Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024. Executive summary. Accessible version

19 February 2025 | Publication

Work area(s)

Social development

Topic(s)

Inclusive development Inequality Labour inclusion Social protection Care policies Social policies and programmes Poverty

Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024. Executive summary. Accessible version

- Publication corporate author (Institutional author): NU. CEPAL
- Physical description: 54 pages.
- Publisher: ECLAC
- UN symbol (Signature): LC/PUB.2024/24
- Date: 19 February 2025

View full record in repository

Abstract

This edition of the Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 focuses on the challenges of non-contributory social protection in advancing towards inclusive social development in the region. Tackling the development crisis, inclusive social development gaps and changing risk structure demands progress towards universal, comprehensive, sustainable and resilient social protection systems. Non-contributory social protection policies are essential to fulfil the goals and functions of social protection systems: the protection of income, access to social services and labour inclusion. One in three households in the lowest income quintile lacks access to social protection and the amounts provided by social protection programmes are generally insufficient to overcome poverty. The region faces persistent gender inequality and a care crisis that is likely to be exacerbated by rapid ageing. Eliminating poverty requires comprehensive policies and progress in establishing a standard of investment in non-contributory social protection.

Table of contents

  • A. Social protection, especially its non-contributory component, is essential for advancing towards inclusive social development
  • B. Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development: social protection at the heart of inclusive social development strategies
  • C. The high-inequality trap and high levels of poverty: challenges for non-contributory social protection
  • D. In 2023, poverty fell to its lowest level since 1990, but income inequality remains high
  • E. Investing in children: a critical aspect of non-contributory social protection
  • F. Non-contributory pension systems: a key element in the effort to eradicate old-age poverty
  • G. The care crisis perpetuates gender inequality and calls for stronger social protection
  • H. The technical, operational, political and prospective (TOPP) capabilities of institutions are also key strengthening non-contributory social protection
  • I. Social spending stopped declining and stabilized, but non-contributory social protection spending remains insufficient
  • J. Setting a standard for investment in non-contributory social protection is key for progress on poverty eradication
  • K. The pressing need to strengthen intersectoral action for progress towards universal, comprehensive, sustainable and resilient social protection
  • L. Presentation and summary of the key messages of the chapters.

SDG(s)

1. No poverty