ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

10/20/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2021 15:08

Social Development Authorities from Latin America and the Caribbean Will Discuss Disasters, Inequality and Social Protection Systems in the Current Context of Protracted Crisis

Authorities from social ministries and agencies in the region's countries will gather on October 26-28 to debate about vulnerability to disasters, the rise in inequality and the need to have universal, comprehensive, resilient and sustainable social protection systems, among other topics, during the Fourth Session of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized virtually by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The regional gathering will be inaugurated on Tuesday, October 26 at 10 a.m. local time in Antigua and Barbuda (GMT-4) by Dean Jonas, Minister of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy of Antigua and Barbuda; Javier May, Secretary of Welfare of Mexico; Luis Felipe López-Calva, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNDP; and Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, who will later present the document entitled Disasters and inequality in a protracted crisis: towards universal, comprehensive, resilient and sustainable social protection systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The document analyzes options for implementing the Regional Agenda for Inclusive Social Development (RAISD) in light of demands for social protection amid disasters, with an approach geared towards a transformative recovery with equality and sustainability. The RAISD was approved in October 2019 in Mexico in the framework of the Third Regional Conference on Sustainable Development.

The upcoming intergovernmental meeting will include four panels that address issues such as disasters and social protection in the Caribbean; proposals for a transformative rebuilding, with resilience and inclusion; and institutional opportunities and challenges for moving towards a universal, comprehensive, sustainable and resilient social protection system.

Panel 3, entitled "Rethinking social protection in Latin America and the Caribbean," will take place on Wednesday, October 27, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time in Antigua and Barbuda and will be led by UNDP.

Prior to the start of official activities, on October 25, a civil society meeting is due to take place. The programme further includes a series of side events organized by ECLAC in conjunction with other institutions.

The programme, along with general information on the event, is available at the website specially created for the meeting.

Members of the media are invited to follow the event via the distinct platforms for dissemination.

What: Fourth Session of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

When: Tuesday, October 26 through Thursday, October 28, 2021.

Who:

  • Authorities from Latin American and Caribbean countries' social ministries and agencies, United Nations officials, representatives of international organizations, members of civil society and academics.

Inauguration (Tuesday, October 26, 10 a.m. local time, UTC/GMT -4):

  • Dean Jonas, Minister of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy of Antigua and Barbuda.
  • Javier May, Secretary of Welfare of Mexico.
  • Luis Felipe López-Calva, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNDP.
  • Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of ECLAC.

Where: Online transmission via www.cepal.org and https://live.cepal.org/, and on social media accounts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/cepal_onu) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cepal.onu).