Alongside The Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), we delivered a powerful written statement at the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD63). With its priority theme centered on “Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion, and social cohesion to accelerate the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration,” the session spotlighted the urgent need for universal social protection as a cornerstone for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Drawing on alarming data from the latest Annual SDG Report Card, the GCSPF highlighted the dismal reality that 7 out of 10 children globally lack social protection coverage, reflecting systemic failures to address inequality and poverty. 

Universal social protection emerged as a transformative solution, ensuring equitable access to essential services like healthcare, education, and income security while tackling the feminisation of poverty and recognising the critical role of care work.

The statement underscored that universal social protection is not merely a policy option but a human right for fostering dignity, solidarity, and agency. By offering targeted recommendations, we emphasised the urgency of embedding social protection floors into national budgets and legislation, addressing barriers such as administrative complexities and geographical exclusions, and prioritising gender-responsive and age-friendly public services.

We also advocated for establishing a Global Fund for Social Protection, a mechanism based on global solidarity to support countries in designing and implementing social protection systems while bridging fiscal gaps through temporary international co-financing.

With five years remaining to achieve the SDGs, our call to action resonated as a rallying cry for governments, civil society, and international institutions to unite in advancing universal social protection as a pathway to social and economic justice. As preparations for the 2nd World Summit on Social Development in 2025 and the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development continue, our vision of a fairer, more inclusive world demands immediate and collective commitment.

You can read the statement here.