Social protection for social justice: Putting people first

There are many definitions of social protection. In Scoping Social Protection, German sociologist Daniel Kumitz describes it as “providing for those in society unable to provide for themselves: the poor, the incapacitated, the unemployed, those not supposed to work such as children and women during maternity. Social protection thus deals with life’s contingencies and provides a floor to keep people from falling into poverty.” Social Justice on the other hand is a comprehensive, universal and normative concept for an inclusive, equitable and integrative society. To approach social justice, inequalities in the distribution of income, assets, opportunities for work and remunerated employment, access to knowledge, health services, social security and the provision of a safe environment as well as opportunities for civic and political participation have to be overcome. Therefore, equality of rights and opportunities and equity of living conditions for all individuals and households must be provided. Thus, social protection is integral to facilitating a multitude of factors that contribute to social justice. 

Developing rights-based social protection policies in sub-Saharan Africa  

By now, governments across Africa have put in place national social protection policies. In 2007, Heads of State in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region in Lusaka signed the Social Security Code, reaffirming their commitment to see the comprehensive social protection measures incorporated in the respective countries policy and legal framework. However, operationalization of such policies leaves much to be desired especially when those affected by the brunt of poverty are not well informed about such policies, their rights, let alone means of how to claim them. It is for this reason that FES Zambia works to advocate for social protection policy change by engaging into political dialogue with governments, civil society, trade unions and informal economy workers to lobby and ensure that rights based legal frameworks on social protection are put on a legal basis.   

The Social Compact and Social Justice Partners Conference held from 17-18 March 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa, brought together a wide range of civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, academics, trade union, social protection experts and government representatives. The following recommendations and resolutions to promote social protection as an essential contribution to social transformation in Southern Africa were made: