Agreement between the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF) and
the International Labour Organization

The Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF) in Paris (hereinafter referred to as "the OIF"), represented by the Secretary-General, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva (hereinafter referred to as "the ILO"), represented by the Director-General;

Considering that the objectives of the OIF include those of helping to prevent conflicts, supporting the rule of law and human rights, bringing peoples closer together through mutual knowledge and strengthening their solidarity through multilateral cooperation with a view to promoting the growth of their economies, with respect for the sovereignty, languages and cultures of different States;

Considering also that the fundamental goal of the ILO is to promote justice, social progress and access to employment, specifically through the development of international standards, technical cooperation programmes and research activities, with a view to achieving material progress and spiritual fulfilment for all people in conditions of freedom and dignity, economic security and equality of opportunity;

Considering, furthermore, the many member countries and areas of activity which the OIF and ILO have in common;

Valuing institutional dialogue between governments and representatives of civil society in their respective bodies;

Recalling the institutional relations that have existed for many years between the two organizations;

Convinced of the importance of linguistic diversity as a factor in development and peace and as a key element in multilateralism and international democracy;

Desirous of continuing and strengthening their collaboration in order to enhance the effectiveness of their respective activities and better achieve their common objectives for the benefit of their members;

Agree to direct and harmonize their efforts to ensure reciprocal information, consultation and cooperation in accordance with the following provisions.

Article I
Reciprocal information

Subject to any provisions that may be needed to safeguard the confidentiality of certain documents, the OIF and ILO shall regularly exchange information, publications and any documents on matters of common interest, so as to promote the development of their activities. The practical means of organizing such exchanges shall be determined by the two parties jointly.

Article II
Reciprocal invitations

The parties shall invite one another to appoint representatives at meetings and conferences of common interest where the relevant regulations provide for the attendance of such representatives. To that end, each of the parties shall inform the other in advance of its schedule of meetings and of the nature of those meetings.

Article III
Consultation

1. A joint committee may be established to administer the application of the present agreement. Its members in that case shall be appointed by the Secretary-General of the OIF and the Director-General of the ILO. The practical organization of the committee's meetings and the content of its discussions shall be defined jointly by the parties.

2. The OIF shall inform the ILO of any of its projects relating to common objectives for which it desires the ILO's cooperation. Similarly, the ILO shall inform the OIF of any of its projects relating to common objectives for which it desires the cooperation of the OIF.

Article IV
Cooperation

1. As part of their respective programmes, the ILO and OIF may agree to formulate and implement joint collaborative activities, in particular in the following areas:

— the social dimension of globalization, within the framework of a comprehensive social and economic development strategy in which economic and social policies are mutually reinforcing with the aim of combating poverty and bringing about broadly based and sustainable development based on respect for the fundamental rights at work, promotion of access to employment and income, improvement and expansion of social protection, and strengthening of social dialogue;
— the promotion of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, namely freedom of association and effective recognition of the right of collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour, the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation — and of its follow-up, and the study, promotion and application of international labour standards;
— integration of young people at work, in particular through the development of vocational training and support to the creation and management of small and micro-enterprises and cooperatives;
— promotion of equal opportunities for men and women in the world of work, in particular through vocational training;
— strengthening of the training capacities of the Ecoles nationales d'administration and the regional labour administration centres, especially in Africa, making use in particular of distance training tools and new information technologies;
— strengthening of the capacity of management training schools with a view to promoting cooperation between enterprises;
— harnessing of new information technologies, such as the Internet, by vocational training providers, through a programme to introduce multipurpose cyber centres;
— promotion of cultural diversity and of the French language in the various spheres of activity of the ILO and OIF.

2. The development and implementation of joint activities in areas of common interest shall be the subject of special arrangements defining the practical, technical and financial modalities of participation of the parties which shall be clearly defined.

3. Any minor and routine expenses arising from the implementation of the present agreement shall be borne by each of the respective organizations. Any other obligation, activity or expenditure which either of the parties might wish to undertake under the present agreement shall be the subject of consultations between the ILO and the OIF with a view to determining the availability of the necessary resources, the best way of sharing the cost burden and, if resources are not available, the best means of obtaining them.

Article V
Implementing provisions

1. The Secretary-General of the OIF and the Director-General of the ILO shall consult one another as necessary on matters relating to the present agreement. They may agree on additional administrative provisions for the purpose of implementing the present agreement.

2. The present agreement, having been approved in advance by the Governing Body of the ILO and by the competent bodies of the OIF, shall enter into force on the date on which it is signed by the authorized representatives of the parties.

3. The present agreement shall not be amended except by formal agreement of both parties. Any such amendment shall enter into force three months after the date on which agreement is given.

4. Each of the parties may abrogate the present agreement by giving prior notice in writing, six months in advance, to the other party. Denunciation of the present agreement by one of the parties shall not in any way affect any obligations previously entered into.

5. Each party shall apply the agreement in accordance with its own rules and regulations and in accordance with any decisions by its competent bodies.

6. Any dispute regarding the interpretation or application of the present agreement shall be settled amicably by the parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the representatives of the OIF and ILO have signed two copies of the agreement in French, both copies being equally authoritative.

Done at Geneva, 13 February 2002.

For the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF):

(Signed) Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
Secretary-General.

For the International Labour Organization:

(Signed) Juan Somavia,
Director-General.

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Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, vol. LXXXV, 2002, Series A, No.1.