WILLEMSTAD - The International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) looks back on two years of strong activity and global collaboration. Guided by the Economic and Social Council of Curaçao, AICESIS strengthened its international presence, welcomed new members, deepened its work with the United Nations and other partners, and promoted inclusive social dialogue. Highlights included welcoming Zimbabwe as a member, participating in key international forums, and launching new initiatives on inclusive growth and social justice. During the AICESIS General Assembly in Curaçao on October 30–31, SER Curaçao will conclude its two-year presidency.
“The past two years have been a time of growth and progress for AICESIS,” said Raul Henriquez, Director and Executive Secretary General of the Economic and Social Council of Curaçao. “Our focus remains on strengthening social dialogue institutions, promoting inclusive growth, and working with partners to reduce global inequalities.”
In 2024, AICESIS held four Board of Directors meetings. Two were online in January and March, while two took place in person in May in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and in November in Shanghai, China. The Shanghai meeting was followed by an international conference on how social dialogue can help fight inequalities in the workplace. AICESIS also held two General Assemblies: one online in April and another in person in November in Shanghai. During these sessions, members approved all reports presented by the Presidency and Secretary-General.
At the Shanghai General Assembly, the Tripartite National Forum of Zimbabwe was unanimously accepted as a new member, expanding the reach of AICESIS across regions.
AICESIS also worked closely with the United Nations and its agencies. At the International Labour Organization, with which AICESIS has cooperated since 2012, it gave statements at the 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva and joined the first Forum of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Social Justice Initiative. As an observer at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), AICESIS contributed to the UN Plenary Session in New York, focusing on advancing the 2030 Agenda and the fight against global poverty and inequalities.
The organization was active throughout the year at international events. In January, the Secretary-General attended Zimbabwe’s National Social Dialogue Forum. In February, AICESIS joined the Erasmus of Organized Civil Societies in Lisbon, launched a survey on “Broad and Inclusive Growth,” and hosted a webinar on the same topic. In April, AICESIS became a full member of the ILO Global Coalition for Social Justice. Regional meetings in May and September brought together partners from Latin America and the Caribbean, while in June, AICESIS presented initial results from its inclusive growth survey. The organization also engaged with UN leaders during the ECOSOC sessions in July, contributed to the G20 Social Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November, and joined the International Conference on Demographics, Migration, and Labor Markets in Athens in December.
In 2025, AICESIS continued to grow its role as a global partner. Planned activities include collaboration with ECOSOC, participation in the International Labour Conference in Geneva. A new Memorandum of Understanding with the European Economic and Social Committee will also be put into action. Statutory meetings will include a Board session held in Belgrade in April and a combined Board and General Assembly, which will be held in Curaçao on 30-31 of October. In addition, AICESIS will contribute to conferences on artificial intelligence, demographic change, and social justice across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In the year ahead, AICESIS will continue to build partnerships, hold statutory meetings, and address major global social and economic issues. SER Curaçao looks back with pride and honor at its accomplishments in strengthening Curaçao’s global presence and collaboration, while promoting inclusive social dialogue.
