GCSPF E-Newsletter #4 - September 2017

e-GCSPF # 4 - September 2017

Financing social protection floors throughout economic cycles Photo: UN Web TV A side event on financing social protection floors (SPFs) was held on Monday 22 May, 2017, on the occasion of the Second Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum on financing for development follow-up (FfD forum) which took place at the UN in New York from 22 to 25 May 2017. The event was entitled “Financing social protection floors throughout economic cycles”, and was organized jointly by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany), the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Brot für die Welt and SocDevJustice on behalf of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors. By Gemma Adaba, SocDevJustice/GCSPF. Read more CSO statement to the ASEAN High Level Conference on Social Protection The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) High Level Conference on Social Protection was held from 15 to 17 August 2017 in the Philippines. Representatives from civil society, trade unions and people’s organisations in Southeast Asia jointly presented the statement to call on ASEAN leaders to take action on several demands and it also provides specific recommendations that require urgent action. The statement was endorsed by 28 national and regional organisations based in Southeast Asia. Read more “What lies behind the thinking of those driving development at the IMF?” The IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office rarely lives up to its pretention to operate in real independence from the Fund, as its name implies, writes Peter Bavkis. One is hard-pressed to cite IEO reports that embrace thorough critiques of IMF policies, despite their frequency in academic circles and among civil society organisations, or that call for substantial revamping of policies and practices. The IEO report The IMF and Social Protection fits into this pattern. However, by operating as a sounding board for IMF officials the 16-year-old IEO produces reports that often reveal useful information about Fund operations and staff attitudes. From that point of view, the report on social protection does not disappoint. Among other things, it provides a detailed account of the IMF’s hostility to concepts such as universal social protection. Perhaps most surprising, for those who have not followed the IMF’s evolution in recent years, is the invitation to the Fund to question whether its endorsement in 2015 of the SDGs is compatible with its reaffirmed support for narrowly targeted safety nets. Read more On the very very slow death of neoliberalism The report of the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the IMF on the institution’s approach to social protection shows this is far from true. And it does not look as if human rights, universalism and redistribution are going to be part of the IMF-agenda soon. Social protection has been on the international development agenda for about ten years. Strangely enough, it was the World Bank who first published a ‘theoretical framework’ in 2000, broadening but simultaneously eroding the traditional concept of social protection. It is easy to understand that if migration and child labour are recognized as mechanisms of families to avoid poverty – and therefore part of social protection -, there is a problem. As was made clear ten years later this report was a logical consequence of the poverty reduction policies the World Bank had been promoting since 1990 and which were the start of a new social paradigm. 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

e-GCSPF # 3 - August 2017

GCSPF at the HLPF 2017 Members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors participated in the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, that was held from July 10 to 19 in New York. Members of the GCSPF held an informal meeting. GCSPF coorganized two side events: “Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030” and “Universal Social Protection: End poverty and reduce inequality” Universal Social Protection: End poverty and reduce inequality During the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, the significant majority of countries voluntarily reporting mentioned social protection programmes as an effective instrument to fight against poverty and reduce inequalities. But social protection is more. It can tackle poverty in all its dimensions and provide for education, appropriate health care systems and support a healthy and diverse diet. In this sense, Prof Martin Ravallion of Georgetown University demanded in his key note speech at the HLPF a “full basic income” meaning not just cash transfers but basic social security including education, health care and mechanisms for redistribution. By Dr. Luise Steinwachs, Bread for the World. Read more We need a change in paradigm Photo: UN Web TV Roberto Bissio spoke on behalf of the GCSPF during the side event “Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030” held on July 10th. "Social Protection is a Human Right. Every right has a right holder and a duty bearer. We know who the right holders are: every human being, particularly those more in need of social protection: The right to be protected and cared is a right of children, the elderly, the sick, the people with disabilities. But who is the duty bearer? Societies organize social protection in many different ways, but they all have in common the unwritten rule that says that caring for people is a responsibility of women. A sacred responsibility even. While no government is held liable for not providing social protection or essential services, women are judged to be sinful by omission, socially ostracized and even criminally prosecuted if they fail to properly care for family and community members. The caring duties of women are fulfilled too often without any pay or recognition and when paid the task to care for the people we most love such as our children and parents barely deserves a minimum salary and most often than not without any form of contract or the formal protection of social security. We need more resources, yes. We need to collect taxes and to build capacity, but we also need a change in paradigm, towards a caring system that orients and coordinates the programs of education, health and social development, starting with a recognition of the right to be cared and the duties of the state in that regard." The video is available here Guaranteeing SPFs as a prerequisite for SDGs realization Photo: Wolfgang Obenland Gala Díaz Langou spoke on behalf of the GCSPF during the side event "Universal Social Protection: End poverty and reduce inequality". "All children have the right to achieve the full development of their capabilities and potentialities; yet in Argentina, in spite of significant progress, the rights of children are still being undermined. The current state of affairs reveals that during the last decade Argentina has experienced an ‘infantilisation’ of poverty, as in spite of a decline, over 44% of children live in poverty. In addition, malnutrition has increasingly become a concern for public health, due to unhealthy and nutrientdeficient diets, and it is more prevalent in the most vulnerable sectors of society. Moreover, in Argentina, the State provides universal healthcare and there is a high share of the population that resorts to alternative healthcare providers. Nonetheless, maternal and infant mortality are still pending matters of attention, access to sexual and reproductive health services is not guaranteed, and the adolescent fertility rate remains high. It is also worth noting that female poverty is the counterpart of the infantilisation of poverty. The households with more children are also proportionately more feminine. One of the reasons for this is the unequal distribution of upbringing and care between genders. This also impacts on women having fewer possibilities of accessing and staying in the labour market, which impedes poverty alleviation. What this reveals is that social protection floors are not guaranteed for all. One of the main obstacles for this is the lack of follow-up, monitoring and evaluation in policy implementation. The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, to which Argentina subscribed in 2015, are a unique opportunity for advancement." Read more A universal basic income: the solution to ending extreme poverty? ATD Fourth World organized a panel discussion at the UN with Philip Alston, the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights on the subject of a universal basic income. Isabelle Doresse, the person responsible for ATD People’s Universities in the north of France, talked about the reactions of people living in extreme poverty to the idea of a universal basic income. Surprisingly, there were a number of hesitations and concerns about the idea. Serious concerns were expressed about the idea in the People’s University discussions. People living in poverty would prefer to be able to live from their work. With a universal basic income, they are afraid of being permanently excluded from the world of work, to which they aspire. They are afraid they would be told, “Now, with the basic income, you have some money, we don’t want to hear from you anymore.” Read more Liberia: civil society rejects privatisation project Education International and ActionAid have release a new report, Partnership Schools for Liberia: a critical review by University of Wisconsin researcher Tyler Hook. In 2016, the government of Liberia began plans to outsource administration of 94 primary and pre-primary schools, a form of public-private partnership. The study examines the first year of the effort and raises serious concerns. The largest private operator in the Liberia project is the US-based Bridge International Academies. The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation took a $10 million equity stake in Bridge in 2013. Since then, Bridge schools were suspended in Uganda for failing to meet basic educational and sanitary conditions. The for-profit Bridge relies heavily on scripts for untrained teachers, and in Liberia has allegedly warned teachers not to speak with their union. The IFC has maintained its investment in Bridge despite criticism. Read more Wellcome to PRDC India and SPII South Africa that joined us last July Psychological Research & Development Council-India (PRDC India) Mohan Lal K. (Chairperson) will be working with us. PRDC India focuses on youth training, women empowerment and environmental protection (against nuclear weapons project). Members of the organization are doctors, psychologist, social activists, social workers, and teachers. Please visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/prdcindia/ and more information is available at https://www.facebook.com/GSK2017/ Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII), South Africa Isobel Fryre, Director of SPII, will be working with us. SPII is an organisation characterised by a sense of vision, justice and commitment to research and policy innovation. SPII focuses on generating new knowledge, information and analysis in the field of poverty and inequality studies in South and Southern Africa. Through facilitating collaborative partnerships with and between government, labour, institutions of democracy, academia, social movements and civil society organisations, SPII is able to develop and advocate for the implementation of innovative and empirically-based social and economic policies capable of combating poverty, reducing inequality, and promoting sustainable development. SPII supports the development of a tradition of effective public participation in policymaking and implementation. You can find more information in their 2016 Annual Report.

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

Roberto Bissio spoke on behalf of the GCSPF during the side event: “Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030” held on July 10th.

"Social Protection is a Human Right. Every right has a right holder and a duty bearer. We know who the right holders are: every human being, particularly those more in need of social protection: The right to be protected and cared is a right of children, the elderly, the sick, the people with disabilities.

But who is the duty bearer? Societies organize social protection in many different ways, but they all have in common the unwritten rule that says that caring for people is a responsibility of women. A sacred responsibility even. While no government is held liable for not providing social protection or essential services, women are judged to be sinful by omission, socially ostracized and even criminally prosecuted if they fail to properly care for family and community members.
The caring duties of women are fulfilled too often without any pay or recognition and when paid the task to care for the people we most love such as our children and parents barely deserves a minimum salary and most often than not without any form of contract or the formal protection of social security.

We need more resources, yes. We need to collect taxes and to build capacity, but we also need a change in paradigm, towards a caring system that orients and coordinates the programs of education, health and social development, starting with a recognition of the right to be cared and the duties of the state in that regard."

“Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030”
On Monday, 10 July, 1:15-2:30 pm in the ECOSOC Chamber. 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).
The preliminary agenda combines two elements (1) the Global Partnership on USP 2030 and (2) financing social protection.
Download the invitation here, the programme here, and Mr. Bissio's statement here (pdf version).
The video of the side event is available  here and the video of Mr. Bissio's intervention here.

Gala Díaz Langou spoke on behalf of the GCSPF during the side event: "Universal Social Protection: End poverty and reduce inequality" that was held during the High-level Political Forum 2017. "All children have the right to achieve the full development of their capabilities and potentialities; yet in Argentina, in spite of significant progress, the rights of children are still being undermined. The current state of affairs reveals that during the last decade Argentina has experienced an ‘infantilisation’ of poverty, as in spite of a decline, over 44% of children live in poverty. In addition, malnutrition has increasingly become a concern for public health, due to unhealthy and nutrientdeficient diets, and it is more prevalent in the most vulnerable sectors of society.

Moreover, in Argentina, the State provides universal healthcare and there is a high share of the population that resorts to alternative healthcare providers. Nonetheless, maternal and infant mortality are still pending matters of attention, access to sexual and reproductive health services is not guaranteed, and the adolescent fertility rate remains high.

It is also worth noting that female poverty is the counterpart of the infantilisation of poverty. The households with more children are also proportionately more feminine. One of the reasons for this is the unequal distribution of upbringing and care between genders. This also impacts on women having fewer possibilities of accessing and staying in the labour market, which impedes poverty alleviation.

What this reveals is that social protection floors are not guaranteed for all. One of the main obstacles for this is the lack of follow-up, monitoring and evaluation in policy implementation. The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, to which Argentina subscribed in 2015, are a unique opportunity for advancement."

“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. Organized by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations.
Download the invitation, the concept note, the agenda and the statements. See also HLPF: Universal Social Protection: End poverty and reduce inequality.

Mr. Reinhard Krapp, Minister and Head of Economics Department, Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations
Dr. Ingolf Dietrich, Director, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Vinicius Pinheiro, Director, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Dr. Gala Diaz, Director of Social Protection Program at CIPPEC Argentina/Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors
See also "Sustainable Development Goals and Early Childhood in Argentina: Gaps and priority actions to leave no one behind", Díaz Langou and Caro Sachetti, CIPPEC, July 2017.
Mr. Adolfo Ayuso, General Director of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Office of the President of Mexico

During the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, the significant majority of countries voluntarily reporting mentioned social protection programmes as an effective instrument to fight against poverty and reduce inequalities. But social protection is more. It can tackle poverty in all its dimensions and provide for education, appropriate health care systems and support a healthy and diverse diet. In this sense, Prof Martin Ravallion of Georgetown University demanded in his key note speech at the HLPF a “full basic income” meaning not just cash transfers but basic social security including education, health care and mechanisms for redistribution.

The Global Coalition at the HLPF

As a member of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors, Bread for the World together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized a side event where the initiative of World Bank and ILO „Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030“ was presented. In September 2016 at the UN General Assembly, ILO and World Bank launched this initiative  USP 2030. It invites governments and other actors to engage for social security systems and to reach the goal of universal social protection by 2030. The main concept of this initiative is the social protection floor based on the ILO Recommendation 202 of 2012. The main focus is to support countries in setting up social protection systems that are designed to reach especially people living in poverty and exclusion. “Our shared objective is to increase the number of countries that provide universal social protection, supporting countries to design and implement universal and sustainable social protection systems” Guy Ryder, General Director ILO.

This issue of “other actors” that are invited to join the initiative is not yet clear. Certainly the private sector is asked to join – it was the main tenor of the HLPF – mainly providing necessary finance. However, the discussion about the catalogue of criteria and guidelines on which this “invitation” can be based is still due. Civil society organisations like Bread for the World demand clear frameworks and indicators, clear and transparent monitoring mechanisms, accountability, respect for human rights standards and a focus on poverty eradication, not profit making.

Social Protection in the Agenda 2030

Eleven goals and 27 targets of the Agenda 2030 have direct links to social protection. The eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality were the main focus of a second side event organized by the Global Coalition for social Protection Floors, Bread for the World and the German Mission at the UN "Universal Social Protection: End Poverty and Reduce Inequality" that was held on July 18. The representative of the German government, Dr. Ingolf Dietrich of the Ministry for Development Cooperation, highlighted the great significance of social protection for the realization of the Agenda 2030. But what about financing? Apart from suggestions to include the private sector, Vinícius Carvalho Pinheiro, ILO Director and representative to the UN, presented several different and innovative instruments including the idea of a Global Fund for Social Protection that was presented by de Schutter / Sepulveda a few years ago when they were special representatives to the UN. Other concepts include the already existing World Solidarity Fund or several types of Trust Funds. Some instruments that are already established in other contexts could be adapted to financing social protection as for example an airline ticket levy or Financial Transaction Taxes (FTT) that already exists in some G20 countries.

The debate around social security has long been established and has gained reputation especially by proving that it has a positive impact and social and economic life. The presentations of the situation in Argentina by Dr. Gala Diaz Langou, Director of Social Protection Program at CIPPEC Argentina/Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors and of the successful Global Partnership and Joint Learning for Universal Social Protection by Mr. Adolfo Ayuso Audry, General Director of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Office of the President of Mexico, have shown the significance of concrete implementation. Some questions remain as for example – how can all people be reached through social protection systems, especially those who are marginalized and how can financial instruments be diversified at the national and international level? For civil society organisations like Bread for the World it is clear – social protection has to be rights based and should not be subject to political whim.

By Dr. Luise Steinwachs, Bread for the World.

“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. Organized by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations.
Download the invitation, the concept note, the agenda and the statements.

Mr. Reinhard Krapp, Minister and Head of Economics Department, Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations
Dr. Ingolf Dietrich, Director, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Vinicius Pinheiro, Director, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Dr. Gala Diaz, Director of Social Protection Program at CIPPEC Argentina/Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors
Mr. Adolfo Ayuso, General Director of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Office of the President of Mexico

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 last 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 here the complete submission.

During the meeting, members of the GCSPF presented and statement. Read here the complete oral statement.

Further information can be found here.

Members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors presented an statement at the fifty-fifth session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD55) held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 1 to 10 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.

We invite the Commission to prioritize the issues of inequality and poverty reduction in a comprehensive manner, linking human rights with the social protection of individuals and communities. Universal social protection is an important enabling factor conducive to protecting these rights, developing human potential, and reducing income inequalities. Giving weight to the importance of essential material conditions that are required for living with dignity, social protection facilitates upholding human dignity as a value and a legal principle, confirming its central place within social and economic rights. Moreover, it is an essential material prerequisite for the effective empowerment of people, and the social and economic integration needed to enjoy civil and political rights.

Here you can download the full version of the statement presented by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors.

Further information can be found here.

e-GCSPF # 2 - July 2017

Supporting SPFs in Africa: partnerships for development Members of the GCSPF participated in the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All, Western and Central African tripartite and development partners networking meeting on implementing social protection floors in the 2030 Agenda that was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 23 to 25 May 2017. Members of the GCSPF participated in the panel “Supporting SPFs in Africa: partnerships for development”. Mr Uzziel Twagilimana, of World Solidarity (WSM), made a statement on behalf of the GCSPF highlighting some of the achievements of social movements in extending social protection to informal economy workers. This workshop contributes to ILO’s efforts to support the implementation of the SDGs. While recognizing that the State has the overall and primary responsibility of extending social security coverage along the horizontal and vertical dimensions as set out in R202, this workshop aims to engage with tripartite constituents and to consult with other relevant stakeholders. The workshop also contributes to enhancing South-South cooperation as a tool to support the development of social protection floors in Africa. Read more GCSPF at the HLPF 2017 Members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors will participate in the High-Level political forum on sustainable development in 2017 convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, that will be held from July 10 to 19. Members of the GCSPF will hold an informal meeting (date and place tbc) GCSPF participation at HLPF 2017 Side events: * “Global Partnership on Universal Social Protection: Ending Poverty by 2030” - On Monday, 10 July, 1:15-2:30 pm in the UN Conference Room 8. * “Universal Social Protection: End poverty and reduce inequality” On Tuesday, 18th July, from 18:15 - 19:45 at the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the UN Read more Implementation of the social SDGs in Latin America 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’ and published by CIPPEC. 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. 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. Read more Violence and repression of workers on the rise The number of countries experiencing physical violence and threats against workers has risen by 10 percent in just one year, according to the annual ITUC Global Rights Index. Attacks on union members have been documented in fifty-nine countries, fuelling growing anxiety about jobs and wages. The report shows that corporate interests are being put ahead of the interests of working people in the global economy, with 60 per cent of countries excluding whole categories of workers from labour law. Read more Building social protection systems This publication contains a selection of the most relevant international instruments that establish the human right to social security and provide guidance for comprehensive social security systems at national level. These include the standards and conclusions adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the field of social security and the main human rights instruments spelling out the right to social security adopted under the auspices of the United Nations. The compendium describes the instruments and of their contents, as well as explaining their purpose and relevance for furthering social protection rights worldwide. Read more Welcome to South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) is now member of the GCSPF. Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina (Regional Coordinator) and Praman Adhikari (Programme Coordinator) will be working with us. Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina will participate in the informal meeting to be held next July in New York. SAAPE is a civil society organization of South Asia (a regional network) comprising of trade unions, peasant organizations, women rights organizations, youth, human rights organizations, NGOs and academic organizations working to end poverty and injustices. SAAPE's secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. 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 International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) adopted a policy on The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems. On this base they encourage their member associations in 126 countries worldwide to engaged as part of civil society in the national social dialogue, social policy, development, implementation, and monitoring of SPFs.

Download the pdf version of this document here. The document is also available in Spanish, "La función del trabajo social en los sistemas de protección social" and can be downloaded here.

The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems: The Universal Right to Social Protection

“73% of world population have no or very restricted access to social protection resulting in the perpetuation of extreme poverty and hardship in the lives of the majority of the world’s inhabitants”, (ILO (2014) World Social Protection Report 2014/15)

Social security is a human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. States are in the obligation to provide a minimum level of well-being and social support for all citizens. The ILO - Recommendation 202 (2012) concerning the national implementation of Social Protection Floors defines a minimum level of social protection as a right for social security. But governments are free in the way they conceive and organize their national social protection systems.

Following the motion at the IFSW General Meeting 2014 calling for an IFSW policy on “The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Floor” this policy paper comprises two parts: The first addresses the need for all people to have access to competent social protection systems. The second part is directed at the role of social workers working with people engaged with these systems. Both parts advance that the understanding of social work locates social welfare in a broader context of a social developmental model making social protection transformative, leading to positive economic outcomes, to more sustainable, stabilised, resilient and harmonious societies.

Part I: The Role of Social Protection Systems in Sustained Social Development
Part II: The Role of the Social Worker in Social Protection Systems

Part I: The Role of Social Protection Systems in Sustained Social Development

Issues of concern

The provision of social protection has traditionally been seen as alleviating the impacts of insecurity, poor health, economic and social vulnerability and can help preserve basic standards of living for all. Social protection reduces fears and gives assurance and confidence that such problems do not result in a further impoverishment. More recent debates have raised the question about whether this traditional perspective feeds a dependency model or whether it is possible to construct social protection systems that are socially transformative by reducing inequality and building social justice.

Social protection systems should have a preventive and sustainable effect; strengthening resiliency of individuals, families and communities and enhancing the capability to react to risks of life.

Social protection should better the quality of life of vulnerable populations living in precarious situations that may have few if any resources to help them through the crises and disasters that they may encounter in their life path. Unexpected expenditures including health problems, death, unemployment, loss of livelihood, forced displacement related to violent conflicts or environmental disasters, and expulsion because of development projects cause serious problems for maintenance of quality of life and for wellbeing. In such cases social protection provides security and means to cope with the urgent needs of people.

But this is not the only function of Social protection systems. They should also promote the realisation of basic human rights and make a crucial contribution to establishing social justice. Furthermore social protection helps to stabilize economic development as it has been demonstrated that for every $1 spent on social protection yields a $3 return to the economy. As people become empowered they become engaged in economic activity and this leads to increased social and economic outcomes. A comprehensive social protection system contributes to the reduction of poverty, reduces inequalities, contributes to social cohesion, and lays the base for a socially sustainable economic development (Basu & Strickler, 2013).

This policy stands in accordance with prior IFSW policy:

• International Definition of Social Work (2014):
• IFSW policy statements such as those on disability, children, health, HIV/AIDS that are calling for promotion of social protection;
• The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development (2012) mentions explicitly the Social Protection Floor Initiative. The value base of social protection is broadly accepted within the United Nations and its various organisations, in the health and social professions, civil society, and with many politicians but the practice of providing social protection is subject to controversial political debates and the operationalisation and implementation produces a great variety of social protection systems in different countries. Comprehensive social protection systems provide universal protection and in doing so provide for different needs and for different segments of population.

They may comprise different schemes and various types of programmes. The financing can be tax or contributory based. The payment of social welfare benefit can be uniform for all or can be means tested. Programmes can be universal or targeted to specific groups. The payment of social welfare benefits can be given unconditionally to all meeting the set criteria’s (all children of poor family) or they are linked to conditions (e.g. the children goes to school and is vaccinated)¹.

Furthermore social protection systems such as outline in the concept of Social Protection Floors are not just stagnant concepts. Social protection systems are developed step by step, reacting to new groups of population and new emerging risks.

The result is that comprehensive social protection systems are very diverse in different countries and social protection systems tend to be complicated. The growing variety and complexity of insurances, schemes and programmes, of laws and regulations, of administrative procedures and bureaucratic decisions often call for social services as link between social administration on the one side and inhabitants demanding social services and claimants for benefits on the others. Social services have a multitude of tasks to fulfil, which may also include navigating complex social protection systems.

Background²

Decades ago the right for social security was enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and in the Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966).

Nonetheless the International Labour Organization (ILO) World Social Protection Report 2014/15 “Building economic recovery, inclusive development and social justice” shows that about 73% of world population have no or a very restricted access to social protection systems meaning that three out of four people in the world live in social insecurity if not in extreme poverty and have no access to comprehensive social protection, when they lose income due to personal, economic or environmental crisis. E.g. if there is no accessible and affordable health service for all, falling sick is a great risk for losing one’s job or livelihood, habitation and schooling. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that yearly 100 million persons fall into poverty due to unaffordable health costs.

‘The obligation to extend social security which is anchored in … human rights …was nearly forgotten in the course of the last decades’ (Cichon, 2015). The ILO Recommendation 202 concerning National Floors of Social Protection has the great merit to translate the abstract obligation into concrete policy demands on national level.

The ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation (2008) calls for the need for a strong social dimension to counter the negative social impacts of economic globalization, which had become even more obvious in the financial and economic crises in 2008. ILO and WHO were the lead agencies in the social protection floor initiative which found a broad support among UN organisations, governments and NGO as cooperating agencies. With this initiative the discussion and the implementation of social protection systems especially in the global south have gained momentum. In many countries there is a renewed and growing importance given to social protection as a human right and as a precondition for social coherence and economic stability and development. This is contrasting with the recent development in rich countries where the attained level of social security is under attack as result of financial crisis and austerity policy.

The ILO Recommendation No. 202 on the implementation of national floors of social protection (SPF) was adopted in 2012 by 185 ILO member states. SPFs guarantee universal access to health services and income security through the life cycle: for children, unemployed and poor, older and disabled persons. National social protection floors based on human rights have fully or partly been successfully implemented in many countries. There is growing evidence, that they are ambitious but feasible, affordable and effective in the reduction of extreme poverty and of excessive inequality (ILO, 2011, 2014). Social Protection Floors contribute to wellbeing, to gender equality and improve educational and health status in underprivileged and vulnerable groups and enforce resilience in reaction to hardship of life in broad population. Social Protection Floors have contributed to achievements reaching Millennium Developmental Goals and are an essential element to realize social rights.

The ILO-Recommendation 202 on the national implementation of Social Protection Floors is the most important and promising initiative in global social policy and has found a broad support among UN organisations such as UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, ESCR, HRC and development agencies. It marks an innovative change in global social and development policy away from the primacy of financial issues (Washington Consensus), away from a targeted protection of vulnerable population to an inclusive social policy postulating and implementing social protection for all based on Human Rights. In this context the concept note of the World Bank Group and ILO from April 2015 for a shared mission and action plan for universal social protection is remarkable (ILO & Worldbank, 2015).

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted on 25 September 2015the Resolution on “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets of constitute a global agenda, which seeks “to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.”

Social protection is given a prominent place to achieve SDG. Social protection including SPF is explicitly mentioned under goal 1 “End poverty in all its form and everywhere” (target 1.3). Under goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages) target 8 postulates universal health coverage, including financial risk protection. To achieve gender equality (goal 5) the recognition and valuation of unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies is required (target 5.4). The progressive reduction of inequality within and between countries (goal 10) calls for policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies (target 10.4).

4. IFSW Policy Statement: On the Right to Social Protection Systems

Social protection is a human right. The social work profession’s core commitment to human rights involves a commitment to provide social protection for all. IFSW calls upon governments and members of civil society to engage for inclusive and comprehensive social protection systems for all.

IFSW will work in the promotion of social protection and calls on its member associations and social workers worldwide to join in this commitment to protect, preserve and expand the right for social protection for all.

In the understanding of IFSW social protection is more than the provision for basic needs. In accordance with the international definition of social work and with the professional ethics and principles IFSW holds that social protection systems must be embedded in a social policy that promotes social justice, social security, social coherence and wellbeing. Social protection systems must be understood as instruments for social transformation, democracy and creating social just societies.

IFSW endorses the ILO Recommendation 202 on the National Implementation of Social Protection Floors and IFSW and urges member associations and social workers worldwide to build on the ILO Recommendation and use it as a guideline to realize social protection in their international, national or local field of activity.

IFSW calls on its member associations and upon social workers worldwide to include social protection in all the activity toward the achievement of Sustainable Developmental Goals 2016-2030. Guaranteeing universal access to health care and providing basic income security for those who are unable to earn sufficient income in particular in cases of parenthood, sickness, unemployment, maternity, disability and old age. These will crucially contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Developmental Goals 2016 - 2030.

IFSW and IFSW UN-representatives will give the social work perspective in social protection high priority in their international activities; they will seek and intensify cooperation with UN organizations concerning social protection, particularly with the International Labour Organisation ILO but also with WHO, UNAIDS, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP and others.

IFSW stresses the importance of training of social workers and calls upon schools of social work to include sustainable social development in the curriculum and prepare students in theory and practice to work with social protection systems.

IFSW urges its member organisations as part of civil society to forge alliances with civil society organisations, unions, and people who use services to promote sustainable social protection. Civil society organisations should engage in the national social dialogue and participate in the decision processes, contribute to the conception, development, implementation, and monitoring of social protection systems.

IFSW strongly opposes austerity policy that reduces public expenditure combined with tax reduction for the wealthy, resulting in the widening of the gap in inequality and increases poverty.

Part II. The Role of the Social Worker in Social Protection Systems

Introduction

Embedded in the social work profession’s theoretical and practice understandings is that individuals cannot live sustainable, fulfilled lives unless they are interdependently connected in a social framework. Thereby an essential aim of the profession is to enhance social protection systems so that people are able to live in social environments confidently, securely, with dignity and with the full realisation of their rights.

This approach can differ from the trends of many governments who conceive of social protection systems as top down platforms for the alleviation of individual poverty or targeted harm reduction. While the profession actively supports the development of systems and programmes to reduce poverty and alleviate suffering, the profession goes further than this with the focus on building family, community, societal capital and interdependence as a key first and sustainable form of social protection. This is embodied in the concept of community capacity building

Worldwide the daily work of social workers involves: Strengthening solidarity between people, Promoting people to caring for others, Engaging people to respect the rights of others, Strengthening solidarity within a family, a community and society.

Advocacy is also a key component to the profession and whether working in highly resourced social protection systems, or in environments where social protection is based entirely in culture and religion, or aid-reliant contexts, social workers advocate to shape social protection systems so that they preserve and enhance social relationships, promote social integration and make relationships between people as harmonious as possible.

From the perspective of social work, social protection systems and welfare states should be designed to promote the sustainability and wellbeing of the population as a whole. Rather than a strategy that provides relief for people whom have been failed by their societies. In this sense the social work profession advocates that social protection systems are agencies for social transformation, which centre on building solidarity within communities and between communities, and prompting self-determination thorough encouraging democratic participation and strengthening voices in wider society.

Background

The social work analysis considers not just the presenting problem from the individual but considers it in the context of the family and community in which the person lives. Therefore the starting points for the social worker are family and community structures. They need to be recognised as the foundation upon which all other aspects of social protection should be built. All too often however top-down social protection systems and governmental policies overlook family and community. They inadvertently replace these organic systems of care with programmes that over time, strip people of the intergenerational knowledge and wisdom that has supported their wellbeing for so long.

There are of course limits to what families and communities can offer and an obligation for the state or governance structures to provide social services to provide specialised services that enhance society’s wellbeing as a whole through working complementarily with community needs and community capacity building.

What is important from a grassroots social work practitioner perspective is that social protection systems do not replace the responsibility of families and communities as the first protectors. Rather, that the social protection systems provide more than access to limited financial and medical assistance. They become a platform for enabling people to understand their rights and learn how to democratically shape their environment for the better.

Social workers believe that social protection should be transformational, built from the real needs of all people and the realisation of all people’s rights. Too often social protection has been seen as an “end-of-the-pipe” solution, when all else has gone wrong, and labour markets and economies have failed. Whereas from the professions perspective it is imperative that transformative social protection leads the change in all ways of life.

The social work profession sees the potential for social protection to bring about changes in the economy, in democracy and addressing inequalities. We advocate with others that a new conception of social protection is needed. This should focus on preserving society and social relationships, promoting social integration, and making relationships among people as harmonious as possible. It should reflect the need to build on the complex matrix of community capacity building to sustain cohesive societies.

From our professional practice experience we find that people don’t want to be in the hands of disempowering social care systems, which undermine communities of their organic means of helping one another. People who use social services and those trying to access them want fairness: a level playing field and equal opportunity to succeed. They want their voices to be heard and to have influence over their own lives.

Social protection built on community engagement and human rights will also go further than economic advantage. It will lead to sustainability and security.

Policy Statement

It is consistent with social work’s professional ethics that social workers promote Social Protection Systems to construct systems that transform communities and society to address the root causes and dynamics that undermine peoples safety, security and wellbeing. The professional principles of social work also emphasize that Social Protection Systems are grounded in a development model to ensure social sustainability and maximise the opportunity for peoples self-determination and influence over their own lives.

The role of social workers in social protection systems is to facilitate community solidarity and engagement in the development of systems that will be inclusive for all people and treat them with dignity and respect, and ensuring human rights and social justice. Social workers will bring their skills, knowledge and expertise not only of individuals who are marginalised and excluded, but also of groups and communities to advocate that systems positive address structural, social and cultural barriers.

Implications of this policy statement

In accordance with this policy, the professions ethics and principles, social workers view social protection systems as instruments for social transformation, democracy and creating socially just societies.

The role of social workers is to mediate between state services and family community systems to achieve outcomes that reinforce the capacity of family and community in sustainable selfcare and the ability to access social protection systems when necessary.

Social workers use their knowledge, experience and skills to advocate within services to ensure that people who use services are treated with dignity and are able to make decisions with respect to the care that they receive.

Social workers advocate within their places of work and communities that services are integrated enabling maximum accessibility and avoiding unnecessary duplication. As social professionals they encourage that all other professional groups work to co-construct understandings with their clients and work towards the person’s self-determination.

Social workers are advocates for the development of accessible, affordable and transparent social protections systems that are embedded within communities and engage communities in the development of services.

The implications of this policy also impact upon employers of social workers. Employers of social workers and administrators of social protection systems need to support social workers as advocates for social development, peoples rights and community engagement.

This policy paper sets out the Role of Social Workers in Social Protection Systems, and advances that embedding social protection in the frameworks of all societies leads to positive economic outcomes, and more stabilised and harmonious societies.

7. Date of next review

According to IFSW regulation in 2000 policies have to be reviewed and updated after 6 years. If the Delegate Meeting in Seoul in 2016 adopt this policy that means that IFSW

Delegate Meeting in 2022 has to discuss and approve updating of the policy of social work in social protection systems.

Glossary

Social Services: In this policy the term “social services” is used in a broad understanding including the services of a variety of social professions that are separated in some countries and included under the concept of social work in others such as: social assistants, community and youth workers, social care workers, social educators, social pedagogues, street workers, animators etc.

Social Security / Protection System³: is the system of interventions, programs, insurances, social assistance and welfare benefits that are provided by governmental, civil society and community actors on local, regional or national level to ensure the welfare and protection of all members of society, especially for socially or economically disadvantaged individuals, and communities.

Social Protection Floor: the term is used in this paper to relate to the ILO Recommendation 202 concerning the ‘National Implementation of Social Protection Floors’, comprising a two- fold objective: first to establish basic social security guarantees, which “should ensure at a minimum that, over the life cycle, all in need have access to essential health care and to basic income security which together secure effective access to goods and services defined as necessary at the national level.” And secondly to implement social protection floors within strategies for the extension of social security that progressively ensure higher levels of social security to as many people as possible, guided by ILO social security standards. (ILO-Rec- 202, 2012).

References

Alston, Philip: Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, UN – General Assembly 69/297, 2015, 29th Session HRC  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/Pages/AnnualReports.aspx

AvenirSocial (2014) The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Floors. Motion to IFSW delegate meeting 2014 in Melbourne: http://cdn.ifsw.org/assets/ifsw_83600-1.pdf

Basu, Sanjay and Stuckler, David (2013) The Body Economic: Why Austerity Kills

Cichon, Michael (2015) Which Floors for Social Protection, and Why? Chapter 1 in: Schildberg, 2015, pp. 12-29

Drolet, Julie (Ed.) (2016) Social Development and Social Work Perspectives on Social Protection , Routledge, London and New York

Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors www.socialprotectionfloorscoalition.org/

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 9 ff)
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx

ILO (2008) Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/mission-and-objectives/WCMS_099766/lang--en/index.htm

ILO-Recommendation 202 concerning the National Implementation of Social Protection Floors, 2012, (Available also in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russia, and Spanish)
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:3065524

ILO-Recommendation 204 concerning the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy, 2015,
http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/104/texts-adopted/WCMS_377774/lang--en/index.htm

ILO Social protection floor for a fair and inclusive globalization. Report of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group (Bachelet report) Geneva, International Labor Office, 2011 http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/spfag/download/background/bachrep_en.pdf

ILO World Social Protection Report 2014-15. Building economic recovery, inclusive development and social justice, ILO, 2014
http://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/world-social-security-report/2014/lang--en/index.htm

ILO & Worldbank: A shared mission for universal social protection, concept note, 2015,
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/genericdocument/wcms_378996.pdf

OHCHR (2014) Social protection floors and economic and social rights. A/HRC/28/35
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/SocialSecurity/ReportSocialProtectionFloors.pdf

Schildher Cäcilie (2015): Civil Society Guide for National Social Protection Floors (SPFs).
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). 2015, April http://www.fes.de/GPol/pdf/CivilSocietyGuide.pdf

Sepúlveda, Magdalena & Nyst, Carly. The Human Rights Approach to Social Protection, Erweko Oy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, 2012 ISBN 978-952-281-016-8

UNDP (2011) Sharing Innovative Experiences, Volume 18 of the series Successful Social Protection Floor Experiences

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Articles 22 and 25  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/eng.pdf

Notes:

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.