PHA-Exchange> ILO Report: A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All

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From: "Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)" <ruglucia at PAHO.ORG>

A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All


The World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization 
The International Labour Organization (ILO) - Geneva, 24 February 2004


The final report of the Commission is now available for download at:

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/index.htm>
 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2004/7.htm> 

Press
Release

"......Globalization can and must change, says a new, groundbreaking
report presented today to the International Labour Organization (ILO)
urging that building a fair and inclusive globalization become a
worldwide priority. 

A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All calls for an
"urgent rethink" of current policies and institutions of global
governance. The report was issued by the World Commission on the Social
Dimension of Globalization (Note 1), which was co-chaired by President
Tarja Halonen of Finland and President Benjamin William Mkapa of
Tanzania. 

The 168-page report acknowledges that globalization's "potential for
good is immense" and that it "has opened the door to many benefits ...
promoted open societies and open economies and encouraged a freer
exchange of goods, ideas and knowledge ... (and) a truly global
conscience is beginning to emerge sensitive to the inequities of
poverty, gender discrimination, child labour and environmental
degradation, wherever these may occur". 

Nevertheless, it says, "There are deep-seated and persistent imbalances
in the current workings of the global economy, which are ethically
unacceptable and politically unsustainable... Seen through the eyes of
the vast majority of men and women, globalization has not met their
simple and legitimate aspirations for decent jobs and a better future
for their children". 

"There is growing concern about the direction globalization is
currently
taking", says the report. "Its advantages are too distant for too many,
while its risks are all too real. Corruption is widespread. Open
societies are threatened by global terrorism, and the future of open
markets is increasingly in question. Global governance is in crisis. We
are at a critical juncture, and we need to urgently rethink our current
policies and institutions." 

Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, who originally proposed the
Commission, said this was the first time there had been a systematic
attempt to deal with the social dimension of globalization. He added
that the Commission was convened by the ILO to search for common ground
and make proposals on issues which are today the subject of "parallel
monologues" and a "dialogue of the deaf". "This Commission provides a
clear-eyed, common sense message of hope. Making globalization fair and
inclusive is difficult but do-able, and is an urgent worldwide
priority", he said. ..." 

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/preface.pdf> Preface by
Co-Chairs (41 kB PDF)

SYNOPSIS 

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/synope.pdf> Synopsis
(English) (88 kB PDF)

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/synopf.pdf> Synopsis
(French) (31 kB PDF)

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/synops.pdf> Synopsis
(Spanish) (106 kB PDF)

Synopsis (Chinese) -available soon

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/synopa.pdf> Synopsis
(Arabic) (165 kB PDF)

Synopsis (Russian) -available soon

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/synopg.pdf> Synopsis
(German) (139 kB PDF)

FULL REPORT - A FAIR GLOBALIZATION - Creating opportunities for all

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/contents.pdf> Contents,
Abbreviations (96 kB PDF)

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/rep1.pdf> Part I:
Globalization for people (114 kB PDF) 

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/rep2.pdf> Part II:
Globalization and its impact (582 kB PDF)

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/rep3.pdf> Part III: The
governance of globalization (855 kB PDF)

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/rep4.pdf> Part IV:
Mobilizing action for change (125 kB PDF)

 <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/rep5.pdf> Annex 1,2,3,
Index, Figures (312 kB PDF)