Invitation to conference: Towards a Social Protection for All

Considering the importance Belgium attaches to social protection in the post-2015 UN negotiations, the Federal Public Service Social Security organizes a conference on  "Social Protection in the Post-2015 Agenda", the 27th of April 2015, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization and the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Development Cooperation. We kindly invite you to join us.

The conference will tackle several topics concerning 2 main questions: what is the importance of the inclusion of social protection in the post-2015 UN agenda and why, and secondly, what are the major challenges to integrate and implement social protection in this agenda? The speakers will also be asked to share their views on the financial challenges of social protection systems and the need to establish an effective support base for social protection, together with social partners and the civil society.

The General Objective of the conference will be to identify priorities for action to ensure that social protection takes its rightful place in the post-2015 UN agenda. In a pivotal year, collaboration between international organizations, between and within countries, between public and private actors, is required to guarantee success.

The conference will offer a high-level exchange between representatives from both developing and developed countries, international organizations, academic experts, social partners and civil society organizations.

Moderator of the conference: Ms. Jacki Davis, Journalist and moderator.

Confirmed speakers include Mr. Guy Ryder, Director General of the ILO, Ms. Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal Services, Ms. Maggie De Block, Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, Mr. N. Behrndt, Head of Cabinet for European Commissioner Neven Mimica, in charge of International Cooperation and Development, Ms. C. Courteille, Director ILO Office for the European Union and the Benelux countries, Mr. T. Auwers, Director General FPS Social Security, Ms. B. Frankinet, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN in New York, Ms. I. Ortiz, Director Social Protection at the ILO, Ms. K. Roelen, Institute for Development Studies, Mr. R. Delarue, European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs, Ms. M. Sepúlveda, UN Research Institute for Social Development, Mr. R. Yemtsov, the Global Lead for Social Safety Nets and Transfers at the World Bank Group, Ms. A. Drouin, International Labour Organization, Mr. F. Veras, International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth, Ms. F. Bastagli, Overseas Development Institute,  Ms. S. Burrow, General Secretary ITUC, Mr. R. Suarez-Santos, Deputy Secretary General IOE, Mr. B. Vanden Berghe, Director of 11.11.11 and Prof. Dr. O. De Schutter, University of Louvain and College of Europe.

You will find the programme attached.

We kindly ask you to confirm your participation before Friday, April 25th via press@minsoc.fed.be

We arrange interviews with speakers upon request.