Social Development

At the seventy-fourth session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, SDD, in partnership with the ESCAP Library, organised a booth showcasing its analytical and advocacy products on social protection. Participants of the Commission had the opportunity, through live demonstrations, to learn more about the Social Protection Toolbox, an innovative online platform that identifies national coverage gaps, provides countries with over 100 good practices for inspiration and cross-country learning, as well as other online tools.

In Asia and the Pacific, 60% of women, men and children lack access to adequate social protection. This 2-minutes video explains what social protection is and the gaps in social protection floors that people in the region face.

The video, along with several other resources, is also available on the Social Protection Toolbox (http://www.socialprotection-toolbox.org/).

A new report, focusing on multiple aspects and forms of inequality – inequality of outcomes, of opportunities and of impacts – shows that inequality in Asia and the Pacific in on the rise and that unequal access to basic opportunities has left large groups of people behind. The report, entitled Inequality in Asia and the Pacific the Era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, was launched during the 74th Commission Session, which took place in Bangkok during 11-16 May 2018 under the same theme.