COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BEGINS GENERAL READING OF DRAFT CONCLUSIONS; ELECTS VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR CURRENT SESSION

Press Release
SOC/4530

COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BEGINS GENERAL READING OF DRAFT CONCLUSIONS; ELECTS VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR CURRENT SESSION

The Commission for Social Development this afternoon began a general reading of a draft text of agreed conclusions to be adopted when its current session ends on 17 February. The draft is entitled "Overall Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development: Agreed Conclusions".

Also today, the Commission elected Didier Le Bret (France) its fourth Vice-Chairman for the thirty-eighth session. Three other Vice-Chairmen were elected on 8 February. The Commission will choose its Rapporteur at a later date.

The Commission's current session is focusing on the General Assembly's upcoming special session -- to be held in June in Geneva -- to review implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995). Accordingly, the Commission's priority theme for its current session is: "the contribution of the Commission to the overall review of the implementation of the Summit".

At the 1995 Social Summit, representatives from 186 States adopted the Copenhagen Declaration, which elaborated 10 commitments to social justice, and a 100-paragraph Programme of Action. Three core themes were identified: eradication of poverty; achievement of full employment; and the promotion of secure, stable and just societies. The special session will be charged with devising catalytic and realistic strategies to put those commitments into practice; and with sparking the necessary political will to do so.

This afternoon, the representative of Portugal, on behalf of the European Union, expressed the view that the document's gender dimension should be reinforced. Pointing to the growing recognition of the problems that Africa faced, she noted that the continent's situation should also be included in negotiations during the special session.

Nigeria's representative, speaking for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the paper had only concentrated on three of the 10 commitments. Also, it excluded Africa and the least developed countries and did not refer to the effects of structural adjustment programmes.

Commission for Social Development - 2 - Press Release SOC/4530 6th Meeting (PM) 10 February 2000

Reiterating that the agreed conclusions would provide a bridge from the Copenhagen Summit to the Geneva special session, the representative of Japan said it should reflect both triumphs and obstacles. The situation of Africa and the least developed countries must be included in the text.

Responding to requests for clarification, the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, John Langmore, explained that "shadow economy" referred to unregulated segments in economies in transition. "Working poor" meant people who were employed, but received incomes that were not adequate for satisfactory standards of living.

With 46 members, the Commission is a functional body of the Economic and Social Council. It focuses on goals and policies to promote social progress, and research in areas affecting social and economic development.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 14 February, to hold dialogues with non-governmental organizations on: poverty eradication, full employment, financing for development, and establishing an enabling environment for the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and further initiatives.

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