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According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, against the background of the pandemic crisis and changes in the labor market, the issue of social protection of the population is becoming particularly acute.

She stated this during the first-ever discussion of social protection issues held at the UN Human Rights Council. The forum participants, including representatives of Governments, the private sector and civil society, were tasked with identifying the most successful approaches to providing social protection to the population.

According to the High Commissioner, this issue has now become particularly relevant, since 255 million jobs have been lost due to the pandemic. "Gaps in the social protection system lead to an increase in inequality, which, in turn, exacerbates the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," she stressed.

Successful experience

Social support is protection from poverty, a guarantee of the right to food, water, housing, health care and education. According to Bachelet, many countries, clearly realizing the importance of this role of the state, have implemented unprecedented measures to help the population against the background of the pandemic.

At the peak of the crisis, as the High Commissioner noted, Governments around the world – from Peru and the Philippines to Finland and the United States - expanded social protection programs. Many residents, including those who are engaged informally, received financial assistance. In Argentina and Bolivia, for example, a more progressive scale of taxation was introduced, which allowed the Governments of these countries to support more people.

"But these measures were temporary," Michelle Bachelet warned. –There is still a lot to be done to ensure everyone's right to social protection, and this applies to all regions of the world."

Lack of social protection

According to the International Labor Organization, more than half of the world's inhabitants are deprived of social protection. Only 26 percent of children in the world receive support, and less than half of women can count on financial assistance after the birth of a child. Moreover, social protection in the world covers only a third of people suffering from severe disability.

The High Commissioner is convinced that this cannot continue. According to her, social protection of the population is an invaluable tool that allows to increase the stability of the economy as a whole. "This is not a waste of money, but an investment in the development of society," she is convinced.

However, not all countries have sufficient resources to fully implement social programs. In this context, Michelle Bachelet recalled the UN Secretary-General's call for international solidarity and a joint fight against inequality. "The support of developing countries in this matter is very important and corresponds to the interests of all parties," she added.

news.un.org