87th Session
1-17 June 1999
Address
by Mr. Muhammad Mumuni, President of the 87th Session of the International
Labour Conference |
It is with a profound sense of honour, humility and pleasure that I express my heartfelt gratitude to the African tripartite and other Government groups for nominating me to preside over the 87th Session of the International Labour Conference, and to the Employers' and Workers' groups for their endorsement of my nomination. The President, the Government and the people of the Republic of Ghana join me in this, and I bring to you their warm greetings.
This great honour belongs to my country and Africa, but the attendant responsibilities rest on my shoulders. I am aware of the magnitude of my task as President of the 87th Session of the International Labour Conference, but I am confident that, with your steadfast support, cooperation and understanding, our shared aspirations will have been realized by the end of the session.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to my distinguished predecessor, Mr. Jean-Jacques Oechslin, for the way in which he presided over the 86th Session of our Conference with such talent, skill and effectiveness. While acknowledging the remarkable achievements of the former Director-General, Mr. Michel Hansenne, I am privileged to welcome the new Director-General, Mr. Juan Somavia, and extend to him our best wishes for a rewarding tenure as he steers our Organization into the next millennium.
Since this is the last session of the International Labour Conference in the twentieth century, the 87th Session holds great expectations for the cause of social justice as humanity prepares to enter the next millennium. The session has the responsibility of bringing to fruition the hopes of the international community for a breakthrough in such major areas of concern as child labour, maternity protection and the role of the ILO in technical cooperation. With regard to child labour, this session should take our Organization well beyond sustained consultations, especially among governments, and reach consensus on proposals for a Convention and a Recommendation which would proffer guidance for member States on the implementation of the Convention.
It would therefore not be in our common interest to engage in protracted argumentation on this important issue. Our goal is to formulate measures to protect the rights of the child and, thereby, assist in the preparation of posterity for the challenges of the future. This aspiration can be achieved only with a disposition of flexibility on the part of all, sensitivity to the principles, to the viewpoints of others, and the will to achieve early consensus on all issues. Judicious compromises, rather than intractable divergencies, have a strong probability of yielding a common position which accommodates all shades of opinion and thus contributes to the development of appropriate strategies for the elimination of child labour.
At this crucial juncture in history when the focus is on the need for social order and stability, and at a time when the rules of international institutions seem to be in the process of being redefined, the International Labour Organization, the oldest specialized agency of the United Nations system, is expected to reassert the philosophies and core principles which underpin the tripartism of the Organization. The wave of advocacy for fundamental human rights should enrich the programme of action of the ILO and reinforce the determination of tripartism to pursue its objectives and aspirations. The competent international institutions are urged to cooperate with governments and with the other constituents of the Organization's tripartite structure in the pursuit of the goals of the ILO.
Much as the ILO is not encouraged to transcend the bounds of its competence, it will be expected to maintain its leadership and the tenacious grip of its authority over labour standards and issues, and to pursue with increased vigour its primary objective of promoting social justice. Towards this end, every effort should be made to ensure that the ILO Declaration of principles is utilized to underscore labour standards and fundamental principles relating to freedom of association, freedom from forced labour and child labour, as well as equal opportunities regardless of gender, race or creed. Indeed, any attempt -- however subtle or refined -- to use the Declaration for punitive, protectionist trade purposes or other covert purposes would undermine the credibility of the Organization.
In the wake of unprecedented economic, political, structural and attitudinal reforms in the changing global community of new actors and factors, it is imperative for the ILO to address the social repercussions of globalization and liberalization, since it is generally acknowledged that the effects of these phenomena on sustained economic growth and development are not all positive.
Furthermore, the emerging landscape of social and economic problems is aggravated by widespread unemployment and an increase in abject poverty, particularly in the developing world, which makes it extremely difficult for the majority of the world's population to scrape a decent living. With financial resources to needy countries on the decline, the ILO may wish to review its technical cooperation in order to augment and diversify support for decent work, especially for the less privileged communities of the world. In remaining committed to its mandate, the ILO should continue to strive with renewed vigour to create conditions conducive to freedom and dignity, economic security and equal opportunity.
It is disturbing that, barely four years after the commemoration of the golden jubilee of the United Nations organization, a body which was founded for the preservation of peace and security, the world seems to be still chasing the shadows of peace. It is needless to stress that peace will become a reality when there is no place for the afflictions of injustice. Injustice breeds resistance and leads to conflict. Injustice is the virus of most conflicts and misunderstandings. Thus, this session should be guided by a profound sense of responsibility and equity in its deliberations, to enable us collectively to continue to chart the course of social justice as an indispensable factor of sustainable economic growth and development, social order, stability, harmony and peace.
I conclude my statement in the firm belief that I can count on the cooperation and judgement of delegations, and that we can all look forward to constructive and sound deliberations which facilitate consensus building. On the 80th anniversary of the ILO, let us together pledge to make this session a landmark in enhancing the quality of life within the framework of social justice.
Updated by HK. Approved by RH. Last update: 26 January 2000.