UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle participated, together with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), in World AIDS Day commemorations at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 1 December to highlight the importance of fast-tracking the AIDS response.
A focus of the ILO event was its VCT@Work campaign, which aims to reach 5 million workers with voluntary counselling and testing by 2015. Since its launch, the initiative has reached over 1 million workers and mobilized close to 500 000 people to undertake an HIV test.
As part its World AIDS Day commemoration, ILO staff formed a human red ribbon at ILO Headquarters in solidarity with people living with and affected by HIV worldwide.
“At ILO you know best that the world of work provides unique entry points to close the gap and to reach some of the populations left behind in the AIDS response. Workplaces are communities with communication systems and health-care facilities that can be used for prevention, treatment, care and support services and to address stigma and discrimination.”
Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director
“We can only achieve our goal of ending AIDS by 2030 if we effectively address people’s needs, which include decent jobs, respect for their labour rights and social protection coverage.”
Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Organization
