SGG 13: Protection of Vulnerable Populations
A core pillar of the Agenda for Social Equity 2074, establishing a universal reference standard for the protection, dignity, and safeguarding of individuals and groups exposed to heightened risk of exclusion, harm, or exploitation.
Goal Statement and Definition
Goal Statement
Ensure that individuals and population groups facing heightened vulnerability are protected from harm, exclusion, and exploitation, and are able to access support, services, and remedies that safeguard dignity, rights, and well‑being.
Definition
For the purposes of Agenda 2074, protection of vulnerable populations refers to the obligation of social systems to identify, prevent, and mitigate risks that disproportionately affect individuals or groups due to age, disability, gender, health status, displacement, poverty, legal status, social exclusion, crisis exposure, or compounded disadvantage. Protection requires proactive safeguarding, accessible support mechanisms, and effective redress, delivered in ways that respect autonomy, privacy, and human dignity.
Strategic Rationale
Vulnerability is not an inherent trait but a condition shaped by social structures, institutional design, and external shocks. Individuals and groups become vulnerable when systems fail to anticipate risk, remove barriers, or provide adequate protection. Where vulnerabilities are unaddressed, harm accumulates, rights are eroded, and exclusion becomes normalized.
Agenda for Social Equity 2074 therefore treats protection as a structural responsibility, not a discretionary act of charity. Safeguarding vulnerable populations strengthens social equity by ensuring that universality does not mask inequity. Protective systems must be preventative as well as responsive, capable of recognising intersecting vulnerabilities and adapting to crisis contexts. Progress under this goal reinforces the credibility, humanity, and inclusiveness of social institutions across generations.
Targets
In order to realise this goal, institutions across the public, private, cooperative, and civil‑society spheres should, as a minimum:
- Identify populations and individuals exposed to heightened risk of harm, exclusion, or exploitation through inclusive and context‑sensitive assessment.
- Establish preventative safeguarding measures and early‑intervention mechanisms that reduce exposure to harm.
- Ensure access to appropriate support services, protection, and accommodation without discrimination or stigma.
- Provide safe, accessible, and effective mechanisms for reporting harm, seeking protection, and obtaining redress.
- Protect vulnerable populations during crises, transitions, and emergencies through targeted and proportionate measures.
Targets are risk‑responsive and context‑adaptive, provided that dignity, rights, and protection remain central.
Indicative Indicators
Progress under SGG 13 may be illustrated through proportionate, non‑financial indicators, including but not limited to:
- Existence and scope of safeguarding and protection frameworks across institutions and services.
- Accessibility and utilisation of protection, support, and accommodation services by vulnerable groups.
- Early‑intervention and risk‑prevention measures embedded in social systems.
- Reporting, response, and resolution outcomes related to harm, abuse, or exploitation.
- Institutional capacity to protect vulnerable populations during emergencies and systemic shocks.
Indicators emphasize prevention, protection, accessibility, and accountability rather than incident counts alone.
Alignment with Global and Regional Frameworks
Social Global Goal 13 reinforces the protective dimensions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well‑Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), by framing protection as a governance and equity obligation.
The goal aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, notably Aspiration 1 (A Prosperous Africa Based on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development) and Aspiration 3 (An Africa of Good Governance, Democracy, Respect for Human Rights, Justice and the Rule of Law), by emphasizing human security, social protection, and inclusion of vulnerable populations as foundations of sustainable development.
In European contexts, SGG 13 complements the European Green Deal by addressing the differentiated social impacts of climate, energy, and economic transitions. It reinforces the need for targeted safeguards to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected from disproportionate harm during periods of structural transformation.
Position within Agenda 2074
