Since its creation in 1919, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has actively promoted policies and provided assistance to countries to supply adequate levels of social protection to all members of society. Access to an adequate level of social protection is recognized in the Declaration of Philadelphia on the aims and purposes of the ILO, in subsequent ILO declarations and in a number of International labour standards as a basic right of all individuals. Furthermore, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights recognize the right to social security for everyone. The Social Security Department, with its long experience in the field of technical cooperation activities, research and policy development on issues dealing with social security, provides ILO member States with tools and assistance to achieve and maintain for its peoples this right.