The Make Listening Safe (MLS) Workstream is a global collaborative platform working under the World Hearing Organization (WHO) Make Listening Safe Initiative. Our membership includes 139 international experts representing academic and government institutions, manufactures, and advocacy organizations who are committed to protecting hearing health and preventing hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

Our Mission

Create a world where nobody’s hearing is put in danger due to unsafe listening.

Our Goals

Raise awareness and advocate for safe listening practices.
Promote the adoption and implementation of the WHO-ITU safe listening standards.

Our History

History of the WHO Make Listening Safe Initiative and Workstream.
International Ear Care Day, now known as World Hearing Day, was observed on the 3rd of March 2015. The theme for that year was "Making Listening Safe," focusing on the risks of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices, particularly among teenagers and young adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "Make Listening Safe" campaign to educate the public about the dangers of noise-induced hearing loss and encourage safer listening practices. The focus was on “non-occupational (leisure) aspects of safe listening. Here is the flyer that was used at that time (3rd of March 2015), where you see the Make Listening Safe Logo with the fragile egg under a headphone used for the first time.
In order to strengthen the “Make Listening Safe” campaign, and to start the development of standard for safe listening, WHO and ITU started organizing stakeholder meetings and the Make Listening Safe Initiative:
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3 March 2015

World Hearing Day Launch

WHO launched the Make Listening Safe campaign, focusing on noise-induced hearing loss among young people. The fragile egg under headphones logo debuted.

October 2015

First WHO–ITU Joint Consultation

WHO and ITU held their first joint stakeholders consultation on Safe Listening Devices in Geneva, formally starting the standard-development process.

6 - 7 July 2016

1st Stakeholders Meeting

The first WHO Stakeholders meeting on prevention of deafness and hearing loss was held in Geneva, establishing a multisectoral coalition.

31 May 2017

WHA70.13 Resolution Adopted

The 70th World Health Assembly approved resolution WHA70.13, mandating intensified collaboration to reduce hearing loss from recreational noise.

3 - 4 July 2017

2nd Stakeholders Meeting

The second Stakeholders Meeting was held at WHO headquarters in Geneva, deepening the global partnership framework.

3 - 4 July 2018

3rd Stakeholders Meeting

At the third meeting in Geneva, the idea of creating the World Hearing Forum was formally launched.

March - September 2019

ITU H.870 Standard Published

ITU and WHO published the first international safe listening standard — ITU H.870 Guidelines for safe listening devices and systems.

4 - 5 December 2019

World Hearing Forum Founded

The Forum was founded at WHO Geneva. The Make Listening Safe Workstream was created, co-chaired by Amarilis Melendez and Mark Laureyns.

2020 - 2024

Steering Committee Leadership

Melendez and Laureyns served on the World Hearing Forum steering committee, guiding the workstream's evolution.

2024 - 2026

New Co-Chair Leadership

Lidia and Katya served as co-chairs, continuing the mission of advancing safe listening standards globally.

1- 2 July 2025

10th Anniversary Consultation

The WHO/ITU 10th anniversary consultation was held at ITU Geneva — celebrating a decade of progress in hearing health.

2026

Next Generation of Leadership

Chucri and Aderinola Olopade serve as co-chairs, carrying the mission forward with 139 international experts worldwide.

    The first co-chairs of the “Make Listening Safe Workstream”, were Amarilis Melendez from Panama and Mark Laureyns from Belgium, and they also served as members of the “World Hearing Forum” steering committee from 2020 till 2024 . Interestingly, two future co-chairs were also present at this meeting. (Lidia Best 2024 – 2026 and Aderinola Olopade 2026 - 2028).
    On 1-2 July, 2025, The WHO/ITU joint stakeholders 10th anniversary consultation on the Make Listening Safe Initiative, ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
    Learn more about the WHO Make Listening Safe initiative here.

    Leadership

    Our Team

    he Make Listening Safe Workstream is guided by dedicated leaders committed to advancing safe listening globally.

    Co-Chair

    Chucri

    2026

    Co-Chair

    Aderinola

    2026

    Past Co-Chair

    Katya

    2024–2026

    Past Co-Chair

    Lidia

    2024–2026

    Past Co-Chair

    Mark

    2020-2024