19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, jointly organized by ILO, International Social Security Association (ISSA) and Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Turkey, was held between 11-15 September 2011 in Istanbul. As the most important gathering in the occupational health and safety field organized every 3 years, the Congress attracted a record breaking participation of 5400 experts from 140 countries.
The call for a renewed commitment “To build and maintain a global culture of prevention” was the message of this year’s Congress, which focused on four main themes, namely:
- Comprehensive, proactive and preventative approaches to safety and health at work
- Systems approach for occupational safety and health
- Social dialogue, partnerships and innovation on occupational safety and health
- New challenges in a changing world of work and the global economy
Prior to the Congress, a Summit of Ministers involving Ministers of Labour from 33 countries was organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the Government of Turkey. At the end of the Summit, Ministers signed the Istanbul Declaration, building on the commitments of the Seoul Declaration signed in 2008 and recognizing that the right of workers to a healthy and safe working environment is a fundamental human right. |
