Ss46 - Global Network of Who Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health

Abstract The WHO Collaborating Centres (WCCs) are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the Director General to carry out activities in support of the Organization's programmes. In 2000, the WHO Executive Board encouraged centres to develop working relations with other centres and national institutions recognized by WHO, in particular by setting up or joining collaborative networks with WHO's support. The Global Network of WCCs for Occupational Health was created in June 1990 at a meeting in Helsinki, Finland. It’s first meeting was held in 1992 in Moscow. Currently there are 30 WCCs for occupational health. The ILO and non-state actors in official relations with WHO, such as ICOH and IEA, are also members of the network along with other international partners of WHO in the area of occupational health. The Global Network provided technical expertise and support to WHO to implement the WHO Global Strategy of Occupational Health for All (1996), the WHO Global Plan of Action on Workers’ Health (2007), the WHO Global Strategy on Public Health, Environment and Climate Change (2019), as well as regional strategies and action plans in the area of occupational health, such as the Regional Plan of Action of Workers’ Health in the Americas. This session will highlight the current priorities and initiatives of the Global Network of WCCs for Occupational Health, will provide examples of successful networking among the institutions, and will outline the strategic ways of working under the 14th General Programme of Work of WHO.