18.8.2021

Social Protection Policies of International Organizations

Social protection is gradually growing into a shared vocabulary through which to address issues of global justice. Interest in social protection policies materialized in 2009 with the adoption of the United Nations Social Protection Floor Initiative. The Sustainable Development Goals manifested the extension of social protection as key for reducing and preventing poverty. In recent years, international organizations have adopted social protection policies at an increasing pace. The working paper by Viljam Engström and Aliina Vegar, Social Protection Policies of International Organizations, is an initial study of this development. With special focus on the UN system, it identifies social protection policies of international organizations and highlights some key elements of those policies. The paper provides a survey of relevant sources for a future more extensive analysis of social protection policies of international organizations.

Of the authors, Dr. Viljam Engström is Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in public international law at Åbo Akademi University. Aliina Vegar is PhD Candidate in public international law and currently working as Legal Adviser for the New Zealand Government. This working paper is part of ongoing work on social protection policies of international organizations. It is published in the Åbo Akademi University Institute for Human Rights Working paper series, which presents research work in progress.

Contact: viljam.engstrom@abo.fi