“International Social Security Association”

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to join you today for this Bureau Symposium on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the International Social Security Association. A pleasure because social security, by providing a margin of protection for the weakest and most vulnerable members of our societies, is more important than ever in a world with rising inequalities. I would like to thank the Association and the International Labour Organization for this timely event, as well as the World Trade Organization for hosting us today.

A society is judged on how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. This ethical principal is common to the world’s religions and philosophies, and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In recent years, our global society has made significant progress in the fight against poverty. Between 1990 and 2015, extreme poverty fell by more than half as over a billion people escaped from destitution. Nevertheless, one in five persons in developing regions still live on less than 1.25 dollar a day. Inequality, meanwhile, is on the rise and threatens to unravel social bonds and fuel conflicts. A recent report concluded that the eight wealthiest men on Earth – and they are all men – owned more of the world’s wealth than the poorest half of humanity: 3.6 billion people. Drastic demographic changes in the coming decades threatens to accentuate these trends. By 2050, the global population of older persons is expected to more than double from 901 million to 2.1 billion, placing millions of elderly at risk of poverty.

Social protections are vital tools in ensuring that no one is left behind and that prosperity is shared. A 2014 study estimates that these measures keep at least 150 million people worldwide from falling into poverty. Yet, over 70 percent of the world’s population live without adequate social protection coverage, leaving them one accident or illness away from destitution. Less than half of all people over retirement age, meanwhile, receive a regular pension.

Recognizing these challenges, Member States integrated social protection into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Target 1.3 calls on States to “Implement nationally appropriate social protection system and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”. Reaching this target, however, will require courageous and innovative policy decisions on the part of Member States. Implementation will also depend on sound institutions that can implement policies at the local level in conjunction with civil society and the private sector. Finally, success will require new partnerships both inside and outside states to exchange best practices, forge multilateral financing mechanisms and encourage oversight and accountability.

Since 1927, the International Social Security Association has been just such an invaluable partner, offering professional guidelines, expert knowledge, services and support to Member States and social security administrators. The Association was founded under the auspices of the International Labour Organization, which as supported and facilitated it through its development. For example, the ISSA Secretariat is hosted by the ILO. This support is embodied by the presence here today of ILO Deputy Director-General Christophe Perrin. As an association of government departments and institutions in charge of implementing and administering social protection systems, ISSA has promoted the vital need for simultaneous progress on policy, implementation and administration to forge sustainable social protections.

Based in Geneva, the Association has also contributed to the collaborative spirit of this city, which is home to the mind-set we need to tackle the global, multifaceted challenges of today. This approach encourages innovative partnerships, the sharing of information and the willingness to experiment. It recognizes that silo mentalities restrict our field of vision and that new collaborations can bring unsuspected solutions. Just to give you three examples, the International Trade Centre, for one, can bring the perspectives of small-and-medium enterprises on social protections, the World Health Organization on health governance and UNICEF on the plight of vulnerable children.

I know that in the coming years, the International Social Security Association will continue to contribute to this spirit of collaboration as it works to help Member States protect the most vulnerable among us.

I look forward to what I am sure will be a stimulating discussion.

Thank you.