On the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice, last 20 February, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE), and the Global Coalition for Social Justice officially launched a joint ‘policy brief’ on the need to advance a human rights economy as a global strategy to eradicate poverty in a fair and sustainable manner through the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The text warns that strategies focused solely on economic growth are no longer sufficient to achieve inclusive and equitable development.
The document analyses how SSE entities — such as cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and social enterprises — promote decent work, equitable distribution of resources, care systems, gender equality and climate resilience, while prioritising people and social purpose over profit.
It also identifies public policy measures for governments, development actors and international agencies to support the SSE as a key instrument for meaningful economic transformation.
The ‘policy brief’ contributes directly to the Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth — a set of post-growth policy proposals for poverty eradication being developed with UN agencies, civil society, trade unions and academic experts — by examining how the SSE can translate its principles into concrete action.
Among the measures proposed are the promotion of legal and regulatory frameworks that specifically recognise and support SSE entities; the promotion of decent and equitable employment, as well as standards that strengthen social and labour protection; the strengthening of participatory governance and social dialogue at all levels; the integration of environmental and social justice criteria into economic policies and public investment decisions; and the development of data and statistical systems that capture the real impact of the social and solidarity economy in countries.
The document also proposes the adoption of specific fiscal and financing measures for SSE organisations, as well as greater participation in public markets through socially responsible public procurement.
The document was presented and launched by the UN Special Rapporteur, Olivier De Schutter, and the Head of the ILO’s Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit and Chair of the UNTFSSE, Simel Esim, at a public conference on the SSE held in Turin, Italy.
