COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT APPROVES DRAFT TEXT ON 2001 SESSION PRIORITY THEME
Press Release
SOC/4533
COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT APPROVES DRAFT TEXT ON 2001 SESSION PRIORITY THEME
20000216"Enhancing social protection and reducing vulnerability in a globalizing world" would be the Commission for Social Development's priority theme for its 2001 session, according to a draft text approved this morning without a vote.
In addition to adopting the orally amended draft provisional agenda for the thirty-ninth session (to be held in February 2001), the Commission took note of the draft narrative of the United Nations medium-term plan for the Economic and Social Affairs for the years 2002-2005, and considered two texts introduced today on international action on the situation of older persons.
By one of the texts, the General Assembly would decide to convene a second World Assembly on Ageing in Spain in April 2002 to review the outcome of the first World Assembly (Vienna, 1982), and adopt a revised plan of action and a long-term strategy on ageing in the context of a society for all ages. Among the issues to be considered at that gathering would be the links between ageing and development, public/private partnership and measures to strengthen inter- generation solidarity.
The Commission would serve as the preparatory body for the second World Assembly and the Secretary-General would be invited to establish a technical committee, funded through voluntary contributions, to assist in formulating proposals during the preparatory process. Its membership would be broadly representative in terms of geography and background, with participants from research institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and older persons.
Introducing the text, Mariela Sanchez de Cruz (Dominican Republic) said it had been drafted to obtain an adequate level of support in revising the plan of action on ageing and long-term strategy. At its conclusion, the World Assembly should sustain political and social considerations of older persons at the national, regional and international levels.
India, Panama and the Republic of Korea joined as co-sponsors.
She also introduced a text by which the Commission would decide to establish an in-session open-ended working group during its thirty-ninth and fortieth sessions to revise the International Plan of Action on Ageing and elaborate a long-term strategy on ageing for presentation to the Second World Assembly. By the text, the Commission would recommend that the Economic and Social Council extend the mandate of the Consultative Group for preparation of the International Year for Older Persons until 2002 so that it could serve as a forum for exchanging views on those preparations, and postpone the fifth review of the International Plan of Action. India, Panama and the Republic of Korea also joined as co-sponsors of that text.
During the discussion on the Commission's next session, the representative of Portugal, on behalf of the European Union, said the priority theme should be examined with focus on issues pertaining to financing, participation and specific problems of ageing, as well as on other suggestions that might bring added value to the Commissions discussions in the social context. The provisional agenda should include a segment dealing with general follow-up that would allow for more specific issues, arising from the special session to be held later this year, to be examined. Also, she proposed that the future role of the Commission be considered in the follow-up of the special session.
But the representative of Algeria said it was difficult for those points to be reviewed in such a short time. Delegations should have time to analyse the outcome of the special session.
The representative of Nigeria, also on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, noted that no mention of families had been made in the proposed theme.
The Commission's Acting Chairman, Didier Le Bret (France), suggested that a further item on the Commissions role be added to the agenda. The Commission then adopted the draft provisional agenda and priority theme as orally amended. Its sub-theme would be: "the role of volunteerism in the promotion of social development", and the Commission would also review relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups.
Regarding the medium-term plan, which is the United Nations principle policy directive, the Commission considered the draft narrative for Economic and Social Affairs, and for the sub-programme on social policy and development for the years 2002-2005. To be administered by the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the sub-programme will focus on strengthening international cooperation for social development, with particular attention to poverty eradication, employment generation and social integration. By 2005, it will be expected to have accomplished certain objectives, such as: promoting awareness of social development instruments, strengthening national capacity to eradicate poverty and foster sustainable development, and monitoring trends and analysing policy implications in socio- economic development.
The representatives of Jamaica, Sudan and Egypt also spoke this morning.
The Commission will meet again tomorrow.
Documents before Commission
The Commission had before it two drafts related to its review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups. The first draft resolution concerns follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing (document E/CN.5/2000/L.3), and is sponsored by the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom.
By that text, the General Assembly would decide to convene a second World Assembly on Ageing in Spain in April 2002, to review the outcome of the first World Assembly (Vienna, 1982), and adopt a revised plan of action and a long- term strategy on ageing in the context of a society for all ages. That Second World Assembly would give particular attention to, among others, the following matters: action-oriented measures for a comprehensive response to ageing processes, based on best practices and lessons learned during the International Year of Older Persons (1999), and bearing in mind the social, cultural and economic realities of each society; links between ageing and development; measures to mainstream ageing within development agendas; public/private partnership, including with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), at all levels; and measures to strengthen inter-generation solidarity.
By the text, the Assembly would decide that the Commission for Social Development would serve as the preparatory committee for the Second World Assembly. Member States and observers, United Nations system bodies, and other intergovernmental organizations would be invited to participate at a high level in the second World Assembly and its preparatory process. They would also be encouraged to support the Secretariat's preparatory activities and provide voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing.
The Secretary-General would be requested to consult with governments, intergovernmental and NGOs on experiences regarding implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, and on priority issues to be addressed in a revised plan of action and long-term strategy. He would be invited to establish a technical committee, funded through voluntary contributions, to assist formulating proposals during the preparatory process. Its members would serve in a personal capacity, integrate multidisciplinary backgrounds -- including from research institutions, NGOs, the private sector and older persons -- and provide broad geographical representation.
The Commission also had before it a draft decision on Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons (document E/CN.5/2000/L.4), co-sponsored by the following States: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom.
By its terms, the Commission would decide to establish an in-session open- ended working group during its thirty-ninth and fortieth sessions devoted to revising the International Plan of Action on Ageing and elaborating a long-term strategy on ageing for presentation to the second World Assembly on Ageing. Further, it would recommend that the Economic and Social Council extend the mandate of the Consultative Group for preparation of the Year until 2002, so that it could serve as a forum for exchanging views on those preparations.
Regarding the Commissions thirty-ninth session (February 2001), the Commission had before it a draft provisional agenda and documentation (document E/CN/.5/2000/L.5). By its terms, the Commission would have as its priority theme: enhancing social protection and reducing vulnerability in a globalizing world. Its sub-theme would be: the role of volunteerism in the promotion of social development, and the Commission would also review relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups. An informal paper circulated last week contained the Bureaus recommendation for the priority theme, as contained in the draft.
By other terms, the Commission would decide to postpone the fifth review and international appraisal of the International Plan of Action until activities for its revision are finalized and the long-term strategy on ageing has been elaborated. The Commission would also request that the Secretary-General present, in an integrated way, the first draft of a long-term strategy on ageing and a draft revised plan of action at its next session.
Also this morning, the Commission was to consider a note by the Secretariat containing proposals for the medium-term plan for the period 2002- 2005, which invites the Commission to review and make recommendations on it (document E/CN.5/2000/6). The medium-term plan is the United Nations principle policy directive. The note contains the draft narrative of the medium-term plan for Economic and Social Affairs, and the draft narrative of the sub-programme on social policy and development. The sub-programme would be implemented by the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. An annex to the note presents the main legislative mandates for the sub-programme.
According to the note, the sub-programme will seek to strengthen international cooperation for social development, with particular attention to the three core issues of poverty eradication, employment generation and social integration. By the end of the plan period, 2005, the sub-programme would be expected to have accomplished certain objectives, including the following: promoting awareness of instruments in the social development field; monitoring trends, identifying issues and analysing policy implications in socio-economic development; assisting in implementing the outcome of the Social Summit and the General Assembly's special session by advancing common norms, policies and cooperative action; and supporting Member States in eradicating absolute poverty and reducing overall poverty, and identifying initiatives based on activities related to the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997- 2006).
The sub-programme would be expected to assist in furthering the implementation of major international policy documents on ageing, facilitate access to information on ageing through the development of an Internet- accessible database of ageing policies and promote improved understanding of the policy implications of lifelong development, according to the note. It would also: advance the implementation of international norms and standards for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities; contribute to government capacity for formulating, implementing and evaluating family-related polices and programmes; and promote internationally agreed youth policies and programmes of action at the global, regional and national levels.
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