Invitation “Examining the Progress of the World Bank's Commitment to Universal Social Protection”

El Grupo de Trabajo sobre Financiación de la Protección Social de la Coalición Global por los Pisos de Protección Social (GCSPF, por su sigla en inglés) y la red INSP!R, les invitamos a participar en un seminario web para compartir información sobre el Acelerador mundial del empleo y la protección social para transiciones justas de Naciones Unidas.

En septiembre de 2021 el Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas presentó el Acelerador mundial del empleo y la protección social para transiciones justas, cuyo objetivo es acelerar las acciones mundiales necesarias para promover la recuperación de empleo, así como transiciones ecológicas, tecnológicas y sociales justas hacia economías más sostenibles e inclusivas.

Miembros de la GCSPF participan en el Grupo Directivo, y en esta oportunidad les invitamos a participar en este seminario web para compartir información sobre esta iniciativa y discutir el rol crucial de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y de los sindicatos para garantizar la representación, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional.

El Acelerador Global apoyará a los países comprometidos con la creación de empleos decentes, la ampliación de la protección social y la promoción de vías para transiciones justas. Puedes ver aquí si tu país se encuentra entre los países pioneros que forman parte de esta iniciativa y, en ese caso, también su nivel de compromiso.

Este seminario web tendrá lugar el viernes 26 de abril, 1 pm UTC. Puedes confirmar aquí tu hora local.

Habrá interpretación en inglés, español y francés.

Zoom (requiere inscripción previa): https://ituc-csi-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpcumgrTMiHtRbGLEca3L8ckG5N1YEZPoS

Les agradecemos que compartan esta invitación con sus redes y colegas.

No dudes en ponerte en contacto con nosotros si quieres información adicional.

Ms. Sylvia Beales Gelber and Ms. Odile Frank, both members of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), participated at the 2024 UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

Ms Sylvia Beales Gelber and Ms Odile Frank spoke in Round Table 1: SDG1 - No Poverty (Preparing social protection systems to respond to the poverty impacts of the climate crisis and green transitions) that was held on 13 March 2024. This session was part of the Opening and High-level Policy Segment. Further information on this session is available here and the recording is here.

Odile Frank highlighted there are two major ways in which social protection has an impact on what we are going to experience from climate change. The first is clearly the issue of shocks and crises and the immediate solutions required for populations that have been made vulnerable by these crises and this is a very important function of social protection. The other area is the usefulness of social protection to assist workers in undergoing just transition to green, and I insist that just transition to green is not only a green transition, but it should also be accountable in respect of ILO recommendations regarding decent work and respect for labour rights.

Sylvia Beales Gelber highlighted the history and the rationale of the SPF recommendation 202, and that the right to social security for all is enshrined in the 1948 UDHR and a range of subsequent human rights provisions and treaties. However over half of the world still does not have access to the full range of social protection guarantees;  including in the UNECE region. Updated and fully disaggregated data is essential to ensure all people across their life course have social protection, as is adequate and long term finance.  As the world ages in all regions social protection is a vital and essential policy measure to lessen intergenerational transfer of poverty. 

Sylvia explained the life course elements of the social protection floor, as it provides for basic income in childhood, old age, for persons with disability and the unemployed together with access to health.  Design for social protection must be multidimensional and integrated as communities are composed of people of different ages, sex, ethnicities and locations; all with different charteristics. Civil society organisation are well equipped to identify gaps in social protection as they know what is going on at local level. Barriers to access to entitlements can often be due to lack of legal documentation, itself a denial to rights.  Members of the GCSPF are working on issues of legal documentation for children and adults. Social protection accountability to maximise the reach of social protection is another important area of work for members of the Coalition. Population movement due to conflict and climate change means that there are gaps and errors in documention held by local officials and in national data systems. This can be corrected with civil society monitoring leading to more inclusive mechanisms being put in place. 

Multiple studies and country experiences show it is perfectly possible both to have accurate data for social protection and to set a national budget within each country. Financing social protection and system building for it over the long term is a matter of global and national  political will. The Global Coalition, comprising over 120 civil society organisations, thinktanks and NGOs  is calling for a solidarity based Global Fund for Social Protection to ensure the necessary finance and technical know how is available for all countries in all regions to put in place the right of all to universal provision.  

Sylvia also talked about how social protection has positive outcomes for people of all ages and countries is not in doubt. Social protection is both a human rights and a fundamental lever for the achievement of all SDGS and its financing is of utmost priority in the final six years of SDG implementation. There is no time to waste.  

This round table allowed participants to learn from each other and share information on the best ways to address the growing poverty impacts of the climate crisis in the region as well as explore potential gains from green and digital transitions.

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) convened its annual regional forum on sustainable development (RFSD) in preparation for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2024. The forum explored opportunities for advancing key transitions and cooperation towards achieving the SDGs in the region and discussed progress towards the Goals undergoing in-depth review in 2024.

The 2024 UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 14 March. The UNECE region comprises the countries of Europe as well as countries in North America (Canada and the US), Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), and Western Asia (Israel).

The Joint Statement was developed by the co-organizers and participants of the workshop series “Toward Universal Social Protection: Health, Social Protection and Equality“ that was held in Kathmandu on 17 February 2024 during the World Social Forum 2024 (WSF2024). The GCSPF as well as many members support the Statement.

The statement is here. Download pdf version.

Joint Statement WSF2024

Workshop Series on Towards Universal Social Protection

As the world economy produces more goods, grows at a rapid pace, and generates more and more wealth and profits, the disparity between those at the top of the pyramid and those at the bottom is increasing exponentially. Despite producing more, working longer hours, and sacrificing more, vulnerable people around the world now have less access to healthcare, quality education, civic services, and housing. In a world where work and income are far from secure, the lack of guaranteed access to necessities for workers and their families is a serious and often tragic issue. At least 8 million people die every year simply due to a lack of quality health care. In 2020, almost 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. On top of this, women undertake three times as much unpaid care work as men in Asia and two times more than men globally. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has left a multitude of public service workers in dire straits, especially in health and sanitation (where service provision has increasingly been contracted out to private firms), since such workers were all hired under sub-contractual outsourcing systems and therefore have no guarantee of future employment. Inequality is omnipresent and takes a number of different forms. Within the household, there exist inequalities between boys and girls and between men and women. Nor is equality maintained in education, in the distribution of skill, or in employment opportunities. Women are facing discriminatory behaviors first in accessing employment and then, for women who are employed, in accessing financial resources. This gender inequality fuels patriarchy, empowering men and forcing women to take losses, which then creates a situation in which men grow more powerful and women weaker. The absence of gender- responsive budgeting mechanisms, that focus financing on social protection presents systemic barriers for the implementation of social protection in a holistic manner.

Discussing universal social protection becomes challenging in the midst of war and conflicts that resulted in the loss of lives, injuries, and the displacement of millions of people from their homes, depriving them of essential rights such as access to health, food, clean water and education, with the most substantial of these casualties being women and children.

In these circumstances, all people must be assured access to comprehensive social protection, encompassing housing and civic services, healthcare, education, unemployment allowances, maternity cash assistance, and pensions for the elderly, whether they are employed or not. Within the broad framework of social protection for all, there must also be a particular focus on addressing the needs of people with disabilities and workers within the informal economy, and concerted efforts should be made to organize spaces and systems that facilitate their ability to lead secure and productive lives. Additionally, everyone should be guaranteed a decent life from the womb to the tomb.

We, including 200 people from different organizations participating in the World Social Forum 2024 in Kathmandu, gathered for Universal Social Protection, jointly state the following:

1. Universal Social Protection. We are committed to collective action, advocating for the rights and dignity of all, recognizing that universal social protection is not merely a cost or charity but an inherent right and a crucial investment. Our pledge involves rejecting poverty targeting in favor of universality, ensuring that disability benefits, child benefits, pension and maternity rights reach every individual. We emphasize the importance of day care services for working mothers, the elimination of child labor and abuse, and the provision of free and quality education for a better tomorrow. We acknowledge the significance of #CareWorkMakesAllOtherWorksPossible and strive to achieve decent work for all. Our unwavering commitment extends to quality public services and healthcare, opposing privatization and advocating for increased investment in public healthcare. We pledge to prioritize people over profit, advocating for living wages and ensuring financial benefits are easily accessible to all. In our comprehensive approach, we recognize that building a society that values the well-being, rights, and dignity of all is a collective responsibility. Keeping in view the exclusion of workers within the Informal Economy from the social protection floors, we demand the establishment of Maternity protection boards for informal workers across the region. Maternity benefits must be extended to all women irrespective of age, marital status and income category and must be applicable to all pregnancies. Adequate universal social protection coverage should also include the possibility to adapt and use schemes in case of large-scale shocks, especially in a context of increasing catastrophes exacerbated because of the climate crisis, but also including phenomena like Covid-19 which especially affected informal workers.

2. Gender Equality and Justice. Advocating for Gender-Responsive Budgeting and gender-friendly markets, we emphasize the imperative need to remove the obstacles hindering women's career advancement, and push for the proportionate representation of women in all walks of life, including employment, administration, and parliament. Recognizing that promoting Gender Equality requires active championing by men, we assert the necessity to halt gender-based violence. Additionally, fostering a society that embraces dignified menstruation is the collective responsibility of all. Social protection is also a powerful tool to ensure inclusivity of LGBTIQA+ workers and their families.

3. Economic Justice and Decent Work. In our comprehensive approach, we advocate for a Solidarity Economy, ensuring Equal Access to Financial Resources, and ending Workplace Harassment to create safe working conditions. Recognizing the importance of Women's Engagement in the Labor Market, we value and recognize Care Work, strive for a Living Wage for Social Protection, and emphasize Decent Work for All, promoting fair labor practices and safe working conditions.

4. Social Justice and Human Rights. Given our commitment to Youth Health as fundamental for a healthy nation, we acknowledge the significance of unpaid care work. Consequently, we are actively working towards its integration into national accounts. Moreover, we advocate for the availability of easily accessible centers facilitating digital benefit applications for all, ensuring streamlined access to essential services and support.

5. Gender Transformative Quality Public Services. Our advocacy revolves around championing Quality Public Services. Opposing privatisation, we instead promote the public ownership and management of public services. Our fight is for equal access to quality public services and for the rights of the workers delivering them. We emphasize the essential need for public services to be in the public's hands.

6. Social Responsibility. Our commitment lies in prioritizing People Over Profit, working towards Poverty Alleviation, and advocating for Social Profitability within the framework of a Social Solidarity Economy. We emphasize the importance of placing human well-being ahead of financial gains and fostering economic models that prioritize broader societal benefits over narrow interests.

March 2024

The Global Campaign for The Right to Social Security hosted a parallel event titled ‘Unlocking Gender Equality: The Power of Universal Social Security Programs’ highlighting the pivotal role of universal and individual social security programs in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as opposed to means-tested or poverty-targeted programs. The session took place on March 14, 2024.

The session was focused on the flaws of means-tested or poverty-targeted social protection programs and make the case for universal and individual social security programs in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The event was moderated by Farah Al Shami (Arab Reform Initiative) and the panelists were Ana Maria Munoz Boudet (World Bank), Jane Anyango (Polycom Development Project), Tara Korti (Christian Aid) and Abiodun Abaniwo (Action Against Hunger Nigeria).

The side event was coorganized by the Global Campaign for the Right to Social Security, Act Church of Sweden, Action Against Hunger France, Action Aid, the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors, and the Arab Reform Initiative.

The 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) took place from 11 to 22 March, 2024 under the priority theme “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.

Further information here.

Curious about how universal and individual social security programs can promote gender equality and empower women and girls?

The Global Campaign for The Right to Social Security will be hosting a parallel event at the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) titled ‘Unlocking Gender Equality: The Power of Universal Social Security Programs’ highlighting the pivotal role of universal and individual social security programs in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as opposed to means-tested or poverty-targeted programs.

The session will be focused on the flaws of means-tested or poverty-targeted social protection programs and make the case for universal and individual social security programs in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. It will be delivered in an engaging format that inspire people to take action and express concrete commitments towards this issue.
 
Join us on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST

Zoom registration link: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Moderator: Farah Al Shami, Arab Reform Initiative.

Panelists: Shahra Razavi (International Labour Organization, ILO), Ana Maria Munoz-Boudet (World Bank), Jane Anyango (Polycom Development Project), Tara Korti (Christian Aid), Abiodun Abaniwo (Action Against Hunger Nigeria).

The 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) will take place this year from 11 to 22 March under the priority theme “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.

The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) continues participating in the preparatory process of the Summit of the Future. The GCSPF delivered a statement in the Informal consultation with relevant stakeholders in preparation of the zero draft of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) that was held on Friday, March 1st, 2024.

This round of informal consultation is a contribution to the elaboration of the zero draft of the GDC which will be annexed to the Pact for the Future. The Pact will be adopted at the Summit of the Future to be held at the UNHQ, in New York, 22-23 September 2024.

Download here the statement (pdf version).

Global Digital Compact - Stakeholders Informal Consultation
1 March, 10 am EST

Statement on behalf of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors - GCSPF

The role of digital technologies and legal identity in accessing social protection and other public services

Thank you very much. I have the pleasure to speak on behalf of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF). The GCSPF represents more than 120 CSOs worldwide that are committed to realising the right to social security for all which we believe to be a core enabler of SDG achievement.

The lack of legal and digital identity is one important reason why about one billion people in the world have no access to social protection and other public services[1],[2]. Many more people do not have access either, because digital access is not tailored to their needs and circumstances. Governments often see digitalization as a means to cut costs rather than to extend coverage.

Based on participatory dialogues with people living in poverty, our Global Coalition and its members have formulated four recommendations[3] for improving digital access to public services.

One. The right to digital connection and digital identity.  Affordable access to internet and digital support should be provided to everyone, and in particular in rural areas. (Websites and interfaces should be easy to use).

Two. When people are not able to digitally access public services, the right to a physical human reception should be ensured (so that human contact is always present in administrative processes).

Three. (To the extent possible,) Right holders to public services should meaningfully participate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital policies.

Four. A variety of accountability mechanisms should be built in. (such as observation and legal tools as well as permanent watchdogs in order to) These mechanisms would detect human rights violations, such as with regard to privacy and exclusion from public services. (Digital policies must be evaluated in terms of their impact on the poorest 10% of society)

Thank you for your attention.

Notes:

[1] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2019/08/14/inclusive-and-trusted-digital-id-can-unlock-opportunities-for-the-worlds-most-vulnerable

[2] https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/despite-significant-increase-birth-registration-quarter-worlds-children-remain

[3] Statement submitted by International Movement ATD Fourth World, non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, Commission for Social Development, Fifty-ninth Session, 8-17 February 2021 (E/CN.5/2021/NGO/1)

The video of the side event “The transformative potential of expanding the coverage of child benefits to eliminate child poverty” is now online. The side event was held on February 14, 2024 during the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62).

Child poverty is one of the world’s greatest challenges to the realisation of the SDGs and children’s rights, including the right to survival, learning and protection. In 2022, 330 million children lived in extreme poverty, with children comprising more than half of the world’s 1.1 billion people experiencing multidimensional poverty. 

Through the SDGs, world leaders committed to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, including by putting in place social protection floors (SPFs) by 2030 and guaranteeing access to quality essential health care for all and basic income security for children, persons with disabilities, older persons and the unemployed.

While governments have made some progress in building inclusive social protection systems, children are frequently left the furthest behind. For instance, in 2021, more than 73 percent of girls and boys worldwide did not receive any child or family cash benefits at all, leaving them particularly vulnerable and at risk to the irreversible and long-lasting impacts of poverty, stunting and wasting, inadequate access to health and education services on human capability development.

To promote awareness and use of Universal Child Benefits (UCBs) as an effective means to reduce child poverty and support child development, the International Labour Organization (ILO), Save the Children and UNICEF launched a new tool, the Global Child Benefits Tracker during the CSocD62 in New York. As indicated by the recent report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report to the Human Rights Council, UCBs are one of the most inclusive, effective and fairest approaches to reach those furthest behind. 

The aim of this tool is to provide a dedicated knowledge management platform to foster progressive and evidence-based dialogue, drawing on best practice, on the need for and feasibility of greater investment in child-sensitive social protection.

Speakers and Panelists

Opening Remarks: Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York

Keynote Speaker: Philip Alston, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights

Moderated Discussion

• Jane Kitili, Director Social Protection, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Kenya
• H.E. Ambassador Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg
• H.E. Ambassador Enkhbold Vorshilov, Permanent Representative of Mongolia
  
  Moderated by Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York
  
  Presentation of the Global Child Benefits Tracker
• David Lambert Tumwesigye, Global Policy & Advocacy Lead, Child Poverty, Save the Children International
  
  Closing Remarks
• Natalia Winder Rossi, Global Director of Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF

This event was organised by Save the Children International, UNICEF and ILO and co-sponsored by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg and USP2030.     

The CSocD62 took place from 5 to 14 February 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The priority theme of the CSocD62 focused on "Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication". The emerging issue focused on "The Influence of Digital Transformation on Inclusive Growth and Development: A Path to Realizing Social Justice".

Download the concept note here. Further information is available here and at the UN's website.

The official virtual Side Event “Advocating Universal Social Protection (USP) Floors for Asian Countries” will be held on February 21, 2024 (Wednesday), from 16.30 – 17.45 Bangkok time (GMT+7).

The 11th Asia Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD) will be organized from 20-23 February under the theme: “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: The effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions in Asia and the Pacific” at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Globally, the number of the extreme poor stands at 860 million. Over 820 million people goes hungry every day.

SDG 1.3 and other SDGs and targets mention social protection, but the SDG framework itself is being derailed as a consequence lack of commitment on the part of governments.

In Asia and pacific 930 million workers out of a total of the 1.3 billion informal economy workers (68%) are in vulnerable sectors. Female workers experience gender-based discrimination, receiving less pay than men and spending more time on unpaid care work.

The impact of climate change becomes more and more visible. More and more people are affected by natural disasters from Pakistan over Bangladesh to the Philippines. The people have also had to contend with inflation on food and energy. International debt among some low- and middle-income countries are limiting their investment in social protection. At the country level there are some social protection mechanisms covering the people of various ages, but even where there is good coverage, there are implementation gaps.

The side event will discuss the scope of Universal Social Protection Floors to address poverty, hunger, inequality and adapt to climate change.

This session is organized by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and co-organized by Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (India); NGO Federation of Nepal (Nepal); Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement - PRRM (Philippines); Noakhali Rural Development Society (Bangladesh); Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (Sri Lanka); Pakistan Development Alliance (Pakistan); Coordination Committee of Cambodia (Cambodia); Sanayee Development Organisation (Afghanistan); ONE Singapore (Singapore); Africa Japan Forum (Japan); Asia Dalit Rights Forum; Global Forum on DWD and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF).

Link to register in the Virtual Side Event: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvcO-gqjIrGNZXd7-g4s6DIQWJmLAdbc6g

Download the concept note here.

The side event “The transformative potential of expanding the coverage of child benefits to eliminate child poverty” will be held on February 14, 2024 at 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm EST at Conference Room 11, UNHQ, New York. The event will be held during the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62).

Child poverty is one of the world’s greatest challenges to the realisation of the SDGs and children’s rights, including the right to survival, learning and protection. In 2022, 330 million children lived in extreme poverty, with children comprising more than half of the world’s 1.1 billion people experiencing multidimensional poverty. 

Through the SDGs, world leaders committed to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, including by putting in place social protection floors (SPFs) by 2030 and guaranteeing access to quality essential health care for all and basic income security for children, persons with disabilities, older persons and the unemployed.

While governments have made some progress in building inclusive social protection systems, children are frequently left the furthest behind. For instance, in 2021, more than 73 percent of girls and boys worldwide did not receive any child or family cash benefits at all, leaving them particularly vulnerable and at risk to the irreversible and long-lasting impacts of poverty, stunting and wasting, inadequate access to health and education services on human capability development.

To promote awareness and use of Universal Child Benefits (UCBs) as an effective means to reduce child poverty and support child development, the International Labour Organization (ILO), Save the Children and UNICEF will launch a new tool, the Global Child Benefits Tracker during the CSocD62 in New York. As indicated by the recent report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report to the Human Rights Council, UCBs are one of the most inclusive, effective and fairest approaches to reach those furthest behind. 

The aim of this tool is to provide a dedicated knowledge management platform to foster progressive and evidence-based dialogue, drawing on best practice, on the need for and feasibility of greater investment in child-sensitive social protection.

Speakers and Panelists

Opening Remarks:
Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York

Keynote Speaker:

Philip Alston, former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights

Moderated Discussion

• Jane Kitili, Director Social Protection, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Kenya
• H.E. Ambassador Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg
• H.E. Ambassador Enkhbold Vorshilov, Permanent Representative of Mongolia
  
  Moderated by Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the ILO Office in New York
  
  Presentation of the Global Child Benefits Tracker
• David Lambert Tumwesigye, Global Policy & Advocacy Lead, Child Poverty, Save the Children International
  
  Questions and Answers
  
  Closing Remarks
• Natalia Winder Rossi, Global Director of Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF

This event is organised by Save the Children International, UNICEF and ILO and co-sponsored by the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg and USP2030.     

Link to participate online:
https://unvc.webex.com/unvc/j.php?MTID=m2a0c225f02eac227c16428d745da85be
Webinar number: 2343 658 0587
Webinar password: CSocD62_14Feb#24

Download the concept note here. Further information is available here.