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Medellín, November 12, 2022. This Friday, the event to strengthen the culture of social security "Comprehensive Social Security as a Human Right" was held in Medellín, organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

The deputy minister of social protection, Luis Alberto Martínez, stated that "the issue that brings us together today is very important in contemporary society", and stressed that "the right to social security is one of the most important and, therefore, great monetary, physical and human talent resources are being allocated by many states."

"In Colombia, since the implementation of the Political Constitution of 1991, we have been in a process of continuous improvement for the access and enjoyment of this fundamental right. As a society, we have made a pact based on principles such as solidarity, efficiency, universality, comprehensiveness, unity and participation, all of them in the democratic culture and the fundamental basis of the way we think in Colombia of meeting the needs in health, pensions and occupational risks," he asserted.

He also explained that the country's commitment to guarantee the right to Social Security is strong since we assumed our responsibilities in 1968 with the approval of Law 74.

"In that same framework, but already in force with the 1991 Constitution, at the inter-American level, the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights "Protocol of San Salvador" has been adopted, signed in San Salvador on November 17, 1988, through Law 319 of 1996. The first of the regulations gave rise to monitoring bodies such as the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the so-called General Observations. Among these are Observations 14, on the right to health, and 19, on the right to social security."

In our country's Magna Carta, political reforms were promoted aimed at changing the way in which the Colombian State guarantees rights and fulfills its duties towards citizens.

"Thus, Title 1 of the fundamental principles were established by the constituents in the sense that Colombia is a Social Rule of Law, and the foundations were laid to promote changes in the way in which all persons residing in Colombia should be protected, in their life, honor, property, beliefs, and other rights and freedoms, and to ensure compliance with the social duties of the State and of individuals.

Part of the response by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection "are actions around the Culture of Comprehensive Social Security, which originate in article 246 of Law 100 of 1993, which urged this Ministry to disseminate and train users and agents in the characteristics of the General System of Health Care Social Security", highlighted the deputy minister.

Subsequently, he explained that Law 1502, 2011 invites all to work for a Social Security Culture, promoting "knowledge and dissemination of the principles, values and strategies on which social protection is based" and for the "development of basic skills and citizens, which allow behaviors related to social security and other commitments that imply self-care and recognition and respect for the other, foster a culture of respect for rules, participation, coexistence and peace."

"The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is committed to building a Comprehensive Social Security Culture to demonstrate, with concrete actions, the will to continue advancing in this collective action in which users and actors transform their behaviors to work together in the construction of a better comprehensive Social Security System," he said.

In addition, the Ministry of Health structured the Social Security Culture Plan in Colombia (PCSSC) as a methodological commitment that allows it to respond to the challenges it finds throughout its construction process "and at the same time build an environment conducive to cultural change in search of a humanized, solidary, co-responsible, transparent and sustainable social security, and that allows stimulating the processes of education, promotion and appropriation of social security by the agents and users of the System."

With this in mind, and as part of the effort to multiply collaborators, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection carries out regional events to present the Social Security Culture Plan and motivate the formation of the network of collaborators around the reflection of social security as a human right.

"By 2022, and with the objective proposed by the plan to "Increase the understanding and management of the Comprehensive Social Security System by the agents and people who are part of it," we seek to create a space for reflection around social security, understood as a fundamental human right that allows us to appreciate the beliefs, expectations, attitudes, narratives and behaviors regarding social security", explained Deputy Minister Martínez.

Later, the deputy minister participated in a panel with Albeiro Pulgarín, professor of Constitutional Law at Universidad Nacional; Bernardita Pérez, constitutional lawyer; José Pablo Velásquez, professor at the Faculty of Public Health of Universidad de Antioquia; and Adriana Marcela Carranza, secretary of international affairs, peace and non-violence of Antioquia.

The day also included workshops, panels and conversations that lasted until the afternoon.