The panel discussion, organized as a side-event during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council, examined the challenges and opportunities in overcoming discrimination and implementing rights-based social protection systems. The discussion focussed specifically on different social groups which, for various reasons, suffer from discrimination, are exposed to higher levels of risk, are excluded from full participation in society and are unable to fully enjoy their rights, including the right to social protection.

Different speakers pointed out the importance of the interdependency of different sectors when we talk about social protection, ant how these linkages need to be strengthened. There is also a need for a strengthened collaboration between agencies and more focus on the financing aspect of social protection.

On behalf of FAO, Maya Tagaki, Senior Social Protection Officer, spoke about the high importance of social protection for FAO and how interrelated it is with the agencies mandate of providing food security for all. She also pointed out the high vulnerability of people living in rural areas, especially women an youth.

During the session the Social Protection and Human Rights Online Platform (www.social-protection-humanrights.org) was launched, a collaboration between ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, FAO, ILO, UNHCHR, UNRISD and UN Women. The platform aims at creating a better understanding of human rights in social protection by offering a pragmatic approach to a theoretic concept with expert comments, country case studies and a wide range of examples and studies on the thematic.