Background
Only one in five people in the world has adequate social security coverage. The other four need it too, but somehow must manage without. Governments, employers' and workers' organizations considered that the highest priority should be given to "policies and initiatives that bring social security to those who are not covered by existing systems". At the International Labour Conference in June 2001, they asked the ILO to launch a Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All.
Overview
Social security is essential for the well-being of people and society. It is a basic human right, and its fulfillment will contribute to achieving the various Millennium Development Goals. It will contribute to reducing infant and maternal mortality as well as to halving, by 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day. Social security helps to ensure a decent standard of living and it lifts many people out of poverty. It is closely linked with employment and often provides support to those unable to work. With the development of decent work, social security can progressively be extended to everyone.
Strategy
The first phase of the campaign will last for five years until 2006. During this period the objective is to place, in as many countries as possible, the extension of social security at the top of the development agenda and to support national and international policy makers in developing strategies to extend coverage. Such strategies will be inspired by values, such as solidarity and universality, and will be based on cost-effective ways to extend social security.
Through its publication series of Extension of Social Security (ESS) papers, the Department aims to provide case studies on social security extension strategies, design and policies.
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