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United with 96 human rights, faith-based, and economic justice organisations, Social Policy Initiative joins this global call for the right to social security.
In light of the ongoing economic and environmental crises, coupled with rising inequality affecting the economic and social rights of millions globally, the World Bank and IMF stand at a critical juncture. They need to move away from targeted social protection to universal, public provision to pave the way for more just and equitable economies and societies worldwide.
Ahead of the 2023 meetings in Morocco, 71 civil society organisations released a joint statement calling on the World Bank and IMF to change their social protection policies and practices. We are now reiterating our concerns in the letter sent to the IMF and World Bank Boards.
We strongly urge the World Bank and IMF, as pivotal actors in shaping social security policies in low- and middle-income countries, to take four measures to realise the right to social security:
Support states to realise the right to social security. Immediately commit to supporting states to progressively realise the right to social security. This involves setting up or strengthening rights-aligned social security systems, including the establishment of social protection floors in line with ILO Recommendation 202.
Replace the focus on poverty-targeting with universal systems. Stop funding new poverty-targeted programmes and phase out existing ones, along with related technologies and privacy-invasive infrastructure such as social registries. Additionally, strengthen a fair distribution of resources by coupling universal social security with fiscal reforms that reduce inequality.
Support equitable and sustainable public systems. Support equitable and sustainable social security systems in accordance with international standards, including by promoting adequate employers’ contributions and adequate social security benefits to ensure income security. Avoid pension privatisation and instead strengthen public social security systems.
Cease harmful austerity budgeting reforms. Halt austerity policies that threaten rights and privatise social security, and refrain from promoting social spending trade-offs. Cease conditioning loans on austerity measures and promoting austerity as a policy priority for governments. Ensure that any increase in social spending in one sector, for instance, on social security, does not come at the expense of other rights
Within the global context, SPI has decided to explore work with multinational bodies such as the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN). In 2021, SPI made its first submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Culture rights (CESCR) on the key issues raised by the UN ICESCR regarding right to an adequate standard of living. In SPI’s submission it argued that it is imperative that the government designs and restructures the way in which it measures the cost of living. The submission made by SPI were adopted by the UN CESCR.
The UN CESCR in its recommendation reiterated its sentiments that the government needs to create a people centred index to measure of cost of living. Similarly, in 2022, SPI submitted a stakeholder report to the Universal Period Review (UPR) working group to advocate for an adequate standard of living in South Africa in collaboration with University of Pretoria (UP), the Centre of Human Rights (CHR).
In May 2022, SPI was granted observer status to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR).
The attention of the world is on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SPI, in solidarity with those in need, demands action on the following critical SDGs:
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