"Today, over 25 million workers worldwide are infected with HIV. Millions more - their families, neighbours, co-workers and employers - suffer the consequences of the epidemic.

AIDS devastates the lives of individuals, families and communities. At the same it is depriving many countries of men and women in their productive prime. We are starting to understand what it means to lose a generation, not least in terms of the transfer of skills. Some countries are facing the threat of economic collapse as a result of AIDS.

The epidemic is outpacing action. We can make a difference by taking the campaign against HIV/AIDS to the world of work. And we must reach women and men wherever they work.

Our constituents have agreed that the fight against HIV/AIDS in the world of work is a high priority. There is a shared interest in preventing the spread of the epidemic and mitigating its impact on workers, their families, communities and societies. I see a real impetus to put the work place in the front line of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The ILO aims for the elimination of all forms of discrimination at work. HIV/AIDS has emerged as a new basis for discrimination - our point of departure is that freedom from HIV/AIDS-related discrimination is the foundation for effective work place programmes for education, prevention and care.

During the past year, we continued to foster dialogue and build partnerships for action. The principles contained in the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS - including the elimination of stigma and discrimination - provided a sharp focus for our efforts.

On 12 May 2003, we were pleased to host an ILO-Global Compact policy dialogue on HIV/AIDS here in Geneva. During this event, the Secretaries General of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) issued a historic joint statement committing their organizations and their members to collaborative action on HIV/AIDS at all levels, especially in the workplace.

Such resolve by employers and workers, with the support of governments, to preserve the health and lives of workers and sustain output in the workplace is indeed a distinctive strength of our Organization's contribution to the global campaign against HIV/AIDS.

The ILO is a cosponsor of UNAIDS. We now also have partnership arrangements with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS; and the World Health Organization's new "3 x 5" initiative which aims to provide antiretroviral treatment for 3 million people by 2005. These partnerships enable us to better serve our constituents and help build their capacity to fight HIV/AIDS through the work place.

Already there is much valuable experience to be tapped. The tripartite meeting on best practices in HIV/AIDS workplace policies and programmes which will take place here at headquarters from 15 to 17 December 2003 offers a major opportunity to share and profit from such experience.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has observed that action against HIV/AIDS is still far short of what is needed. Today we heed his call and re-affirm our commitment to action. Let us apply our long experience of fighting discrimination at work to encourage the openness, the tolerance and the understanding that are necessary for success in fighting this epidemic. Let us use the work place to stop HIV/AIDS through education. Let us use the work place as a channel of support and care."