拉丁美洲经济委员会-社会发展问题世界首脑会议30年后的拉丁美洲和加勒比_制定包容性社会发展全球公约（英）-2025_103页_1mb

Summary of "Latin America and the Caribbean: 30 Years on from the World Summit for Social Development Towards a Global Pact for Inclusive Social Development"

Introduction

Since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have experienced significant transformations in social development. Countries have achieved remarkable reductions in poverty and inequality while advancing access to education, health, and social protection systems.

Key Changes in Inclusive Social Development

Poverty Reduction

• Poverty reduction (from >50% of the population) has been substantial, though uneven across countries.
• Extreme poverty fell from >15% to ~27% (lowest post-1990).
• Education and employment policies supported progress, but economic volatility reset gains during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multidimensional Inequality

• High inequality (measured by the Gini index) persists, though contributory pension increases address income distribution.
• Digital access varies dramatically, limiting social inclusion and educational opportunities for rural areas and low-income groups.
• Gender, racial, and territorial gaps remain challenges despite improvements.

Labour Inclusion and Informality

• Women contribute less to the workforce but benefit from expansion of social protection.
• High informality (47%+ in some regions) remains a barrier to social inclusion and quality employment.
• Productivity increases require investment in vocational training and digital skills.

Major Challenges

Social Cohesion and Governance

• Public trust in institutions has declined in many LAC countries.
• Gender-based violence, political polarization, and climate change exacerbate social tensions.

Education and Healthcare

• Digital divide hinders early childhood development and education quality.
• Healthcare access disparities (urban/rural) and maternal mortality remain addressed for improvement.
• Higher education coverage increases, but learning outcomes remain low.

Proposed Solutions

Strengthening Social Protection

• Achieving universal social protection systems—combining contributory and non-contributory elements to address labor market inclusion and caregiver needs.
• Addressing poverty with an investment standard (1.5-2.5% of GDP on non-contributory policies).

Institutional Frameworks and Regional Cooperation

• Enhancing multilateralism and incorporating environmental footprints into social policy planning.
• Aligning policies within care economies and promoting digital inclusion frameworks to leave no one behind.

A Global Pact for Inclusive Social Development

• Urging international cooperation to support LAC’s leadership in regional sovereignty against global crises.
• Enforcing social justice, sustainable development, and reducing intra-regional inequalities through a unified approach.

Forward-Looking Action

Latin America must fundamentally transform its development model by investing in social protection linked with education, healthcare, and digital inclusion. A global pact with aligned financial mechanisms, human rights trajectory, and long-term investment strategy is essential to meet SDG targets sustainably.