GCSPF participation at the High-Level Political Forum 2017

The meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2017 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, will be held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017; including the three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017.

The theme will be "Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world". The set of goals to be reviewed in depth will be the following, including Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development that will be considered each year. For more information visit here and the programme here.

Members of the GCSPF will hold an informal meeting on July 13th. If you are interested in joining us please contact Ana Zeballos.

Side events on Social Protection during the High-level Political Forum in New York:

“Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030”
On Monday, 10 July, 1:15-2:30 pm in the ECOSOC Chamber:  Joint event of SPIAC-B and GCSPF. The preliminary agenda combines two elements (1) the Global Partnership on USP 2030 and (2) financing social protection.
Organized by Finland, Malawi, the ILO and the World Bank, and co-sponsored by the Social Protection Inter-Agency Cooperation Board (SPIAC-B), and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF)
Download the invitation here and  the programme here

“Universal Social Protection:  End poverty and reduce inequality”
On Tuesday, 18^th July, from 18:15 - 19:45 at the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations (Venue: Auditorium of the Permanent Mission of Germany, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017. – First Avenue & 49th Street Entrance on First Avenue)
Download the invitation, the concept note and the agenda.

e-GCSPF # 1 - June 2017

GCSPF contribution to the CESCR on Business activities and human rights Members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors submitted comments on the draft General Comment of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on Business activities and human rights. The meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland on February 2017. In the document the crucial role of business on decent work and the financing of social protection floors was recognized. A number of general comments were included and also pleaded for tax justice at the international level to make sure that social protection floors can be properly financed. Read more Statement at the 55th Session of the Commission for Social Development Members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors presented a statement at the fifty-fifth session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD55) held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on February 2017. The choice of Strategies for the Eradication of Poverty to Achieve Sustainable Development for All as the priority theme of the 55th session of the Commission for Social Development is timely and of utmost importance as it firmly embeds anti-poverty efforts undertaken globally and nationally in the context of the SDG framework. Striking a balance between social, environmental and economic goals is essential to ensure that the benefits of growth reach all people, especially those still living in poverty. Evidence confirms that eradication of poverty can bring numerous opportunities and benefits to society, facilitating concrete actions on the road towards sustainable development. At the same time, it is widely recognized that the effective efforts aimed at poverty eradication are closely linked to mitigation and adaptation policies. Read more Social Protection and Sustainable Development Goals: A Joint Agenda The meeting “Social Protection and Sustainable Development Goals: A Joint Agenda” brought together Core Group members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors and Latin American social protection experts for three days in Buenos Aires. The exchange with the experts over the first two days resulted in technical and methodological recommendations as to how best to link Social Protection Floors and Social Development Goals, as well as a thorough analysis of the social protection challenges and opportunities in each world region. The third and last session dealt with future planning for the Coalition and resulted in several concrete decisions. It was agreed that the GCSPF ought to focus on helping build national coalitions in selected countries, as well as supporting one regional coalition, that of the Southern Cone in South America. Read more Philippines: The transformative potential of an universal social protection floor “The universal and potentially 'transformative' character of the USPF has broad appeal to many rights-based advocates” explained Victoria Raquiza, co-convenor of Social Watch Philippines at the start of a debate convened by SWP and UNICEF in Manila, last April 26. “While acknowledging the strides made in social protection such as through the conditional cash transfer program (Pantawid Pamilya), PhilHealth and pensions for the elderly, social protection remains fragmented, inaccessible and unreachable to may Filipinos.” Speakers from the governmental Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Anti-Poverty Commission, and the Coalition of Services of the Elderly reacted to the propositions of UNIEF, the ILO and Social Watch Philippines. Read more Informal labor in the Arab economies “Informal labor is not a marginal issue in Arab countries. It is a core component of modern Arab economies and the distribution of work therein and is doomed to expand under current policies,” explained Samir Aita, lead researcher of the Arab NGO Network on Development (ANND) at the launch of the 2017 edition of the Arab Watch on Economic and Social Rights, last May 8 in Beirut. The report, launched publicly at the American University, concludes that the “highest percentages of lack of formality are in countries with the least strict laws and bureaucracies, and vice versa. This goes against the stereotype that says that informality is a result of strict laws and bureaucracies.” It also concludes that “informal labor in Arab countries is mostly waged labor, except in rare cases, which contradicts another idea that says that informal labor is a choice, as young people entering the job market have no choice but to find any type of livelihood, no matter how fragile or temporary.” Read more Social protection: towards gender equality Social protection has become prominent in the global development agenda over recent decades, with social protection systems now being included as a target under Sustainable Development Goal 1: “End poverty in all its forms everywhere”. This issue of Policy in Focus presents a wide range of both theoretical and practical perspectives, to contribute towards the promotion of gender equality through social protection. It features a wide range of contributions from women policy practitioners and scholars, presenting case studies and reflections from Brazil and various African countries. Read more

JOIN US TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR ALL GLOBAL COALITION FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION FLOORS - GCSPF For comments, sugestions, collaborations contact us at: anaclau@item.org.uy To stop receiving this newsletter send a message with the subject "unsubscribe" to: anaclau@item.org.uy

The research paper "Starting strong. Implementation of the social SDGs in Latin America" was commissioned as part of the series ‘Starting Strong: the first 1000 days of the SDGs’.
The paper identifies key actions toward addressing the unfinished business of the MDGs and how to reach those who are furthest behind in relation to the new SDGs.

Despite significant progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Latin America remains one of the most unequal regions of the world with many of the most vulnerable groups being left behind. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) propose not only the eradication of poverty by 2030, but also a reduction in these high levels of inequality.

Young girls and boys are being left behind due to inadequate employment opportunities, high rates of teenage pregnancy, and poor levels of educational attainment. Women face discrimination and unequal access to the labour market. All of these challenges are greater for families living in poverty, and for indigenous and afro-descendant communities.

This paper considers the potential of SDG 1 (poverty), 3 (health) and 5 (gender) to reduce the gaps between vulnerable populations and those who are better off. The authors identify policy recommendations to enable these SDGs to be achieved as well as priority actions to be taken by Latin American governments in the first 1,000 days – including reform of conditional cash transfers, the prioritisation of primary care and reproductive health, and the promotion of gender equality in the labour marke

The ‘Starting Strong’ series is a collaborative partnership to initiate a wider conversation around priority actions for the first three years of the SDGs – just over 1000 days – with relevant stakeholders with a regional focus. Gala Díaz Langou (gdiazlangou@cippec.org) is the Director of the Social Protection Program at the Centre for Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC). José Florito (jflorito@cippec.org) is a social protection analyst at CIPPEC.

Download the publication here.