18 August 2016
UN Report Addresses Measurement of Social Exclusion
story highlights

The UN Secretariat has released an overview of the 2016 World Social Situation report, examining patterns of social exclusion and considering the links between exclusion, poverty and employment trends, with a view to stimulating research on what will be needed to ensure “no one left behind.” The overview was issued as a Note to the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA), which opens on 13 September 2016.

leaving_no_one_behind25 July 2016: The UN Secretariat has released an overview of the 2016 World Social Situation report, examining patterns of social exclusion and considering the links between exclusion, poverty and employment trends, with a view to stimulating research on what will be needed to ensure “no one left behind.” The overview was issued as a Note to the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA), which opens on 13 September 2016.

The report, titled ‘World Social Situation 2016: Leaving No One Behind,’ notes the difficulty of identifying suitable criteria for measuring social exclusion. For example, household surveys, of their nature, exclude homeless persons, people in institutions, and mobile, nomadic and pastoralist populations.

In the authors’ view, the world has become “less tolerant” of social exclusion, due to the spread of information and communication technologies (ICT), rising calls for equal rights, and wider access to education. However, they note, income inequality has risen in many countries over the past 20 years, the majority of workers in poorly paid, and insecure jobs are not likely to secure better conditions of employment. Besides poverty and unemployment, the report also addresses problems of unequal participation in political, civic and cultural life, and prejudice and discrimination.

The authors argue that over-reliance on market mechanisms and a lack of State action in playing a redistributive role have contributed to social exclusion in many countries. They highlight the commitments made at the World Summit on Social Development (WSSD) that are reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calling for two kinds of policy action. The first includes special measures to dismantle the barriers faced by certain social groups, so that they can access goods and services. The second includes promotion of inclusive institutions, for example, through inclusive land ownership schemes, participatory budgeting, and promoting civil registration and legal identity of under-served groups.

The full report is available as a UN sales publication. [Report Overview] [Publication: World Social Situation 2016: Leaving No One Behind: The Imperative of Inclusive Development] [World Social Situation 2016: Leaving No One Behind: The Imperative of Inclusive Development: Note by the Secretariat] [Key Documents for August]

related posts