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15 June, 1999Bill Clinton, Ruth Dreifuss, Nobel laureate speak at the ILO's annual International Labour Conference.
GENEVA: President Clinton, the first American president to address the ILO since its creation in 1919, brought U.S. support today for the new Convention on child labour and has ordered all U.S. government agencies to refuse purchase of any products made by abused children.
He also underlined not only the need for economic growth and stability, but spoke about its impact on the poorest countries of the global economy and the need to develop international norms concerning work and the environment.
Among other guest speakers to address the ILO's Conference, taking place in Geneva from June 1-17, have been Ruth Dreifuss, President of the Swiss Confederation and Minister for Social Affairs, and Amartya Sen, 1998 Nobel Laureate in Economics. Some 3,000 delegates from the 174 member states of the ILO are participating in the deliberations of the Conference.
In her address, delivered on June 8, the Swiss president called upon the organisation to resume its pioneering role and to redefine its place in the international community, so as to be better prepared to meet the social challenges of globalisation. Mrs. Dreifuss also announced that Switzerland would soon deposit instruments of ratification for Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age, which she said "must remain the point of reference for the future." She also called for the ratification and universal application of the new Convention on the most extreme forms of child labour, which is due to be adopted tomorrow (June 17).
Professor Sen, addressing the Conference June 15, said it was a "crucial moment in the history of working people across the world ... because the first flush of globalisation is nearing its completion and we can begin to take a scrutinised and integrated view about the challenges it poses as well as the opportunities it offers ... There is a need for well deliberated action in support of social and political, as well as economic, changes that can transform a dreaded anticipation into a constructive reality."
The full text of all remarks are available on the ILO's website.
He also underlined not only the need for economic growth and stability, but spoke about its impact on the poorest countries of the global economy and the need to develop international norms concerning work and the environment.
Among other guest speakers to address the ILO's Conference, taking place in Geneva from June 1-17, have been Ruth Dreifuss, President of the Swiss Confederation and Minister for Social Affairs, and Amartya Sen, 1998 Nobel Laureate in Economics. Some 3,000 delegates from the 174 member states of the ILO are participating in the deliberations of the Conference.
In her address, delivered on June 8, the Swiss president called upon the organisation to resume its pioneering role and to redefine its place in the international community, so as to be better prepared to meet the social challenges of globalisation. Mrs. Dreifuss also announced that Switzerland would soon deposit instruments of ratification for Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age, which she said "must remain the point of reference for the future." She also called for the ratification and universal application of the new Convention on the most extreme forms of child labour, which is due to be adopted tomorrow (June 17).
Professor Sen, addressing the Conference June 15, said it was a "crucial moment in the history of working people across the world ... because the first flush of globalisation is nearing its completion and we can begin to take a scrutinised and integrated view about the challenges it poses as well as the opportunities it offers ... There is a need for well deliberated action in support of social and political, as well as economic, changes that can transform a dreaded anticipation into a constructive reality."
The full text of all remarks are available on the ILO's website.