09 July 2001

FICSA Update No. 36 2001

    More on HIV/AIDS

    ILO adopts a Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work

  • At its recently concluded session, the International Labour Conference adopted a Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work. The text thereof is available in English, French and Spanish on the Internet, starting from www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids.

  • The ILO Director-General, Mr. Juan Somavia, presented the Code to the press in New York on 25 June 2001, on the occasion of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS. He stated, in particular, that the pioneering Code was the most wide-ranging and comprehensive blueprint for HIV/AIDS in the workplace ever developed and an "in-bred strength of implementation capacity" as it had been negotiated between representatives of workers, employers and governments.

  • He also stated that the first place the Code would be implemented would be in the ILO itself.

  • FICSA welcomes the Code and has written to all executive heads to promote its implementation within the United Nations system and other international organizations. It is indeed essential for the credibility of the programmes and activities of the United Nations system organizations that they apply those programmes and activities to their own staff.

    Minister for Health of Cyprus refers to FICSA
  • At the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, His Excellency Mr. Frixos Savvides, Minister of Health of Cyprus, made a statement which included the following:

    "The role of the United Nations is central to such efforts. And we agree with the Federation of International Civil Servants' Associations on the need for the United Nations personnel policy on HIV/AIDS to be strictly enforced. Where appropriate medication is not available locally, they must be supplied to staff members through the United Nations medical service."
  • FICSA welcomes this statement, which emphasizes the need for the United Nations system to serve as a role model for the world community by implementing best practice vis-à-vis its own staff.

  • We would also like to acknowledge on this occasion the contribution, behind the scene, of our Research and Liaison Officer, Ms. Anne Marie Pinou.