What are the policy instruments that provide the most coherent and consistent cross-sectoral approach to social integration? This background paper was prepared for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Expert Group Meeting on Promoting Social Integration (2008). It reviews policy instruments and institutions that promote social integration, finding that the human rights framework provides the most effective basis for policy development. This framework can help to resolve some of the tensions between conflicting processes.
The 1995 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) defined the objective of social development as the creation of a society for all. Social integration is the process of building the values, relations and institutions necessary to achieve that society. The WSSD brought the two streams of human rights and development policy together, recognising that the human rights framework incorporates economic, social and cultural rights. It also identified principles that should be applied to all sectors in order to promote social integration: redistribution of socio-economic resources, representation of political voice and recognition of cultural and social identities. The UN’s framework for promoting social integration has not been systematically incorporated into international development debates and processes for achieving poverty reduction.
The disadvantaged are not simply excluded from mainstream society, but are included in households, communities and markets on unequal terms, often through relations of discrimination, abuse, violence and exploitation. Social integration therefore requires the transformation of social values and institutions that perpetuate unequal relations, rather than simply help for the disadvantaged to gain access to mainstream society. However, in practice:
- Recognition of identities and cultural practices does not always lead to greater access to labour markets and increased income.
- Supporting increased participation and representation of disadvantaged groups in political processes does not automatically translate into greater equality of public resources.
- Targeting resources at disadvantaged groups can exacerbate social discrimination and does not always generate the necessary cross-group mobilisation to gain political support.
The main challenge for policymakers promoting an agenda of social integration is in ensuring cross-sectoral coherence. Policies need to be mutually compatible in promoting equality and well-being for disadvantaged groups. Key policy recommendations are as follows:
- Social justice should be established as the principle underpinning social provision. Groups of people who face major systemic barriers in participating as equal citizens should be identified. All populations should be fully registered so that they can access services, and discriminatory legislation should be addressed.
- Inclusive, democratic processes should be used to build consensus about minimum levels of social provision. Political representation of the most disadvantaged is required.
- Established standards of social provision should address access, quality and financial support for those who cannot pay where services are commercialised. Systems of redress and provisions for updating minimum standards are needed.
- The delivery of universal entitlements should be supported with appropriate and sufficient fiscal provision, targeted programmes to ensure access of disadvantaged groups, necessary normative/legal guidelines and appropriate institutional structures.
- Social protection packages should include universal entitlements to basic income, to pensions for those over 65 and appropriate disability and child allowances for the social and cultural environment.
- The institutional base for an equitable, dynamic labour market capable of providing decent work and livelihoods for all should be established. This will include support for workers’ organisations in rural and urban settings.
