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Guy Ryder attends Paris Armistice ceremonies on the eve of the ILO Centenary

The commemoration of the end of the First World War in Paris has a symbolic dimension for the ILO.

Press release | 09 November 2018
GENEVA (ILO News) – ILO Director-General Guy Ryder is one of the guests attending ceremonies held in Paris on 11 November to commemorate the end of the First World War. He is also taking part in the Paris Peace Forum on 11 and 12 November, attending two different events; a dialogue of international organizations on global governance and a panel on inequalities.

The commemoration of the end of the First World War has a symbolic dimension for the ILO. The Organization is about to celebrate its own Centenary next year since it was officially inaugurated on 11 April 1919, as part of the Paris Peace Conference.

100 years after armistice, the founding idea that lasting peace depends upon the realization of social justice speaks to us with great clarity."

Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General
In addition to the creation of the League of Nations, the Treaty of Versailles provided for a specific organization to handle labour issues. The Commission on International Labour Legislation drafted the Constitution of the International Labour Organization between February and March 1919, and it was later incorporated into the Treaty of Versailles.

“100 years after armistice, the founding idea that lasting peace depends upon the realization of social justice speaks to us with great clarity,” said Guy Ryder, before leaving for Paris.

“At a time of transformative change, growing tensions and widespread conflict, we are reminded powerfully of the responsibility of nation states individually and collectively through multilateral cooperation to redouble their efforts to establish social justice for all,” he said.

With multiple events and commemorations planned, 2019 will be a year of global celebrations to mark the ILO’s vision of universal peace based on social justice.