GCSPF e-Newsletter #95 - December 2023

In this podcast we explore the challenges of financing social protection in a changing world of work. What are the possible paths, strategies and innovations countries are undertaking to include informal workers? What about digital platforms: is there room to improve social protection for these workers? To discuss these and other issues we invited two guests: Sarah Cook and Ruth Castel-Branco. Listen this Podcast

In a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen social security rights in Nepal, the International Network for Social Protection Rights (INSP!R) Nepal, organized a pivotal dialogue session on 15 Mangsir, 2080 at Kathmandu to mark a social protection week/day 2080. Aimed of this program was to discuss on the roles of stakeholders in advancing social security programs. This program was managed and organized by Social Protection Civil Society Network, convening key figures at the forefront of the nation's social protection landscape. Read more

Civil society research documents clear harms from privatisation and fiscal consolidation on public services and human rights, as Bank and Fund push for their deepening. Read more

By Barry Herman, Social Justice in global Development
Four years have passed since the IMF adopted a new Strategy for Engagement on Social Spending that was meant to increase the support that IMF gives to national policies on social protection, health and education. The Fund interprets this as instructing its staff to focus on the adequacy, efficiency and sustainability of social programs when they can affect macroeconomic conditions in member countries.
One way to assess how the new strategy is being implemented is to look for changes in IMF advice and the policy requirements for IMF loans. Results so far have not been encouraging, although it is still early. Another way is to examine the guidance that IMF gives its staff when they go on country missions. The IMF has published two interim guidance papers that give insight into the strengths and weaknesses of IMF thinking on how to implement its strategy. Read more

Poverty and discrimination in Serbia’s welfare state
The publication by Amnesty International shows that introducing technology in social protection systems is often portrayed as a way to improve people’s access to services and increase efficiency. Yet, as the example of the Social Card registry in Serbia shows, introducing automation into an already inadequate social security landscape without first addressing existing flaws and structural discrimination will exacerbate and entrench these issues and further undermine people’s right to social security. Since its introduction, the Social Card registry in Serbia has resulted in possibly thousands of the most marginalised people losing vital social assistance. Without proper safeguards in place, people from marginalized communities, such as Roma and people with disabilities, were disproportionally affected. Read more

The Human Rights Council resolution 52/11 on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a practical information note compiling best practices on social protection with regard to human rights, that builds on existing initiatives carried out by the Office’s field presences, including in coordination with United Nations country teams and in partnership with the International Labour Organization.
The purpose of the call is to prepare a practical information note compiling best practices on social protection with regard to human rights and a panel discussion the challenges and good practices to strengthen the fulfilment of the right to social security and for building, financing and implementing public policies and quality public services as key tools for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Deadline: 29 December 2023 Read more

How can we separate the eradication of poverty from the pursuit of economic growth that is destroying the environment and increasing inequalities
This question will lie at the heart of my next report to the 56^th session of the UN Human Rights Council (June 2024), on the role of economic growth in the fight against poverty. In my report I intend to explore “post-growth” approaches to poverty eradication that move beyond GDP, and consider how human rights can guide the search for alternative development pathways as the world prepares the post-2030 Agenda.
To enrich the report the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights is seeking written input from governments, civil society organizations, academics, international organizations, activists, corporations and others. Deadline: 15 January 2024 Read more

Labour inclusion as a key axis of inclusive social development
This edition of the Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean published by CEPAL addresses the challenges of labour inclusion as a key axis for inclusive social development. Despite a recovery in social indicators in 2022 (reduction of poverty and inequality, recovery of employment), the region faces a double trap of low growth and high levels of poverty and inequality. Labour inclusion is key to combating poverty, reducing informality and inequality and moving towards inclusive social development. Gender gaps in labour market inclusion are driven by the unequal distribution of the burden of care work, which is largely borne by women. In the case of migrants, overqualification and discrimination also affect their labour market inclusion. The efforts made by countries in terms of investment in labour policies, which on average amount to 0.34% of GDP, are insufficient. What is needed is a shift from labour market access to labour market inclusion, ensuring access to quality employment, income above the minimum wage and to social protection, particularly for women and young people. Read more