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Support the Social Protection Floor Initiative
Petition published by Catherine Ferguson on Jun 15, 2011
4636 Signatures 
|
Target: NGO Committee for Social Development at the UN
Region: GLOBAL
Web site: http://www.ngosocdev.net/
Petition Background (Preamble):
Knowing that more than 1.4 billion people still struggle to live on less than $1.25 a day (World Bank), it is obvious that much more must be done to eradicate the scourge of extreme poverty.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinate the Social Protection Floor Initiative (SPF-I) as a joint UN effort to build a global coalition committed to supporting countries in building national social protection floors for their citizens.
A Social Protection Floor (SPF) is the first level of a comprehensive national social protection system that helps to realize human rights for all through guaranteeing:
Universal access to essential services (such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation and other services as nationally defined);
Social Transfers in cash or kind to guarantee income security, food security, adequate nutrition and access to essential services.
Countries will develop nationally defined strategies for the progressive realization and sustainability of their floor as well as higher levels of social protection in line with their needs, preferences and financial capacities.
Building on existing social protection mechanisms these strategies may include a mix of contributory and non-contributory, targeted and universal, public and private instruments depending on the social economic and political context.
In summary, the SPF is:
• Universal- It includes everyone.
• Rights- based – (enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
• Nationally owned and designed.
• The first step in an ongoing process – not a ceiling of benefits.
• Affordable by all countries.
How can you be involved?
By forming a network to get as many signatures as possible to promote the initiative with your own government. You can sign as an individual or as an organization.
This signature campaign can be used as a tool for lobbying at national and global levels.
The most important purpose of the campaign is to convince national government that the Social Protection Floor is needed and wanted by its citizens and must be included in national development policies.
We see this initiative as a wonderful opportunity to work together to roll back poverty, to put social protection at the heart of the international development agenda and to strengthen the chance for every person to live with dignity.
For further information see http://www.socialfloor.org and www.ngosocdev.net
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinate the Social Protection Floor Initiative (SPF-I) as a joint UN effort to build a global coalition committed to supporting countries in building national social protection floors for their citizens.
A Social Protection Floor (SPF) is the first level of a comprehensive national social protection system that helps to realize human rights for all through guaranteeing:
Universal access to essential services (such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation and other services as nationally defined);
Social Transfers in cash or kind to guarantee income security, food security, adequate nutrition and access to essential services.
Countries will develop nationally defined strategies for the progressive realization and sustainability of their floor as well as higher levels of social protection in line with their needs, preferences and financial capacities.
Building on existing social protection mechanisms these strategies may include a mix of contributory and non-contributory, targeted and universal, public and private instruments depending on the social economic and political context.
In summary, the SPF is:
• Universal- It includes everyone.
• Rights- based – (enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
• Nationally owned and designed.
• The first step in an ongoing process – not a ceiling of benefits.
• Affordable by all countries.
How can you be involved?
By forming a network to get as many signatures as possible to promote the initiative with your own government. You can sign as an individual or as an organization.
This signature campaign can be used as a tool for lobbying at national and global levels.
The most important purpose of the campaign is to convince national government that the Social Protection Floor is needed and wanted by its citizens and must be included in national development policies.
We see this initiative as a wonderful opportunity to work together to roll back poverty, to put social protection at the heart of the international development agenda and to strengthen the chance for every person to live with dignity.
For further information see http://www.socialfloor.org and www.ngosocdev.net
Petition:
We, members of civil society, strongly support the Social Protection Floor Initiative – a joint UN effort coordinated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by UN agencies, international NGOs, development banks and other development partners.
About 75 percent of people in the world do not have adequate social security. This lack of protection undermines social cohesion and economic performance and creates political and institutional instability. This floor is a necessary tool for eradicating poverty.
No one should live below a certain income level. Everyone should be able to access at least basic health services, primary education, housing, water, sanitation and other essential services. The two necessary elements for the Social Protection Floor are social transfers to guarantee income security, food security and adequate nutrition, and universal access to essential services.
Universal
The Social Protection Floor (SPF) must be tailored to the needs of each country and builds on that country’s existing social protection mechanisms. It aims to make it possible for everyone to enjoy the rights expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (par 22) “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security”.
Affordable
A Social Protection Floor can be afforded by every country if integrated incrementally. A number of low- and middle-income countries have taken successful measures to build their national Social Protection Floor.
We call on all governments to implement a national social protection floor. We call on the United Nations to assist in the development and implementation of such policies.
About 75 percent of people in the world do not have adequate social security. This lack of protection undermines social cohesion and economic performance and creates political and institutional instability. This floor is a necessary tool for eradicating poverty.
No one should live below a certain income level. Everyone should be able to access at least basic health services, primary education, housing, water, sanitation and other essential services. The two necessary elements for the Social Protection Floor are social transfers to guarantee income security, food security and adequate nutrition, and universal access to essential services.
Universal
The Social Protection Floor (SPF) must be tailored to the needs of each country and builds on that country’s existing social protection mechanisms. It aims to make it possible for everyone to enjoy the rights expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (par 22) “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security”.
Affordable
A Social Protection Floor can be afforded by every country if integrated incrementally. A number of low- and middle-income countries have taken successful measures to build their national Social Protection Floor.
We call on all governments to implement a national social protection floor. We call on the United Nations to assist in the development and implementation of such policies.
The Support the Social Protection Floor Initiative petition to NGO Committee for Social Development at the UN was written by Catherine Ferguson and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: social protection, social protection floor, social development, development, spf
