Bangladesh’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva Nahida Sobhan, on Tuesday said Bangladesh remains proud to champion social justice, multilateralism, the democratization of global labour governance, and a ‘Culture of Peace’ within the United Nations system and beyond.

In a speech that resonated across the conference hall, Ambassador Sobhan reminded delegates that without peace, there can be no social justice.

“Peace remains the most fundamental precondition for decent work,” she said while speaking at the closing session of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC).

The Ambassador spoke in her capacity as Vice-President of the Government Group of the Conference. The ILC is the world’s largest gathering focused on the world of work, bringing together more than 5,000 delegates from 187 countries.

She called for a more democratic and representative ILO, human-centred governance of artificial intelligence, greater focus on job creation and decent work, stronger support for developing and least-developed countries, and a global Culture of Peace among workers, employers, and governments.

Drawing inspiration from the Albert Thomas Monument in Geneva, she reminded the Conference that “labour is not a commodity.”

In one of the most memorable moments of the Conference, she highlighted a stark global paradox: “We spend more than USD 350 per person on guns and bullets, yet fail to provide even USD 2 a day to millions living in poverty or searching for work.”

Ambassador Sobhan has become the first Bangladeshi to be elected Vice-President of the International Labour Conference (ILC), representing the Government Group of the ILO’s Member States.