Latin America and the Caribbean Advance Social Inclusion at Regional Conference in Brasília

Ministers, senior officials, and international partners gathered in Brasilia for the Sixth Session of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by ECLAC, the Government of Brazil, and UNDP. The three-day meeting (2-4 September) centered on advancing social inclusion and protection as pillars of sustainable development. 

Opening the conference, Brazil’s Minister of Social Development Wellington Dias emphasized the region’s legacy of social innovation, from conditional cash transfers to public food and health programs, calling for unity ahead of November’s Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. “This common heritage is a beacon for the world,” he said, urging countries to defend progress and avoid setbacks. 

Chile’s Social Development Minister Javiera Toro underscored that social protection must be universal and guaranteed. “There can be no sustainable social development without strong social protection,” she affirmed, stressing its role in reducing inequality and strengthening democracy. 

ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs highlighted the persistence of inequality, which he described as corrosive to growth and cohesion, and presented ECLAC’s new position document: Latin America and the Caribbean 30 Years on from the World Summit for Social Development: Towards a Global Pact for Inclusive Social Development. 

UNDP’s Almudena Fernández warned of a “polycrisis” where social, economic, and climate challenges intersect, framing social protection not as an expense but as “the best investment in stability and the future.” 

The conference, attended by representatives from 17 countries, reaffirmed Latin America and the Caribbean’s commitment to building resilient, inclusive societies through universal social protection, regional cooperation, and global solidarity—principles the region will take to Doha later this year. 

For more information, please visit UNDP.