“The Forum will be a landmark event in international cooperation in this sector, allowing participants to take stock of current trends and developments in the field of social security, and to reinforce the role of ISSA members in promoting dynamic social security,” underlined Mr. Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Secretary General of the ISSA.
Among the issues on the Forum's agenda are social security’s roles in combating poverty and social injustice, in extending access to health coverage and pensions, and in tackling long-term unemployment. The challenges of increasing administrative efficiency in social security will also be discussed.
The Forum will take stock of recent significant trends in social security and their possible impact on national social and economic development. The ISSA’s Technical Commissions will debate developments in key areas of social security and present the outcome of studies undertaken during the triennium in their respective fields, including pensions, health, accident prevention, unemployment insurance, and family allowances. Plenary sessions will present the International Labour Office's (ILO) campaign to extend social security coverage, and will analyze the social security situation in the Russian Federation.
Meeting in the framework of the Forum, the 29th General Assembly of the ISSA will discuss a series of constitutional amendments, and the ISSA Council will adopt a programme and budget and elect the officers for the period 2008-2010. The new programme orientations result from a comprehensive consultation process with the Association's membership and will refocus the ISSA's activity on selected strategic objectives and priorities.
The Forum will culminate in a high-level summit on the role of social security in addressing the challenges of development and poverty reduction and ensuring the social dimension of globalization, which is expected to involve senior officials and opinion leaders from a wide spectrum of international organizations and civil society.
The World Social Security Forum will be hosted by the four ISSA members in the Russian Federation: the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation, and the Non-State Pension Fund “Gazfond”.
Note for media representatives:
Media wishing to cover the WSSF should apply to the ISSA for accreditation. Journalists must be from news or information outlets in press, radio, television or photo, or communication officers from member organizations. Accreditation will grant access to sessions and documentation at the event. Accreditation may be requested in advance through the ISSA Public Information Officer ( issacomm@ilo.org) mentioning “WSSF accreditation” or upon arrival in Moscow at the WSSF registration desk.
A press conference to present the World Social Security Forum is scheduled for 14 June in Geneva.
Further information is available from the ISSA Public Information Officer.
Website of the World Social Security Forum