Statements and speeches by the ILO's Director-General

March 2023

  1. © UNDESA 2023

    UN 2023 Water Conference

    How to accelerate progress towards universal access to safe water

    24 March 2023

    ILO Director-General and Chair of UN Water, Gilbert F. Houngbo, has commended the adoption of the Water Action Agenda at the landmark UN 2023 Water Conference in New York. The Agenda aims to tackle the growing global water crisis by mainstreaming water issues in intergovernmental processes.

  2. Statement

    Reply by the Director General to the debate on the Programme and Budget proposals for 2024–25 (Thursday 16 March 2023)

    16 March 2023

  3. Statement

    Opening address of the ILO Director-General

    13 March 2023

  4. © Hadynyah / Getty Images 2023

    International Women’s Day

    ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo, message for International Women’s Day

    08 March 2023

  5. LDC5 Conference in Qatar

    ILO Director-General says more investment needed for least-developed countries

    07 March 2023

February 2023

  1. © cokada 2023

    Podcast

    Podcast: ILO Director-General – why we need greater social justice

    20 February 2023

    On World Day of Social Justice, the ILO’s Director-General, Gilbert F Houngbo, explained why policymakers must prioritize social justice or risk fueling poverty, inequality and social unrest, as well as undermining action against climate change.

  2. World Day of Social Justice

    The world needs a strong and sustained dose of social justice

    17 February 2023

    In a statement for World Day of Social Justice, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo calls for a global momentum to contribute to the reduction and prevention of inequalities.

December 2022

  1. International Migrants Day

    ILO Director-General message for International Migrants Day

    18 December 2022

    The International community must do better to ensure the world’s 169 million migrant workers are able to realize their basic human and labour rights, says ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo, in a message released for International Migrants Day.

  2. 17th Asia-Pacific regional meeting

    ILO Director-General opening statement at the 17th Asia-Pacific regional meeting

    06 December 2022

    Check against delivery

November 2022

  1. Video

    Ratify C190: Time to end violence and harassment now, says ILO Director-General

    24 November 2022

    Highlighting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo urged all countries to ratify and implement the ILO Convention 190 to put an end to violence and harassment in the world of work.

  2. 5th ITUC World Congress

    ILO Director-General calls for policies that support equity and social justice

    18 November 2022

    Addressing the 5th World Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation in Melbourne, Gilbert F. Houngbo called for a Global Coalition for Social Justice to prioritize social justice in policy making and tackle multiple crises that are impacting the world of work.

  3. Social dialogue

    ILO Director-General message to the Global Deal Forum 2022

    02 November 2022

    In a video address to the Global Deal Forum 2022 Gilbert F. Houngbo's underlined the importance of effective and inclusive social dialogue to address multiple global crises, including climatechange, inequalities, inflation and unemployment.

October 2022

  1. Statement

    Director-General’s opening address to the 346th Session of the ILO Governing Body

    31 October 2022

  2. Video address

    ILO Director-General message to the National Evaluation Capacities Conference

    27 October 2022

  3. Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF

    Countries face daunting policy landscape amid rising inequalities, says ILO

    14 October 2022

    ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo has told the joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee that increased social investment and strong social dialogue are imperative for a recovery that delivers sustainability, equity and lasting peace.

  4. Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF

    ILO calls for universal social protection, wage support for low income households

    14 October 2022

    In a statement to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo highlighted the need to support low income households through increases in minimum wages and social protection benefits.

  5. World teachers day

    The transformation of education begins with teachers

    05 October 2022

    Joint Message from Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General, International Labour Organization, Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF, Mr David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International for World Teachers’ Day.

September 2022

  1. © ILO 2023

    Statement

    Address by ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo during the ceremony for transfer of office

    30 September 2022