Statements and speeches

2014

  1. © Peter Parks / AFP 2024

    ILO Director-General Guy Ryder: “Decent work for women and men assures a better deal for families”

    15 May 2014

  2. ILO Director-General: Curbing chemical risks in the workplace

    28 April 2014

  3. © UN Women 2024

    ILO Director-General : “We join our efforts with all who are striving for gender equality”

    06 March 2014

  4. © Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP 2024

    ILO Director-General: Decent work, social protection and respect of rights central to sustainable development

    24 February 2014

    ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, tells Arab Forum for Development and Employment in Saudi Arabia that the demand for social justice must be met through decent work for all and that providing social protection of those in need, is an expression of the solidarity which holds societies together.

  5. © Bay Ismoyo / AFP 2024

    ILO Director-General: "We are faced with a deep social crisis, a crisis too of social justice"

    20 February 2014

    As the world marks the Day of Social Justice, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder urges "policy-makers to converge on the ambition of a real global socio-economic recovery – a recovery for all – and a Post-2015 Development Agenda that helps lift all out of poverty."

2013

  1. Including people with disabilities, everyone stands to gain

    03 December 2013

    “Too many people with disabilities are denied the dignity of work (...) We need to break barriers and open doors for an inclusive society for all,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in a statement on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

  2. Message from ILO Director-General Guy Ryder on the occasion of World AIDS Day

    29 November 2013

  3. Address of ILO Director General represented by ILO Regional Director for Arab States, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif at the launch of the National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon by 2016

    07 November 2013

    The ILO vows continuous support to assist Lebanon to achieve its goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour.

  4. © UN Photo/Martine Perret 2024

    Change requires collective responsibility towards the poorest

    17 October 2013

    "People living in poverty are particularly subject to discrimination and the exclusion that characterizes it because of their poverty (...) We cannot be indifferent - change requires collective responsibility towards the poorest and most vulnerable," says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in a statement issued on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

  5. Message from Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, on International Cooperative Day 2013

    06 July 2013

  6. Address by the Minister of Labour of Jordan, Dr. Nidal Katamine

    05 June 2013

  7. ILO Director-General's statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2013

    08 March 2013

    A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women. Stop violence against women at work.

2012

  1. Message by the ILO's Director-General on the occasion of International Migrants Day

    18 December 2012

    We celebrate the contribution of women and men migrants to growth and development in both their host and home countries. They replenish labour markets with much-needed skills and human and social capital.

  2. Message by ILO's Director-General on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2012

    02 December 2012

  3. Message by ILO's Director-General on World AIDS Day 2012

    01 December 2012

    This World AIDS day commemoration carries a unanimous hope that the world can bring an end to AIDS.

  4. Message by Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, on the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child 2012

    11 October 2012

  5. ILO Director-General's message on the occasion of International Youth Day 2012

    12 August 2012

  6. ILO Director-General's message for International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2012

    09 August 2012

    "Indigenous media, Empowering indigenous voices" – the theme of this year’s observance is a reminder that the voice and participation of indigenous and tribal peoples are indispensable in shaping a future that respects their dignity. The plight of many of the world’s indigenous and tribal women and men testifies to the urgency of the need.

  7. "Cooperative enterprises build a better world" - Statement by ILO Director-General

    06 July 2012

    Message by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, on the occasion of the 90th ICA International Co-operative Day and the 18th UN International Day of Cooperatives.

  8. Message by Juan Somavia Director-General of the ILO on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2012

    25 April 2012

    In his message for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated 28 April of each year, the ILO Director General reiterated the need to focus on the promotion of safer and healthier workplaces in the transition to a greener economy.