COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HEARS FURTHER REPORTS FROM ITS TWO WORKING GROUPS

Press Release
SOC/4402

COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HEARS FURTHER REPORTS FROM ITS TWO WORKING GROUPS

As it continued its special session this morning, the Commission for Social Development heard oral reports on progress achieved so far in its two working groups, which are considering the future of the Commission and poverty eradication matters, respectively.

The Working Group on the future of the Commission would today tackle the questions of membership, frequency and duration of sessions, the Group Chairman, Ruth Limjuco (Philippines), said. Progress had been made in the negotiations and the Group had approved the agenda and the multi-year programme of activity of the Commission. Negotiations were ongoing on the proposal to consolidate two Secretariat publications, the World Economic and Social Survey and the Report on the World Social Situation, into one single report.

Emphasizing that time was running out, the Chairman of the Working Group on poverty eradication, Sten Arne Rosnes (Norway), said his group had completed a second reading of the draft text on strategies and actions for the eradication of poverty.

The Commission Chairman, Koos Richelle (Netherlands), drew attention to a draft text on the establishment of an inter-sessional working group to prepare recommendations and a draft programme for the observance of the International Year of the Older Persons (1999). The text, being circulated, is sponsored by Argentina, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Morocco and Sudan.

The Commission will meet again at 5 p.m. today to hear the introduction of draft texts.

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