111th International Labour Conference - Finance Committee - Programme and Budget 2024-2025 - Second Plenary EU Statement

European Union

Statement

International Labour Conference 111th session

Geneva, 5-16 June 2023

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Finance Committee Programme and Budget 2024-2025

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Geneva, 13 June 2023

- CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY -

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

[The Candidate Countries Albania*, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, the Republic of North Macedonia*, Moldova, Montenegro*, the potential candidate country Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.]

Chairperson,

1. The EU and its Member States and the International Labour Organization have a shared vision, that economic and social progress should go hand in hand. We therefore support the ILO through normative action, as well as through assessed and voluntary contributions and thereby support Decent Work and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

2. Since 2018, ILO programmes and budgets have stressed the importance of anti-discrimination policies. The LGBTI reference was first introduced in the ILO programme and budget for 2018-2019 and again in 2020-2021, along with the 2022-2023 Programme and Budget which included a reference to LGBTI+ persons. The recognition of the needs and rights of all persons is a commitment to social justice and rights at work.

3. The Committee of Experts have also noted in their most recent General Survey, a clear trend towards the inclusion in national legislation and policies, of additional prohibited grounds of discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

4. The EU and its Member States reiterate our commitment to equality and non-discrimination and to the entitlement of all persons, to enjoy the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to the participation of, inter alia, youth, girls and women, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons, as well as to the protection of those who are in disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised situations, including children.

5. The EU will continue to strongly support ILO action to combat all forms of discrimination within the world of work, with a specific attention to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity. We see this as an essential part of the ILO’s work.

6. We therefore strongly support the International Labour Organization’s continued activities combatting discrimination in all its forms including on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Thank you, Chair.

[*Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.]