{"id":134783,"date":"2021-08-11T08:40:22","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T12:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=134783"},"modified":"2021-08-11T08:40:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T12:40:22","slug":"launch-of-social-protection-awareness-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/launch-of-social-protection-awareness-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Launch of Social Protection Awareness Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ministry of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy has launched a Public Relations campaign to highlight significant changes to the Government\u2019s Social Protection system under the new Social Protection Act of 2020.<\/p>

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The purpose of this campaign is to sensitize the public and persons in need of these updated programmes. \u00a0\u00a0This campaign is meant to highlight the critical elements of the Act and more broadly illustrate the importance of social protection, such as public assistance, social security, insurance and economic empowerment, to everyone\u2019s daily lives.<\/p>

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A series of information-sharing and public education activities aimed at building awareness of social protection and related policy frameworks, and what it means for the greater wellbeing for individuals, households and the wider society will begin today. These include various activities on radio, TV, social media and in newspapers, along with community-based activities to target low-income persons.<\/p>\n

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Minister responsible for the Ministry of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy, the Hon. Dean Jonas cites this as a major achievement, \u201cChanges in the act were made to protect the vulnerable<\/em> and indigent. It is very critical that our society understands and appreciates the protection needed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Since 1961, Social Protection policies and programmes in Antigua and Barbuda have been governed by the Poor Relief Act (under the Bboard of Guardians). The Poor Relief Act focused primarily on individuals, with minimal investment in contributory schemes, and providing limited Social Assistance such as doling out cash to the most impoverished persons to meet their basic needs. However, vulnerability is much more than the lack of money. Social protection addresses multidimensional needs, protects the vulnerable and empowers everyone to achieve their full potential.<\/p>

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Over the past 60 years, Social Protection policies and programmes have drastically changed. For this reason, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, with technical assistance from UNICEF, has replaced the Poor Relief Act 1961 with the Social Protection Act in September of 2020. The new act represents what Social Protection policies and programmes should be, a inclusive approach where everyone is covered and where everyone thrives.<\/p>\n

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Another new component of the act is the creation of a Social Protection Board and a Social Protection Commission to provide essential oversight and promote transparency. Their primary function is to coordinate the functioning of the multi-sectoral social protection systems, covering non-contributory and contributory programmes, labour market planning and poverty alleviation, and planning for the eventuality expansion of the Social Protection Programme.<\/p>\n

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Under the new act, the following programmes are currently being offered with more still to come.<\/p>\n