The Global Initiative for Safety, Health and Well-being at the EXPO2025 and Beyond (GISHW)

The ‘Global Initiative for Safety, Health, and Well-being at the EXPO2025 and Beyond’ aims to build a healthy and socially sustainable future society based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, the International Labour Organisation’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the International Social Security Association’s Vision Zero mind-set.
At the core of our initiative and endeavours lies the firm conviction that prioritizing the safety, health, and well-being of individuals in the workplace is fundamental to achieving global common welfare.

Following the resounding success of the Vision Zero Summit Japan in May 2022 the Summit hosts - the Institute of Global Safety Promotion IGSAP) - decided to continue the journey by organising the first ever safety, health and well-being event at a World Expo. Decisive for this bold step was that the theme of the EXPO2025, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," harmoniously aligns with the principles of the Tokyo Declaration on Vision Zero for All, adopted by Summit participants.

IGSAP reached out to the leading international safety, health and well-being organisations, networks and professionals from around the World to join the initiative and during the 23rd International ORP Congress in April 2023 in Bilbao, Spain, a kick-off meeting for the ‘Global Initiative for Safety, Health and Well-being @EXPO2025 and Beyond’ was held. The proposal received a warm welcome by the 28 prominent occupational safety and health leaders present at the meeting, who unanimously pledged their support to the Initiative.

Following the kick-off meeting in Bilbao, Spain, the first GISHW meeting took place in Osaka, Japan on occasion of Future Monodzukuri International EXPO from May 10-12, 2023. Delegates discussed the plans for GISHW events at the EXPO2025 and decided to establish three Working groups to prepare detailed proposals for a World Assembly of OSH-professional, for an International Symposium and for a Thematic Exhibition respectively. These proposals would then be discussed and decided upon by the Executive Committee at the 2nd GISHW meeting during the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Sydney, Australia, in November 2023.

Delegates also met with senior EXPO representatives, who provided a detailed overview of the significance of the event and its thematic focus areas. GISHW representatives communicated their objectives and demonstrated the alignment between their goals and those of the EXPO, in particular for a future society providing safety, health and well-being for all citizens.

The 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Sydney provided an impressive stage for the second General GISHW meeting. For the first time the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative met to learn about progress made since the first meeting in Osaka, and in particular, to discuss and decide the draft programme outlines for the EXPO2025 activities.
The Committee unanimously agreed the draft work programmes prepared by the working groups for the World Assembly of OSH-Professionals and for the International Symposium and stressed the importance of attracting many domestic and international safety, health and well-being experts to benefit from the excellent GISHW-activities in the framework of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.

We are most grateful for the immense support received from the leading international SHW organisations and networks and as well as distinguished professionals, enabling us to form a unique multilateral partnership for safety, health and well-being in less than one year.

In 2024, we will further intensify our preparations for an amazing Safety, Health and Well-being Days at the EXPO2025. Our 3rd General GISHW Meeting will take place on occasion of the Future Monodzukuri International EXPO in Osaka, Japan, from 13-15 November 2024.