Social protection allows for a life in dignity. However, it is still a
privilege for far too few. Many older persons do not receive
pensions and few children, mothers and persons with disabilities
get the support that they need. Too many people are poor and
without jobs, left behind by prosperous societies. This massive
social protection gap is not acceptable from a human rights
perspective. It is also a missed opportunity from a
developmental point of view.
Access to social protection is not only a moral imperative,
enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other international agreements, but also a critical ingredient for
economic growth. Investing for an educated and healthy
workforce can foster transitions from low productivity jobs to
decent, high productivity jobs. Social protection serves as a
stabilizer in times of crisis, providing much-needed income that
can maintain or even boost demand and consumption during
economic downturns. These positive impacts on workers and
the resilience of national economies make social protection
systems an attractive investment for many countries and one
that will support them in their efforts towards sustainable
economic growth.