The international community is stepping up its joint efforts to achieve universal social protection by 2030, and an international conference was organized on this topic at the International Labour Office in Geneva, on 5 February 2019. Through SDG 1.3, UN Member States have committed to “implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and vulnerable”.

The conference was an opportunity to strengthen the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (USP2030), a coalition of international organizations and other stakeholders that call for action at all levels to ensure that universal coverage is achieved. In her opening statements, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Michelle Bachelet, said that the “Partnership has shown that social protection is an essential tool for reducing poverty and a fundamental human right”.

ISSA commits to Global Partnership

Bringing together over 320 social security institutions in 156 countries that provide social security to more than 3 billion people, the ISSA community can offer a wealth of expertise on good and efficient practices to strengthen and improve social protection coverage. It is therefore only natural that the ISSA used the conference as an opportunity not only to share knowledge, but also to commit to work as part of the Global Partnership for USP2030.

“The ISSA is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular the target to achieve social protection for all by 2030. We are proud to work closely with our international partners and our member institutions to make this objective a reality”, said Mr Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General of the ISSA.

Extending social protection coverage is one of the ISSA’s key priorities. Through its Centre for Excellence, the ISSA provides professional guidelines, an Academy for capacity building and a database of good practices to support social security institutions in this area. With around half of the world’s population without access to any form of social protection, closing the coverage gap is one of the ISSA’s 10 global challenges for social security.