In the
1980s, ILO worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to stem the
spread of the AIDS virus. As such, it took part in the
WHO Global
Programme on AIDS, headed at the time by Dr. Jonathan Mann. In November
1988, at its 241
st Session, the ILO Governing Body discussed
ongoing partnership projects with WHO, specifically consultations on AIDS
and the workplace, and the protection of workers from discrimination.
Today,
ILO is determined to continue fighting HIV/AIDS. In November 2000, in
cooperation with
UNAIDS
and pursuant to the resolution adopted at the 88
th Session of
the International Labour Conference (June 2000), it launched the
Programme
on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work - ILO/AIDS. The programme′s objective
is to take advantage of ILO′s resources and specific structure to promote
prevention in the workplace, fight discrimination against infected workers
and mitigate the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, together with ILO′s
constituents. It includes awareness-raising and promotion activities, the
preparation of directives and standards, and capacity-building for the
social partners through
technical
cooperation. ILO contributes to international action by making
available: