Featured Article From Global Newsletter - March 2025
The Secretary-General has received the following statement, which is being circulated in accordance with paragraphs 36 and 37 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
Statement
The three core, interrelated themes addressed in the outcome documents of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in Copenhagen – poverty eradication, full and productive employment, and social integration – remain highly relevant. The key messages of the WSSD significantly advanced global dialogue on social development, shaping the framework for promoting social progress at both national and international levels. The UN General Assembly’s decision to convene a Second World Summit for Social Development is timely, providing an opportunity to assess progress and address gaps in the implementation of prior commitments. Since 1995, however, new challenges have also emerged, requiring serious attention.
We live in a rapidly changing world. Global challenges – socioeconomic instability, climate and environmental crises, rapid technological change, conflicts and wars, political tensions, and growing mistrust in social institutions and governance – have exacerbated inequality, intensified human vulnerability, and threatened social cohesion. Reports from ICSW-related organizations worldwide confirm the urgent and often severe impact of climate change, with adverse effects on food security, health, livelihoods, and human life itself. The welfare of billions, particularly the marginalized and underprivileged, hangs in the balance.
The cost-of-living crisis, visible globally, has heightened poverty, inequality, and exclusion. Even in regions where economic growth remains resilient, concerns over rising prices and stagnant wages persist. Declining incomes have driven millions into poverty, while wealth continues to accumulate at the top. This widening gap calls for urgent action.
As a global civil society organization dedicated to promoting human dignity, well-being, inclusion, and social justice, ICSW believes it is crucial for the international community to embrace forward-thinking, equitable, and inclusive social policies. Human dignity and worth must guide these policies, which should address the realities of today’s interconnected world. We call on governments and international institutions to honor the commitments made in Copenhagen and to make every effort to translate them into concrete, inclusive actions. Addressing the root causes of mistrust is essential to breaking the vicious cycles it perpetuates. Designing well-thought-out, realistic, yet bold and sustainable social policies is imperative in the current context.
The complexities of today’s world demand innovative and flexible social policies to address the converging multiple crises. National governments must embed social dimensions into macroeconomic policies from inception, ensuring economic growth benefits all citizens. Social policies must also address the realities of demographic transitions, including aging populations, and in this light incorporate an intergenerational focus; meanwhile, digitalization should empower rather than marginalize.
At the national level, three principles should underpin and form the foundation of desirable social policies: inclusive growth, universal social protection, and human empowerment. Numerous studies confirm that sustainable development relies on inclusive growth, meaning economic progress must be shared by all citizens, especially marginalized groups – women, youth, vulnerable older persons, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. Governments have multiple tools for promoting inclusive growth, such as progressive taxation, fair wages, and investment in public infrastructure, particularly healthcare, education, and housing. By ensuring equitable access to opportunities and inclusion, we can prevent widening social and economic divides.
Universal social protection is not a luxury but a necessity. Social protection systems must be comprehensive, covering individuals throughout their life cycle. They should not only respond to crises but also anticipate risks, providing security amid life’s uncertainties. This includes unemployment insurance, quality healthcare, pensions, childcare, services for people with disabilities, and affordable housing.
Fiscal limitations remain one of the primary challenges for governments delivering social protection. Many countries, particularly in the Global South, face budget constraints that necessitate difficult decisions about the scope and reach of their programs. With insufficient funds for universal coverage, governments often ration benefits, excluding some of the most vulnerable. These exclusions are compounded by the complexities of identifying eligible beneficiaries, hampered by poor information, weak administrative systems, and political interference. Institutional weaknesses, like poor coordination between national and local governments, further hinder program delivery.
Our experience on the ground shows that creating fiscal space for social protection is primarily a political decision, driven by the presence of political will. Universal social protection guarantees that no one is left behind or excluded, particularly during economic crises, health pandemics, or periods of personal hardship. It can also address issues like drug abuse and the mental health crisis. Social protection schemes offer numerous economic, social, and political benefits, making it imperative to shift the conversation from “why social protection” to “how to deliver it most effectively”.
We firmly believe that social policies must prioritize human potential, enabling individuals to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving world. Quality education, vocational training, and lifelong learning are essential tools for human development. Policies must also support job creation, entrepreneurship, and skills development, particularly for women, youth, and people with disabilities, who face the greatest barriers to economic participation. Women, comprising half of the global population, are still often overlooked in policy, and gender equality remains a distant goal in many regions. Additionally, around 16% of the world’s population – estimated at 1.3 billion people – live with a disability, making them the largest minority globally, with 80% in the Global South.
Governments must adopt redistributive measures that directly address wealth imbalances to promote security, reduce inequality, and ensure inclusion. Equitable tax systems, where wealthier individuals and corporations contribute more, while alleviating the tax burden on lower- and middle-income citizens, are essential. Progressive taxation allows governments to fund public services and social protection schemes, while reducing income inequality and exclusion. Tackling wage inequality and ensuring living wages through regular adjustments to minimum wage standards are also vital for workers to meet living costs.
In addition to income support, universal access to basic services – such as healthcare, education, housing, and clean water – is essential for reducing inequality. Governments must ensure these services are accessible to all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, worldview, or political orientation.
Addressing environmental sustainability is equally crucial in social policy planning. As we transition to a greener economy, governments must prioritize job creation in industries that contribute to environmental sustainability, like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. This transition will address climate change while providing secure, long-term employment for millions, including the most vulnerable.
Populist approaches in current politics reflect a lack of public trust in institutions, often posing a threat to democratic structures. Effective social policies require transparent, accountable institutions. Empowering local institutions with resources, autonomy, and decision-making power to address community-specific needs leads to more effective responses to social challenges. Our global experience highlights the importance of capacity-building in governance and public administration. Stronger governance frameworks prevent inefficiencies and corruption, ensuring social policies reach their intended beneficiaries.
Collaboration is more vital than ever. A multilevel governance approach – bringing together local, regional, national, and international institutions – fosters policy alignment and reduces fragmentation. Effective social policies require accurate, reliable data to monitor impact and enable continuous improvement. Governments must invest in data collection, analysis, and transparency to build public trust and encourage accountability. Inclusive digitalization enhances multilevel collaboration and full participation across society.
From a policy perspective, social protection must not be seen as charity, but as a human right. Well-designed social protection systems foster social cohesion, strengthen economic resilience, and uphold human dignity. These programs should offer financial support and access to quality education, healthcare, and housing. By addressing poverty, inequality, and exclusion, they prevent social unrest and build trust between citizens and the state, essential for stable, democratic governance.
One of the most effective strategies for socially sustainable development is adopting participatory approaches that enhance citizens’ voice and power. Participatory governance ensures that people have a direct role in shaping policies that affect their lives. Governments and international bodies must engage local communities through mechanisms like consultations, participatory budgeting, and citizen assemblies, ensuring policies reflect ground realities and have local buy -in. All marginalized groups should be included in decision-making to address society’s diverse needs. Regular dialogue between institutions and the citizens they serve is essential for building trust and accountability.
The ultimate responsibility for investment in social sectors, identifying gaps in service provision, and developing inclusive policies to bridge disparities in access rests with national governments. Addressing these disparities requires not only financial resources but also political commitment to ensure that quality services reach every community, especially those historically underserved. At the national level, promoting equitable access to social services may involve adopting policies that subsidize crucial social sectors such as education and healthcare, implementing comprehensive health insurance programs, and strengthening public school systems in rural or marginalized areas.
However, collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to tackle pressing social challenges. Equally critical is fostering this collaboration internationally, where sharing best practices allows countries to learn from each other ’s successes and setbacks in social policy implementation. Regional cooperation, often facilitated by multilateral institutions, enables policymakers to address cross-border challenges like infectious disease control and educational inequities worsened by migration and poverty.
Multilateralism is indispensable for addressing shared global challenges, and ICSW strongly supports multilateral collaboration in social sectors and beyond. For instance, countries with successful reforms in health, education, or social protection can serve as models that other nations adapt to their contexts. As ICSW’s experience demonstrates, regional multilateral agreements can promote uniform standards, encourage resource-sharing, and help prevent disparities arising from differing national capacities. Ultimately, the effectiveness of multilateralism in shaping social policy depends on the commitment of nations to implement agreed-upon standards equitably and to leverage multilateral support efficiently. Through such actions, countries can strengthen their social infrastructure and expand inclusive opportunities for all citizens.
The vision of social development outlined at the Copenhagen Summit, “ A Society for All”, remains highly relevant today. Yet, as key stakeholders, we must advance this agenda. Expectations for the Second World Summit on Social Development, to be held in Doha in November 2025, are high. The persistent global challenges of poverty, inequality, exclusion, and social fragmentation demand that we rethink and reshape our social policies. Business as usual is not an answer. Greater accountability from publicly financed bodies and bold policy action are urgently needed. By embracing inclusive growth, expanding universal social protection, and fostering empowerment and participatory governance, we can work together to build a more equitable, just, and secure world for all.
The time to act is now, and International Council on Social Welfare stands ready to support these efforts.
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