Foreword

This special issue of the International Social Security Review, "Gender and social security", is framed by the specific aim of achieving the fundamental human right to social security guided by the international social security standards and the wider ambitions of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.The content thus addresses Sustainable Development Goal 1 (Target 1.1, to "eradicate extreme poverty"; Target 1.3 to implement "nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all") and Goal 5 -"achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls".Specifically, the content of the special issue presents international research that considers evidence of how the design of gender-responsive systems and programmes can avoid entrenching existing gender inequalities, help transform social norms towards gender equality, and better promote the realization of gender equality through the workings of national social security systems.The findings provide a valuable additional knowledge resource for member organizations of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) concerning the design and implementation of gender-responsive good practices for social security systems and programmes.These good practices, which are increasingly cognisant of the benefits and challenges presented by the digitalization of social security systems and services, can contribute to progressively improve outcomes and opportunities for the participation of women and men across the life course.The current programme of work of the ISSA, adopted by its global membership, acknowledges the challenges posed for realizing the human right to social security by the global context of changing life courses and evolving labour markets.The articles in the special issue discuss these challenges.A key strategic priority for the ISSA during the triennium 2023-2025 is to provide relevant knowledge to its member organizations.The articles in this special issue represent one element of the wealth of ISSA knowledge to be produced during the triennium.Together, they contribute to the aim to collate, analyse, develop, and disseminate high-quality knowledge for use by ISSA member organizations.Another key ISSA priority is to offer its member organizations extended relevant professional and academic networks to facilitate international exchange and collaboration.The authors of these articles bring to the table broad international knowledge of country experiences in South America, South East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, as well as of the Member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).The international promotion of social security and close collaboration with key regional and global organizations, such as the participation of authors from the