| Type |
Press release |
| Date issued |
19-22 October 2009 |
| Reference |
No |
| Unit responsible |
Regional Office for Africa |
| Download |
English - pdf 38.4KB |
ADDIS ABABA(ILO News) – High level judges and workers and employers representatives from Addis Ababa and 9 regions in Ethiopia are meeting under the auspices of the International Labour Office (ILO) in Adama from 19 to 22 October 2009 to address discrimination in employment on the ground of HIV/AIDS or disability.
Thousands of workers every day face discrimination at their workplaces on the basis of disability or HIV-status. What are the rights of such workers and how can they best be safeguarded?
Twenty five judges and legal specialists from Addis Ababa and nine regional states in Ethiopia will discuss issues related to ensuring judicial protection for women and men workers who face discrimination in the workplace. The workshop, convened by the ILO, focuses on HIV/AIDS and disability related discrimination, and aims to inform lawyers from Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Federal and Regional courts, Federal Civil Service Agency, Ethiopian workers and Employers’ organizations about issues related to HIV/AIDS and disability that commonly arise in the workplace, by using the ILO standards and Codes of Practice.
In July 2010, a new international labour standard focusing exclusively on HIV/AIDS and the world of work will be adopted which further strengthens the protection of workers. The adoption of this instrument is extremely significant as it will be the very first international labour standard that focuses exclusively on HIV/AIDS and the world of work and will establish key principles which the ILO’s 183 member States would be called upon to observe. The workshop participants will discuss the key principles contained in this new instrument and its relevance and impact at the national level.
According to George Okutho, Director of the ILO Office for East Africa, the workshop “will equip judges with a greater awareness of the national and international legal framework in the areas of equality and discrimination, with an emphasis on the rights of people with disabilities and with HIV/ AIDS”. ILO supports the rights of all to work in an environment free of discrimination.
For further information:
Ms. Christina Holmgren, International Labour Standards Specialist, ILO-SRO, Addis Ababa. holmgren@ilo.org
Ms. Pia Korpinen, Regional Technical Officer on Disability, ILO/Irish Aid Partnership Programme, PEPDEL and INCLUDE Projects, Ethiopia. korpinen@ilo.org
Mr. Yohannes Chanyalew, National Programme Officer, ILO AIDS, ILO-SRO, Addis Ababa. chanyalew@ilo.org
Mr. Fantahun Melles, National Programme Coordinator on Disability, ILO/Irish Aid, Partnership Programme, PEPDEL and INCLUDE Projects, Ethiopia, fantahun@ilo.org
For media coverage, interviews and photos ops:
Guebray Berhane, ILO Regional Office for Africa, guebray@ilo.org Tel: + 251/115-444415 or + 251/911-218115
Rahel Kebede, ILO Regional Office for Africa, guebray@ilo.org Tel: + 251/115/444454 or + 251/911-218113
The ILO is dedicated to bringing Decent Work to the people of all countries. For more information you can view a short Web movie
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