World of Work Summit 2018
High-level panel discusses Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience
On 7 June 2018, the International Labour Conference (ILC) held a World of Work Summit to discuss the importance of employment and decent work for peace and resilience, with a specific focus on tackling the realities on the ground and on partnerships that can achieve real results. The Summit, which consisted of a High-Level Panel discussion and speeches by high-level keynote speakers, addressed the challenges of sustaining peace by providing opportunities in the world of work, especially for young people.
The century-long history of the ILO is closely connected with the global quest for peace. As World War II was drawing to a close, the ILC signed on 10 May 1944 the Declaration of Philadelphia, and two days later, on 12 May 1944, adopted the Employment (Transition from War to Peace) Recommendation (No. 71), which focused on the employment reorganization and economic reconstruction required after the war. The concept of lasting peace flowing from social justice was the most evocative expression of the ILO’s role in contributing to peace, and the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.
Over the years, through its international labour standards, policy advice, development cooperation and partnership with other international organizations, the ILO has been able to put its expertise and knowledge at the service of the most vulnerable populations in the world. The continued relevance of its mandate and the central role of employment and decent work in responding to contemporary crisis situations have been prominent in recent times, especially in the context of the recent refugee crises in many countries.
In 2017, the ILC adopted Recommendation No. 205 on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience, a landmark instrument for the world of work in addressing concerns that are at the crossroads of humanitarian and development assistance. The Recommendation provides guiding principles and policy guidelines to the ILO’s member States to respond better to conflicts and disasters, and calls for coherent and integrated strategies to prevent and to deal with crises, facilitate post-conflict recovery and sustain peace and resilience.
To respond to the growing requests for strengthening employment and decent work in countries affected by fragility, conflict and disaster, and in particular to the challenges faced by youth and women, the ILO has further launched a Jobs for Peace and Resilience (JPR) Flagship Programme. The JPR addresses root causes of economic, social and environmental vulnerability through a modular approach that integrates immediate job creation, provision of skills training and employment services, private sector and local development with adequate protection of labour rights, institution building and social dialogue.
The High-Level Panel provided the opportunity to discuss the role of the ILO in the emerging global architecture for sustaining peace, including through new strategic partnerships. It also focused on the relevance and effectiveness of integrated strategies aimed at promoting employment, decent work and social dialogue for addressing conflicts, including refugee crises, and supporting peace building.
In his remarks, the ILO Director-General highlighted the global consensus about putting prevention first and addressing the root causes of crises. Stressing the convergence between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Sustaining Peace agenda, he noted that the current context provides a momentum for a growing role of the ILO in building peace and resilience through inclusive growth, employment generation and decent work, which are core components for conflict prevention, post-conflict recovery and sustaining peace.
The century-long history of the ILO is closely connected with the global quest for peace. As World War II was drawing to a close, the ILC signed on 10 May 1944 the Declaration of Philadelphia, and two days later, on 12 May 1944, adopted the Employment (Transition from War to Peace) Recommendation (No. 71), which focused on the employment reorganization and economic reconstruction required after the war. The concept of lasting peace flowing from social justice was the most evocative expression of the ILO’s role in contributing to peace, and the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.
Over the years, through its international labour standards, policy advice, development cooperation and partnership with other international organizations, the ILO has been able to put its expertise and knowledge at the service of the most vulnerable populations in the world. The continued relevance of its mandate and the central role of employment and decent work in responding to contemporary crisis situations have been prominent in recent times, especially in the context of the recent refugee crises in many countries.
In 2017, the ILC adopted Recommendation No. 205 on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience, a landmark instrument for the world of work in addressing concerns that are at the crossroads of humanitarian and development assistance. The Recommendation provides guiding principles and policy guidelines to the ILO’s member States to respond better to conflicts and disasters, and calls for coherent and integrated strategies to prevent and to deal with crises, facilitate post-conflict recovery and sustain peace and resilience.
To respond to the growing requests for strengthening employment and decent work in countries affected by fragility, conflict and disaster, and in particular to the challenges faced by youth and women, the ILO has further launched a Jobs for Peace and Resilience (JPR) Flagship Programme. The JPR addresses root causes of economic, social and environmental vulnerability through a modular approach that integrates immediate job creation, provision of skills training and employment services, private sector and local development with adequate protection of labour rights, institution building and social dialogue.
The High-Level Panel provided the opportunity to discuss the role of the ILO in the emerging global architecture for sustaining peace, including through new strategic partnerships. It also focused on the relevance and effectiveness of integrated strategies aimed at promoting employment, decent work and social dialogue for addressing conflicts, including refugee crises, and supporting peace building.
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In his remarks, the ILO Director-General highlighted the global consensus about putting prevention first and addressing the root causes of crises. Stressing the convergence between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Sustaining Peace agenda, he noted that the current context provides a momentum for a growing role of the ILO in building peace and resilience through inclusive growth, employment generation and decent work, which are core components for conflict prevention, post-conflict recovery and sustaining peace.