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Statement on social protection floors: an essential element of the right to social security and of the sustainable development goals
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The 44th session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was held between February 23th and March 6th 2015 in Geneva. At the end of the session, the Committee adopted the Statement on social protection floors: an essential element of the right to social security and of the sustainable development goals, which recommends the establishment of a Social Protection Floor (SPF) – “guaranteeing legal entitlements to individuals, as an initial element to be progressively developed into a universal and comprehensive social security system”.
BACKGROUND
Social protection policies play a crucial role in realizing the human right to social security for all, not only reducing poverty and inequality, but also boosting human capital and productivity. By guaranteeing a minimum income security for all and access to universal basic healthcare, Social Protection Floors - which consist in nationally defined set of at least four basic social security guarantees (essential health care, basic income security for children, persons of active age who are unable to earn sufficient income and older people) have become fundamental to reach an inclusive development and social justice.
OBJECTIVES
In its definition of the right to social security (General Comment 19), the Committee refers to three basic elements:
- the concept of social security as a human right and an economic and social necessity for development and progress;
- the reaffirmation of the redistributive character of social security and its role in promoting social inclusion;
- the overall and primary responsibility of the State for the realization of the right to social security.
These elements are part of the strategy of the SPF aimed at ensuring human dignity and preventing or alleviating poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion. This statement is an opportunity to encourage all States to strengthen human rights principles and ensure sustainable development post 2015 - implementing SPF, realising the right to social security and building another bridge between ILO’s Recommendation 202 and the UN Human Rights System.