WTO marks ILO centenary and welcomes back historic artwork
The WTO hosted an event on 25 March to mark the centenary of the founding of the International Labour Organization, which was previously headquartered in the Centre William Rappard (CWR), the current home of the WTO. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo welcomed ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and delegates attending the ILO’s Governing Body meeting back to the ILO’s former abode by noting the close partnership between the two organizations and their efforts to address challenges facing international trade and the global workforce.
“Technological advance is bringing huge changes to the world of work – just as it is changing global trade,” DG Azevêdo said. “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.”
“In celebrating one hundred years of the ILO, we are also celebrating one hundred years of multilateralism,” DG Azevêdo continued. “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.” His full speech is available here.
DG Ryder said the CWR building, which opened in 1926, “is symbolic of the creation of multilateralism … it’s also symbolic of the excellent relationship between the ILO and the WTO.”
When the WTO moved into the CWR, “not many were aware of the symbolism of the fact that the building here and the building the ILO currently occupies rest on common foundation stones,” DG Ryder noted. “Buried in the foundation stones of this building and the ILO building are messages left there by the representatives of governments, employers and workers with the inscription “Si vis pacem, cole justitiam” – If you want peace, cultivate social justice. That seems good common ground for our two organizations to work towards.”
DG Azevêdo thanked the ILO for donating to the WTO an artwork by the Belgian sculptor and painter Constantin Meunier which was originally at the CWR before moving to the ILO’s present home. A new exhibition opened at the CWR highlights the historical evolution of the building through its ILO days. Many paintings and artworks at the CWR date from the Centre’s ILO days and reflect themes related to labour and peace.
The ILO was based at the CWR until 1975, when it moved to its new headquarters near the United Nations Office at Geneva. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the WTO’s predecessor, moved into CWR in 1977 and the WTO became the CWR’s main occupant upon its creation in 1995.
In addition to DG Ryder, DG Azevêdo also welcomed to the event Ms Silvia Elena Alfaro Espinosa, Chair of the ILO Governing Body; Catelene Passchier, ILO Governing Body Vice Chair; and Pierre Maudet, Conseiller d’État with the Canton of Geneva.