Remarks by DG Azevêdo

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening – and welcome to this reception marking the centenary of the International Labour Organization.

We are joined by some very distinguished guests, including:

• Ms Silvia Elena Alfaro Espinosa, Chair of the ILO Governing Body
• Ms Catelene Passchier, Vice Chair, and other members of the governing body
• ILO Director-General Guy Ryder
• Mr Pierre Maudet, Conseiller d'État du Canton de Genève.

It's a pleasure to have you all with us.

Let me start by saying congratulations!

Hosting this reception at the WTO carries a special significance for all of us. This building, the Centre William Rappard, is the former home of the ILO.

When you come into the main entrance you pass by an artwork called 'building the future'. It displays the founding text of the ILO from the Treaty of Versailles.  

Its message is that peace must have its foundation in social justice. And that social justice, in turn, is dependent on workers’ rights.

It serves as a constant reminder for WTO members to strive towards higher living standards and towards full employment around the world. In fact, these two objectives are also enshrined in the WTO's founding agreement.

So our two organisations have a lot in common.

In recent years, my friend Guy Ryder and I have joined forces on a range of initiatives to further build this partnership. I am very proud of that.

In a time of tremendous economic change I think this is more important than ever.

Technological advance is bringing huge changes to the world of work – just as it is changing global trade.

How we adapt to this revolution is a defining challenge for both of our organisations.

But, looking at the history of the ILO, I have no doubt that we will rise to the challenge.

We are celebrating some of that history in the exhibition that you see around you today.

The exhibition covers the evolution of the building through its ILO days. There are also portraits of the first ILO Director, Albert Thomas, and the First Chair of the ILO Governing Body, Arthur Fontaine.

We have the three original keys to the building, made in 1926 to reflect the trilateral nature of ILO's work. And the exhibition also includes 12 portraits of some truly "global citizens" who have spent some of their extraordinary lives working within the walls of this building.
   
So let me thank everyone involved in producing this brilliant exhibition. In particular:

• Said El Hachimi
• Maria Bressi
• Jesus Galan Sanchez
• Edmundo Murray and
• many other WTO colleagues who have contributed to this project.

My thanks also go to Antoinette Juvet-Mir and Remo Becci and their team from the ILO.

I encourage you all to take a closer look at the exhibits. Edmundo and Remo will be on hand to field any questions you may have.

I'm very pleased to say that Guy has some news about another important artwork which we will be unveiling this evening – but I leave him to share the details on that.

Let me close with one last thought.

In celebrating one hundred years of the ILO, we are also celebrating one hundred years of multilateralism.

Of course, multilateralism is not perfect. It does not magic away our differences and disagreements. But it does give us the means by which to resolve them in a peaceful, cooperative manner.

This is surely as important as ever today.

We are now entering a new century of multilateralism. Let's work together to shape it and strengthen it, to ensure that there is even more to celebrate in the years to come.

Now, I’ll hand over to Guy.

Thank you all – enjoy the evening.