted.
7. The ILO can, furthermore, be expected to assist national governments in other areas related to the goal of full employment such as, inter alia, the re-assessment of macro-economic policies for greater employment generation and poverty reduction; the specific employment issues of youth; the creation of an enabling environment for social dialogue; the expansion of opportunities for productive employment "with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises"; the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of gender discrimination in the labour market; the protection of migrant workers; the devising and strengthening of social protection systems; and the strengthening of legislation or other mechanisms for determining minimum wages.
8. ILO concerns are also reflected in agreements related to the"the positive interaction among environmental, economic and social policies"; the institution of "systems for assessment and monitoring of the social impact of economic policies"; the undertaking of "comprehensive assessments of the social and economic costs of unemployment and poverty"; the reduction of "negative impacts of international financial turbulence on social and economic development" and the encouragement of corporate social responsibility.
9. Delegates emphasized the clear link that exists between poverty reduction and employment creation, following in that regard the ILO's approach as reflected in the contribution submitted by the Director-General to the First Session of the Preparatory Committee, entitled "Decent Work and Poverty Reduction in the Global Economy", (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb277/index.htm). The document adopted calls for the full integration of employment growth and poverty reduction goals into macro-economic policies; access of people living in poverty to skills training and micro-credit schemes; the use of employment policies, including self-employment, to reduce poverty; the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises; the improvement of the productivity and working conditions in the informal sector; development of cooperatives; and the development of social protection systems for vulnerable, unprotected people.
10. Other further initiatives relevant to the ILO's mandate and concerns include, inter alia, access to employment for persons with disabilities; rights and protection of migrants; social integration in post-conflict situations; contribution of indigenous peoples; empowerment of women including increasing women's participation in the labour market; reconciliation of work and families' responsibilities; training in skills and technologies necessary for the knowledge-based economy; HIV/AIDS; assessment of the social impact of structural adjustment programmes; generation of domestic revenue for social services; new and additional resources for social development; and the launching of a global campaign to eradicate poverty.
11. In the short political declaration adopted as part I of the document, Member States reaffirm the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted in Copenhagen and reiterate their determination to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration. They refer to the full respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, which is considered as an "essential element" for the "realization of social and people-centred sustainable development". ILO's concerns are also well reflected in the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social (Part II of the document). In this review, the delegates dully acknowledge the work carried out by our Organization since 1995, in particular the adoption of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work as well as of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (N°182).
Geneva 2000 Forum
12. The ILO was also fully involved in the forum organized by the Swiss Government entitled: Geneva 2000: The Next Step in Social Development. This provided the official umbrella for most of the parallel events held during the Special Session and a platform for the exchange and sharing of experience through special events such as panel discussions, exhibitions, workshops, etc., organized by international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other interested actors in the development process. Many of these events were hosted at ILO premises, which witnessed an unprecedented flow of people and activities, and a lively programme of information and cultural events projecting ILO's message to the world. During the whole week, the ILO opened its doors to all delegates and participants, who were able to familiarize themselves with the ILO's work, contact ILO experts and access technical information and advice. Every ILO programme contributed with enthusiasm and dedication, mobilizing innovative modes of outreach and communication.
13. The ILO itself organized a series of events as part of its contribution to the Forum. These included 16 workshops on a wide range of themes which provided an opportunity for an open discussion on issues of critical importance for the ILO's contribution to the implementation of the Copenhagen Programme of Action. They also represented a chance to discuss present developments affecting social progress and new initiatives that might be considered to further the Copenhagen Agenda. Speakers and panelists participating in various workshops included eminent specialists, senior policy-makers from governments and multilateral agencies, representatives of workers and employers' organizations, and activists from civil society institutions (for further information, please see the ILO web site on the Special Session http://www.ilo.org/geneva2000).
14. The Director-General chaired one of these workshops entitled "Including the Excluded in the World Economy"and addressed a number of other events organized within the context of the Forum, in particular the high-level symposium on "Partnerships for Social Development in a Globalizing World" organized by the host country. He was a speaker in Panel I entitled "Ensuring Decent Work and Living Conditions" where he addressed the issue of "a multilateral commitment to decent work". Both in his capacity as Director-General of the ILO and as the initiator of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, Mr. Somavia participated actively in a series of seminars, press and public information events, official ceremonies, and meetings with parliamentarians, delegates and representatives of other international organizations, keeping a full schedule of activities to promote the ILO agenda. ILO representatives were also invited to participate in other events organized by various institutions.
15. A number of other initiatives were organized by the ILO. These included the provision of cyberspace facilities and the development of a CD-ROM jointly prepared by the ILO and the UN, containing comprehensive documentation and information on the World Summit for Social Development follow-up activities and the preparatory process for the review of implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. Copies of the CD-ROM were made available to all participants. ILO information stands were permanently open in the ILO building and in other premises hosting the Geneva 2000 Forum, displaying documentation and multi-media packages which attracted considerable interest.
16. Finally, the ILO joined efforts with the Swiss and Geneva authorities in the organization of a number of public events aimed at highlighting the plight of children working under abusive conditions and stimulating world-wide action to bring child labour to an end. The ILO organized, among others, a ceremony with the participation of Mr. Pascal Couchepin, Swiss Federal Councillor, who, on behalf of the Swiss Authorities, signed various ILO instruments including the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (N° 182), in presence of children from several countries who sang and released balloons in sign of their solidarity with working children. In cooperation with the City of Geneva and the support of the Italian Government, a moving ceremony took place at the Victoria Hall, featuring a concert by children. Other activities co-organized by the ILO included a film festival on social development, video shows and an impressive exhibition illustrating the remarkable contribution made by the Brazilian city of Curitiba to environmental protection and social development, which brought colour and music to the colonnades of the ILO Geneva building, attracting a wide public.
17. Beyond its direct outcome, Copenhagen + 5 was a unique opportunity to advocate ILO values, objectives and activities to a large global audience. The effort is already reaping its benefits. Ahead lies the major responsibility for the ILO of responding to the expectations raised. The width and depth of the mandate received from the Special Session calls upon a prominent role for the ILO in addressing the concerns of the international community to make bold steps in reducing poverty and social exclusion through the implementation of the Decent Work agenda.
18. I take this opportunity to thank all colleagues for their valuable support and contribution to this unprecedented Office-wide effort. On behalf of the Director-General, I would like to convey to you his satisfaction and recognition, and his full commitment to the follow-up and implementation of the decisions made at this major international gathering.
Yours sincerely,
Maria Angélica Ducci
Director
Bureau for External Relations and Partnerships