With the support of the European Union
SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR ALL: PUTTING SDGS COMMITMENTS INTO PRACTICE
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2015 – 10:00 – 13:00
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Background and objective of the event
Since the International Labor Conference adopted, in June 2012, the Recommendation No. 202 on National Floors of Social Protection, there is a global consensus on the necessity to introduce or maintain National Social Protection Floors (NSPFs) which guarantee a minimum of income security and access to essential health care to all.
This consensus has been confirmed, in the framework of the negotiations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by the UN Secretary General Synthesis Report as well as the “Final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda” that have recognized the role of social protection in fighting poverty and inequality.
Moreover, the recently adopted Addis Accord recognizes social protection as one of the core crosscutting areas where initiatives are needed in order to be able to achieve the SDGs. More in particular, paragraph 12 on ‘delivering social protection and essential public services for all’ states that “…In our effort to end poverty in all its forms everywhere, we commit to implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, with a focus on those furthest below the poverty line and people in vulnerable situations … ».
At the EU level, the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) of the European Union adopted, on 20th of July 2015, the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy covering the period 2015-2019 that commits the EU to increase …the focus on ESCR in its external policy, including in its programming of external assistance, while also underlining that human rights are indivisible and interlinked; emphasize the clear recognition of the human rights dimension in areas such as social policy, health, education, access to food and water, or standard of living; promote and support the development and increased
coverage of national social protection floors and gradual implementation of higher standards of social guarantees.
With this background, the round table discussion “Social Protection for All: Putting SDGs
Commitments into Practice” aims at
- Taking stock of the results of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) negotiations
- Discussing how to move from engagements to the implementation of the social protectionrelated SDGs targets* and the role of different actors (European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, UN, and CSOs)
- Highlighting the interconnections between the right to social protection and the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights.
With the support of the European Union
