The United Nations has pointed out that global social progress is at a critical moment, with millions of people feeling that the current system does not meet their needs, despite advances in reducing extreme poverty over the past three decades. This alarming diagnosis is presented in this year’s World Social Report, which highlights how inequality, economic insecurity, and lack of trust in institutions are eroding social cohesion and jeopardizing decades of development.
The report, titled “A new political consensus to accelerate social progress,” underscores a troubling mismatch between social transformations and public policies, explaining that changes such as technology, globalization, and climate change are reshaping societies more quickly than institutional frameworks can adapt. This situation has led to a growing disconnect between governments and citizens.
While social policies are recognized as essential, the report warns that they are not sufficient on their own. There is a need for a profound review of how current economic and social policies are perpetuating insecurity, as many of these policies tend to favor elites, leaving millions without adequate social protection networks.
To address this crisis, the UN proposes rebuilding the social contract based on three pillars: security, cohesion, and solidarity. This involves ensuring access to basic services, promoting decent jobs, and establishing crisis protection mechanisms. Additionally, there is a call to redefine the roles of social actors, including employers, unions, governments, and multilateral institutions, to achieve a more equitable distribution of resources and power.
The report also emphasizes the importance of international solidarity in a context marked by multiple crises, from conflicts and pandemics to climate emergencies. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, has stated that a new global pact is needed to restore trust and strengthen social ties.
With the upcoming World Summit on Social Development on the horizon, the report urges collective action, highlighting that only through an inclusive and transformative approach can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be achieved and fair, resilient, and cohesive societies be built. This report not only diagnoses current challenges but also serves as a roadmap to overcome the crisis of trust and inequality plaguing the world. The opportunity for significant change is within reach, though it requires political will, collaboration, and a shared vision of a more equitable future for all.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish