COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HEARS INTRODUCTION OF TEXTS ON REVIEW OF ITS FUNCTIONING, POVERTY ERADICATION, YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS
Press Release
SOC/4403
COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HEARS INTRODUCTION OF TEXTS ON REVIEW OF ITS FUNCTIONING, POVERTY ERADICATION, YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS
19960531 As it continued its special session yesterday afternoon, the Commission for Social Development heard the introduction of two draft resolutions, on the review of its functioning and on strategies and actions for the eradication of poverty. A draft decision on the creation of an inter-sessional ad hoc support group to assist in the observance of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons was also introduced.Provisions on membership, frequency and duration of sessions were still to be agreed on, the Chairman of the working group on the future of the Commission, Ruth Limjuco (Philippines), said. The Chairman of the working group on poverty eradication, Sten Arne Rosnes (Norway), and Mrs. Limjuco (Philippines) stated that negotiations were still continuing on some provisions of the drafts.
According to the draft resolution on poverty eradication, the central role of women would be recognized and stress laid on the need for their full and equal participation in the formulation and implementation of development policies.
The draft text relating to the review of the functioning of the Commission would have the Economic and Social Council reaffirm the Commission's existing mandate and decide that it assist the Council in monitoring, reviewing and appraising progress achieved in the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development.
The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. today to take action on all outstanding draft proposals, adopt its draft report as well as the provisional agenda for its next regular session.
Introduction of Drafts
RUTH LIMJUCO (Philippines), Chairman of the Working Group on the future of the Commission, introduced the draft resolution entitled "follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the future role of the Commission for Social Development" (document E/CN.5/1996/L.5).
Social Development Commission - 2 - Press Release SOC/4403 13th Meeting (PM) 31 May 1996
The draft text would have the Commission recommend that the Economic and Social Council call upon all relevant organs of the United Nations system to be involved in the follow-up to the Social Summit. The Council would also decide that the task forces established by the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) for the follow-up to United Nations development-related conferences should inform the Commission and the Council of the progress of their work. In addition, the Commission would stress the importance of the participation in its work of high-level representatives on matters related to social development.
In addition, the draft would have the Council reaffirm the need for an effective partnership and cooperation between governments and the civil society. It would also decide that non-governmental organizations should be encouraged to participate in its work. Moreover, the Council would reaffirm the Commission's existing mandate and decide that it should assist it in monitoring, reviewing and appraising progress achieved in the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.
JULIA TAVARES DE ALVAREZ (Dominican Republic) introduced a draft decision entitled "establishment of an inter-sessional support group to prepare recommendations and a draft programme for the observance of the International Year of Older Persons" (document E/CN.5/1996/L.6). The draft is sponsored by Argentina, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Morocco, Sudan, Benin, Chile, Costa Rica and Pakistan.
The draft would have the Commission recommend that the Economic and Social Council decide to establish an ad hoc informal open-ended support group to assist the Commission in the preparations for the observance of the International Year of Older Persons (1999). The group's recommendation would be submitted to the working group on the matter which was established by the Commission at its last regular session.
STEN ARNE ROSNES (Norway), Chairman of the Working Group on poverty eradication, introduced a draft resolution entitled "strategies and actions for the eradication of poverty" (document E/CN.5/1996/L.4).
The draft would have the Commission emphasize the crucial importance of reinforcing the means and capacities for people to participate in the formulation and implementation of social and economic policies and programmes through decentralization and open management of public institutions. The central role of women in poverty eradication would be recognized and stress laid on the need for their full and equal participation in the formulation and implementation of development policies.
By the draft, the Commission would recommend that States consider ways of integrating a social exclusion concept into the design of global strategies for poverty eradication, notably through measures related to human rights, democracy, good governance, universal access to basic social services and adequate social protection.
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