COMMISSION ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO HOLD THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS, 8 - 17 FEBRUARY
Press Release
SOC/4524
COMMISSION ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO HOLD THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS, 8 - 17 FEBRUARY
20000207 Background ReleaseThe Commission for Social Development's thirty-eighth session, to be held from 8 to 17 February at Headquarters, will have as its priority theme: "the contribution of the Commission to the overall review of the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995)". Also, it will review United Nations plans and programmes pertaining to social groups, hearing from its Special Rapporteur on Disability and discussing issues related to the International Year of Older Persons.
The General Assembly will hold a special session in Geneva in June to review and appraise the implementation of the outcome of the Social Summit and decide on further initiatives to strengthen the effectiveness of implementation.
At the 1995 Social Summit, representatives from 186 States, including 117 heads of State or government, pledged to make three-core themes their overriding objectives: eradication of poverty; achievement of full employment; and the promotion of secure, stable and just societies. The Summit culminated in the adoption of the Copenhagen Declaration, which elaborated 10 commitments to social justice, and a 100-paragraph Programme of Action with goals and targets for social development and a plan to achieve them.
In the five years since, much progress has been made in terms of putting social development at the centre of programme and policy initiatives, while the costs of promoting education and health and fostering inclusive and participatory societies has been increasingly weighed against the costs of failing to invest in them. But, turning those plans and policies into action has been less successful. Major challenges of the special session, therefore, will be to devise realistic strategies for action and spark the political will and develop practical tools to put those commitments into practice.
Through the Preparatory Committee for the special session, negotiations have already begun on documents that will represent the outcome of the session. Based on meetings in May 1999 and informal talks in September, a tentative text outlines areas of agreement and disagreement. Work on refining the text will continue during the Commission's session. There is widespread agreement on the Copenhagen objectives, which are not to be renegotiated at the special session, but divisions exist regarding the factors that impede implementation of the Summit's outcome. Some countries focus on the importance of international cooperation and the need for resources in order to implement the Summit's Programme of Action, while others focus on such issues as governance, human rights and gender equality to promote the social development agenda. The 10 commitments made in Copenhagen are:
-- Create an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that will enable people to achieve social development;
-- Eradicate absolute poverty by a target date to be set by each country;
-- Promote full employment as a priority of economic and social policies;
-- Promote social integration by fostering societies that are stable, safe and just, based on the protection of human rights and respect for diversity;
-- Achieve equality and equity between women and men;
-- Attain universal access to education and primary health care;
-- Accelerate the development of Africa and the least developed countries;
-- Include social development goals in structural adjustment programmes;
-- Increase resources allocated to social development; and
-- Improve and strengthen cooperation for social development.
The Commission was established by the Economic and Social Council to advise it on social policies of a general character, social aspects of development and on all matters in the social field not covered by the specialized intergovernmental agencies. It focuses on policies to promote social progress, setting goals, programme priorities and research in areas affecting social and economic development.
The provisional agenda for the forthcoming session is contained in document E/CN.5/2000/1.
Highlights of the documents before the session follow.
Reports
The Secretary-General's comprehensive report on the implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (document E/CN.5/2000/2) analyses challenges, obstacles and achievements to date, based on information submitted by 74 countries. It presents regional trends, discusses 11 cross- cutting issues, highlights national strategies, and depicts the scope of regional and international cooperation for social development.
According to the document, one of the most important changes that has taken place since Copenhagen is the increased priority which social development has been given vis-à-vis other policy objectives. Negotiations on international trade or foreign direct investment are no longer viewed as purely economic or technical concerns to be left to experts in those fields. Instead, increased attention is now given to the social dimensions of economic policies. The post- Copenhagen period is also characterized by greater openness and public debate around such policies.
The Secretary-General emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to social development. For example, the key to good health might be found in decent work, and the key to full employment might be found in access to education for all. Successful implementation of the Copenhagen commitments requires political will and action, and the courage to forge integrated partnerships for social development.
The report states that progress has been made in such areas as literacy and life expectancy, increased school enrolment and access to basic social services, and declining infant mortality. There has been incremental movement towards equality between men and women around the world, despite the persistent tendency for women to be the "first losers" in times of crisis and restructuring. But, in other areas, the world has regressed. Relative poverty declined, but the number of people living in poverty globally has grown. The world has become a more unequal place, within and between nations, in terms of income, employment, access to social services and opportunities for participation in public and civil society institutions. Local and regional conflicts have caused setbacks to social integration in many countries.
Contrary to the commitments made at Copenhagen, resources allocated for social development purposes have declined, the Secretary-General reports. The burden of debt has grown markedly, further squeezing resources available for social development. With the liberalization of capital flows, the world has become more vulnerable to sudden financial shocks with severe social and economic consequences. Furthermore, the real victims of such shocks are increasingly powerless to rectify their social situation.
The report analyses trends by region, with sections on South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Latin America and the Caribbean, West Asia and Northern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. In South Asia, for example, there is urgent need for resources for education, with 395 million illiterate adults -- 60 per cent of whom are women -- and 50 million children not in school. The report also highlights the need to examine defense allocations in that region. With 40 per cent of the world's poor, South Asia is spending $12 billion on defense.
For Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the report emphasizes the need for more accountable and efficient government. The general weakness of States and governments in the transition period has permitted small groups to capture the benefits of change for their personal benefit, with enormous economic and social development costs. In West Asia and Northern Africa, globalization is perceived by many as potentially threatening to the social and cultural integrity of societies, and there is need to acquire capacity to profit from globalization without renouncing values and culture.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the report continues, weak or dysfunctional governments have resulted in an absence of the rule of law, which, in turn, undermines peace and security, and raises transactions costs so high as to inhibit all but the simplest and most short-term of investments. Countries of the OECD have high income levels, robust economic growth and functioning institutions, yet, poverty, unemployment and social disintegration persist. Many people earning low wages are living in poverty, and programmes for transitioning from welfare to workfare have not been simple or easy to implement.
The report also discusses the need to mobilize additional official development assistance (ODA). Despite the commitment made at the Summit for countries to devote 0.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) to ODA, there had been a continued decline in levels. Not only has the absolute amount of ODA been decreasing in the midst of growing need, but also the allocation has been changing. Many least developing countries have seen their share of ODA decrease due to urgent requirements of transitional countries hard hit by financial crisis or by the negative impact of economic reform. An additional squeeze on ODA has been created by the humanitarian needs arising from the growing number of local conflicts and natural disasters.
The Secretary-General states that new modalities are required for increasing the mobilization and allocation of ODA. New initiatives are needed to mobilize additional resources for ODA and ensure that existing resources are used efficiently to have the utmost impact on social development. While greater accountability for end-results and impact in development cooperation is viewed by many as a positive development, there is also a danger that development cooperation may neglect those countries where the capacity for development is the weakest. This could result in further marginalization of least developed countries and further accentuation of inequality across the globe.
A note by the Secretary-General on monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities (document E/CN.5/2000/3) states that, at its thirty-fifth session in 1997, the Commission had decided to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, first appointed in March 1994, for three years and had requested that he prepare a report to be submitted at this session.
Previously, at its thirty-fourth session, the Commission had adopted resolution 34/2 in which it welcomed the general approach of the Special Rapporteur to monitoring, including the emphasis to be placed on advice, and support to States in implementing the Rules. The 22 Rules provide the framework to enable disabled persons to participate fully in social life and development.
The note further states that his present mandate will expire in August 2000 and the Commission is required to either renew it, appoint a new Special Rapporteur or make appropriate recommendations to the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly. The activities of the Special Rapporteur and his panel of experts are funded by voluntary contributions. The report contains tables detailing those contributions.
Annexed to the note is the final report of the Special Rapporteur covering the period from 1997 to 2000. The report states that missions to Mongolia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania and the Russian Federation revealed that many of those countries in transition had not yet developed guidelines for a modern disability policy. Most disabled persons living there had spent their entire lives in large institutions. Another existing problem was the difficulty experienced by the old and new non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in establishing good working relations. Visits to Thailand, Jordan, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Costa Rica, among others, dealt with basic issues of disability in some States and with issues of implementation policies in others. Also, during his tenure, the Special Rapporteur participated in a number of international conferences, including a seminar in Africa, held in January 1999, on development, cooperation, disability and human rights which adopted a resolution proclaiming, for Africa, a decade of disabled people beginning in 2000.
The report also gives the findings of the third global survey, undertaken in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), on implementing the Rules in medical care, rehabilitation and support services, and personnel training, and it describes progress in human rights for disabled persons. Further, it outlines cooperation between the office of the Special Rapporteur and the Organization and its other bodies, as well as with international NGOs.
While the Standard Rules document has many merits, some dimensions of disability policy have not been treated sufficiently, particularly those concerning children with disabilities, those in the gender dimension and for certain other groups, the report notes. Also, the Rules do not cater to disabled people in regions experiencing extreme poverty and those in refugee or emergency situations.
The report details the contribution of NGOs in monitoring implementation of the Rules and the response of Member States to that process. It notes that both the adoption of the Standard Rules and developments in human rights have increased pressure for modernized legislation, and a considerable number of countries have developed laws relative to persons with disabilities.
Regarding the promotion of special dimensions -- children, gender aspects and persons with developmental and psychiatric disabilities -- the report says that NGOs working in the disability field are increasingly addressing the situation of disabled children. But, more needed to be done to improve the living conditions of girls and women with disabilities. Persons with developmental and psychiatric disabilities are among the most marginalized in the society, and the plan to develop the World Federation of Psychiatric Survivors and Users into a strong and representative world organization must get support and recognition. The report also includes recommendations for future involvement by the United Nations, including improved coordination and awareness-raising campaigns.
The report of the Secretary-General on the International Year of Older Persons, 1999 (document E/CN.5/2000/4) summarizes responses received from States, United Nations organizations, NGOs and the private sector on the prospect of convening a second World Assembly and developing a long-term strategy on ageing. The General Assembly, at its fifty-fourth session, had adopted resolution 54/24 by which it had decided to entrust the Commission with revising the International Plan of Action on Ageing and elaborating a related long-term strategy.
The report states that replies to a July 1999 note verbale sent to Member States on the above-mentioned issues indicate that there is broad support for holding a second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002. Eighty-three countries have co-sponsored the related General Assembly resolution, 54/24. Also, a number of concerned NGOs, as well as United Nations bodies, are in favour of holding the World Assembly. The Commission will need to take a decision on convening the Assembly during this session. The International Year of Older Persons concluded with significant advances in understanding of the issues of global ageing due to international exposure and interest, the report notes. One significant outcome was the proposal to convene the World Assembly. Addressing issues relevant to developing a long-term strategy, the report states that, while that strategy would be a general policy statement on ageing in the twenty-first century, a revised International Plan of Action -- the first international consensus document on ageing - would translate general policy into concrete recommendations for action. The report also addresses implications for implementing other initiatives emerging from the Year.
Concerning the conduct of a review and appraisal exercise on the Plan, the report says that the Commission has not taken a decision to amend the procedure. The fifth review and appraisal is due in 2001. If it decides to go ahead with revising the Plan, the Commission will need to take a decision on postponing that review and appraisal, as well as on a review of the global targets on ageing.
A note by the Secretary-General on the symposium on States, markets and social progress: roles and cooperation of the public and private sectors (document E/CN.5/2000/5) transmits the report of the symposium.
According to the note, while market liberalization has led to spectacular, though inconsistent, growth, it has also led to greater inequality and polarization within societies. Some regions have been overlooked by private capital and, in all regions, the swift withdrawal of investor confidence can lead to economic collapse and social distress. Furthermore, since the Copenhagen Summit, a paradox has been revealed -- there is consensus on the goals of development, but there is also the continuing inability to implement sufficient specific policies and concrete programmes to achieve those goals.
The note recommends that, at the special session in Geneva in June 2000, the General Assembly should make an appeal to governments to make national plans to achieve the Copenhagen commitments. In addition, better international cooperation is needed, and the Assembly should suggest specific initiatives and measures to provide new impetus for achieving those commitments, as well as to promote social progress.
The note outlines the role of the public and private sector, and of globalization -- a globally interdependent set of social, economic, political and cultural processes that culminate in significant consequences for individuals, communities, enterprises and political structures worldwide -- in ensuring the welfare of vulnerable groups and individuals, and in improving employment opportunities by promoting small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Commission Membership
The Commission's current membership is as follows: Algeria, Argentina, Belarus, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Malawi, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda and United States.
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