ECOSOC ADOPTS SIX RESOLUTIONS AND THREE DECISIONS ON SOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT, POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

Begins Consideration of Issues Related to Gender Mainstreaming,

Women and Development, Population and Development and Social Development

(Reissued as received.)

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this morning took action on recommendations made within the reports of the Commission for Population and Development and the Commission for Social Development.

Within the context of the report of the Commission for Social Development, the Council adopted, without a vote, six resolutions and two decisions concerned variously with the International Year of the Family, policies and programmes involving youth, the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, and on national and international cooperation for social development.

Under Section A of the report, the Council adopted a resolution concerning “Preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004”, by which the Council recommended that the General Assembly encourage governments to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective in the planning process.

Among the resolutions adopted under Section B of the report, the first concerned “Policies and programmes involving youth”, by which the Council called upon States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort toward the implementation of the Programme of Action, aiming at cross-sectoral youth policies by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and decision-making processes relevant to youth.  By the second, concerning the “Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights of dignity of persons with disabilities”, the Council requested the Commission for Social Development to continue to contribute to the process established by the General Assembly by providing its views regarding the social development of persons with disabilities, bearing in mind the experience in the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization on Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons.

The third resolution adopted under this section of the report concerned “National and international cooperation for social development:  implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)”, in the context of which the Council emphasized that economic development, social development and environmental protection were interdependent and mutually reinforcing and urged the international community and the United Nations system to organize support for African countries in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the New Partnership in the new spirit of partnership.

By the fourth resolution adopted under this section, which concerned “Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002”, the Council invited all actors at all levels, as appropriate, to participate in the implementation of and follow-up to the Madrid International plan of Action on Ageing, while by the fifth, entitled “Agreed conclusions and international cooperation for social development”, it endorsed the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission for Social Development with respect to its priority theme at its forty-first session.

Finally, under Section C of the report of the Commission on Social Development, the Council adopted two decisions without a vote, the first on the “Report of the Commission for Social Development on its forty-first session and provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-second session of the Commission,” and the second on the “Nomination of members of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.”

Within the report of the Commission for Population and Development, the Council adopted a decision by which it adopted the report of the Commission on its thirty-sixth session and approved the provisional agenda for the thirty-seventh session of the Commission.

The Council also resumed consideration of the reports of coordination bodies and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 and commenced consideration of issues involving gender mainstreaming, women and development, population and development, and social development.  Within this second area of discussion, Angela King, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, making an introductory statement, said that last week, there were two significant events which had moved forward considerably the agenda on gender mainstreaming.  The first was a panel on gender mainstreaming in the United Nations system which many participants had attended.  The second significant event was the launch of the Inter-agency Network on Women and Gender Equality’s Gender and Trade Task Force last Thursday and Friday.

With regard to the report of the Commission on the Status of Women, Ms. King said the current year’s focus concerned two thematic areas:  the participation and access of women to the media and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women on which there were agreed conclusions; and on women’s human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, as defined in the Beijing Platform and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.

Among the issues highlighted by delegations during the subsequent discussion was the need to increase support and budgeting for the International Research and Training Institute on the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), hosted in the Dominican Republic.  Several delegations also expressed concern over the continued vacancy of the post of director of the Institute.  The need to ensure the effective implementation of agreements on gender mainstreaming in all aspects of the work of the United Nations system, as well as the objectives for social development included within the Millennium Declaration, and to improve access to education for all children and particularly girls, were issues also raised by delegations.

Addressing the Council this morning were representatives of Cuba, Italy (on behalf of the European Union), Brazil (on behalf of the Group of Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean GRULAC), Nicaragua (on behalf of the Central American Group), El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, New Zealand (on behalf of Australia and Canada), Chile, the Russian Federation, Kenya, and the United States.  A representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) also addressed the Council.

The Council will meet again this afternoon at 3 p.m. to conclude its discussion of economic and environmental questions and to begin its consideration of issues within the context of sustainable development.  It is also expected to take action on recommendations contained in the reports of the subsidiary bodies.

Documents

Before the Committee this morning is the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2002 (E/2003/55) which provides an overview of major developments in inter-agency cooperation during the year 2002 within the purview of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).  During the year, Executive Heads in CEB focused on guiding the system’s contribution to the development of strategies to review progress, and to advocate and assist Member States in the implementation of the development goals embodies in the United Nations Millennium Declaration; gave special attention to the follow-up to the objectives and goals of the Millennium Declaration relating to “the treatment and prevention of diseases, including HIV/AIDS and malaria” and “preventing armed conflict” –- the two themes selected for greater in-depth treatment in the 2002 report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; reviewed the progress being made in providing coherent, system-wide support to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development; and considered ways of fashioning an integrated follow-up to major conferences and summits held during the course of the year.

There is also a report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to, and progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (E/2003/69).  The report responds to General Assembly resolution 57/182 in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report annually on the follow-up to and progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly with an assessment of progress made in mainstreaming a gender perspective within the United Nations system, including by providing information on key achievements, lessons learned and best practices and to recommend further measures and strategies for future action within the United Nations system.  The report focuses on progress in mainstreaming a gender perspective in the work of ECOSOC during its substantive session of 2002, and that of its functional commissions during their sessions held in 2003, and highlights the extent to which these intergovernmental bodies are including attention to situations that are specific to women in their work.  The report gives a synopsis of the second session of the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality, held in 2003.  The report concludes by proposing a number of further steps the Council could take to enhance attention to gender perspectives in its work and that of its subsidiary machinery.

Additionally, there is a report of the Board of Trustees of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (E/2003/59), which says that owing to the critical situation affecting INSTRAW, the twenty-second session of the Board of Trustees has not yet taken place.  However, by means of electronic communications, the Board approved a document entitled “Brief on INSTRAW development during 2002 and current status” prepared by INSTRAW, which contains sections on the developments relevant to the institutional structure of INSTRAW; implementation of the work programme and the budget to 2002; and on its executive direction; administrative and financial matters.

There is a letter (E/2003/93) from the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations addressed to the President of ECOSOC transmitting the main points which the Working Group on the Future Operations of INSTRAW believes should be taken into account in the amendment of the statute of INSTRAW.

There is note of the Secretary-General (E/2003/101) on the revitalization of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women containing the comments of the Secretariat on the new recommendations as set out in the letter from the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations addressed to the President of ECOSOC.

Finally, there is a note by the Secretary-General on the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 (E/2003/49).  The note is responding to a request to the Secretary-General to report on the preparations, through the Commission on Social Development and the Economic and Social Council.  The Secretary-General transmits the report requested to the General Assembly and the Council in document (E/CN.5/2003/6).

Action on Resolutions and Decisions

Under the recommendations contained in the report of the Commission on Population and Development (E/2003/25), ECOSOC decided, without a vote, to adopt a decision taking note of the report of the Commission on its thirty-sixth session and approved the provisional agenda for the thirty-seventh session.

The Council also adopted several resolutions and decisions contained within the report of the Commission for Social Development (E/2003/26), which contained the recommendations of the Commission for action by ECOSOC.  First, the resolution concerning “Preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004”, contained within Section A of the report, was adopted without a vote.  By this resolution ECOSOC recommends the General Assembly to encourage governments to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective in the planning process; and recommends that all relevant actors, including governments, civil society and relevant non-governmental organizations, and research and academic institutions, contribute to developing strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening the livelihood of families; and recalls its invitation to the Secretary-General to launch the tenth anniversary of the Year in early December 2003.

Under Section B of the report, there are a number of resolutions and decisions adopted, without a vote, the first of which concerns “Policies and programmes involving youth.”  By this resolution, the Council calls upon States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort toward the implementation of the Programme of Action, aiming at cross-sectoral youth policies, by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and decision-making processes relevant to youth.  ECOSOC also recommends that the United Nations system, on the basis of the positive experience of youth participation in the work of the United Nations, continue to provide opportunities for dialogue between governments and representatives of youth organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council through forums, open-ended dialogues, meetings and debates.  ECOSOC further recommends that the convening of a future world youth forum be based on an intergovernmental decision emanating from the General Assembly.

In a second resolution on “Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights of dignity of persons with disabilities”, ECOSOC requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to contribute to the process established by the General Assembly by providing its views regarding the social development of persons with disabilities, bearing in mind the experience in the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons.  ECOSOC would further invite bodies and entities of the United Nations system, particularly those working in the field of social and economic development and human rights, within their respective mandates, to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention.

In the third resolution under Section B of the report, which concerns “National and international cooperation for social development:  implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)”, ECOSOC emphasizes that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing; urges the international community and the United Nations system to organize support for African countries in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the New Partnership in the new spirit of partnership.  ECOSOC further calls upon the Secretary-General, in his efforts to harmonize the current initiatives on Africa, to enhance coordination between the United Nations and the specialized agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations system; and recommends that the Commission on Social Development continue to give due prominence to the social dimension of the New Partnership in its future priority themes.

In the fourth resolution contained within Section B of the report on “Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,” the Council invites all actors at all levels, as appropriate, to participate in the implementation of and follow-up to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing; invites the organizations of the United Nations system to consider mainstreaming ageing issues into their work plans; invites Member States and other stakeholders to mainstream ageing in the design and implementation of their policies and programmes; and invites governments, as well as the United Nations system and civil society to participate in a “bottom-up” approach to the review and appraisal of the Plan of Action, through inter alia, the sharing of ideas, data collection and best practices.

Additionally, by the fifth resolution contained in this section of the report, which concerns “Agreed conclusions and international cooperation for social development”, ECOSOC endorses the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission for Social Development with respect to its priority theme at its forty-first session.

Finally, the Council also adopted, without a vote, two decisions contained within Section C of the report of the Commission for Social Development.  The first concerns the “Report of the Commission for Social Development on its forty-first session and provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-second session of the Commission”, while the second concerns the “Nomination of members of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.”

Statements

ANGELA KING, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, said last week, there were two significant events which had moved forward considerably the agenda on gender mainstreaming.  The first was panel on gender mainstreaming in the United Nations system which many participants had attended.  The second significant event was the launch of the Inter-agency Network on Women and Gender Equality’s Gender and Trade Task Force last Thursday and Friday.  It included a group of United Nations system agencies and the regional commissions to look into and establish links between gender and trade and carry out analytical research, technical cooperation to assist and support countries, and development methodologies and indicators for measuring progress.  This was very timely, as it would lead into the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action conducted by the Commission on the Status of Women, the Council and the General Assembly in the following year.

With regard to the report of the Commission on the Status of Women, this year the focus was on two thematic areas, the participation and access of women to the media, and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women on which there were agreed conclusions; and on women’s human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, as defined in the Beijing Platform and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.

NORMA GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said that concerning the effective implementation of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the reports of coordination bodies should have given more attention to the issue of whether or not developed countries had lived up to their commitments.  The focus on national strategies relegated donor activities to a position of non-importance.  Moreover, Cuba rejected the approach, which linked terrorism to refugee centres as overly simplistic.  Cuba did, however, look forward to the follow-up of the Board to the recommendations contained in the report.

On the issue of the draft programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, she said that the close link between programming and functions should be recognized.  The presentation of the different sections of the budget in a fragmented and partial way made the adoption of the budget more difficult.  Moreover, the draft budget correctly recognized that the promotion of sustained economic growth and development was one of the most important goals of the Organization.  Yet, if the MDGs were really to be achieved, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, among others, needed more resources.  Welcoming with satisfaction the debate on improving working matters and procedures, she concluded that it was up to the Council to live up to its responsibilities for coordination.

BRUNELLA BORZI (Italy, speaking on behalf of the European Union - EU) said that the EU welcomed the Council’s decision to establish gender mainstreaming into all policies and programmes of the United Nations system as a regular sub-item on its annual agenda with the aim of monitoring and evaluating progress made.  However, it was also noted that, notwithstanding the efforts made, gender perspectives were still addressed to varying degrees and were often not addressed at all.  Gender perspectives needed to become a matter of routine analysis and incorporation into the formulation of policy across the United Nations system.  In this context, the round table on institutional capacity building held during the Commission on the Status of Women’s session this year provided a valuable example of good practice.

In addition to continuing work on incorporating gender perspectives in policy frameworks, she said that high priority should be placed on monitoring the implementation of existing gender policies to ensure the encouragement of good practices and follow-up to the major United Nations conferences.  Mainstreaming gender perspectives in all policies and programmes would help to create a safer, better and more equitable world for all.  Thus, within the context of the EU’s framework strategy on gender equality, the EU welcomed the engagement of the Council in encouraging the United Nations system to consider further measures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of gender mainstreaming; encouraging relevant Commissions to take additional steps to address and monitor gender aspects within their mandates; urging the Commissions to use more systematically the work of the Commission on the Status of Women; and deciding to devote its coordination segment in 2004 to a review and appraisal of the system-wide implementation of its agreed conclusions on gender mainstreaming.

CLAUDIA DE BORBA MACIEL (Brazil, speaking on behalf of the Group of Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean - GRULAC), addressed the need to strengthen the International Research and Training Institute on the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).  She recalled the importance attached by the Beijing Platform on the research and training on gender mainstreaming and the advancement of women.  INSTRAW was the only such body in the United Nations and GRULAC believed that this instrument needed to be both strengthened and revitalized.  The Working Group on the future of the work of INSTRAW had made several recommendations, which had been adopted by consensus by the General Assembly, including a request for ECOSOC to amend the statutes of INSTRAW.  The revitalization of INSTRAW required the implementation and fulfilment of other parallel action, including the appointment of a Director of INSTRAW.  GRULAC emphasized that seven months after the adoption by the General Assembly, no new director had been appointed for INSTRAW.  Consequently, GRULAC, once again, invited the Secretary-General to act in accordance with the resolution and associate himself with the efforts of the international community to strengthen the sole United Nations body dedicated to research on the advancement of women.

NESTOR CRUZ TORUNO (Nicaragua, speaking on behalf of the Central American Group), said that the reforms envisaged for introduction on the subject of gender mainstreaming were important, however, the Central American Group remained disturbed by the fact that the sole institute dealing with the promotion and training of women continued to suffer from insufficient budget and lack of a director.  Therefore, the Central American Group supported the strengthening of the International Research and Training Institute on the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).

CARLOS ENRIQUE GARCIA GONZALEZ (El Salvador) said he attached great importance to the advancement of women.  In this context, efforts by the Government of El Salvador in rural development were closely related to activities undertaken for the advancement of women, particularly the girl child.  The Government reiterated its invitation to developed countries to open up their markets to products from El Salvador.  The Government was pooling its efforts to speed up and expand regional integration, in an attempt to strengthen its market.  However, it was also a political commitment to unite people of the region in order to achieve better standards of living and development.  Internationally, El Salvador was satisfied by the conclusions of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.  In this context, he stressed the importance of strengthening and revitalizing the work of the International Research and Training Institute on the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), including through the appointment of a director.  In conclusion, he reiterated the political commitment of the Government of El Salvador to the empowerment and advancement of women.

YSETT ROMAN MALDONADO (Dominican Republic) said that the work of the International Research and Training Institute on the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) was praiseworthy and that measures should continue to be taken to improve the efficiency and funding of the Institute.  The General Assembly had established a Working Group to make recommendations on the future work of INSTRAW, which had done its work in a thorough and detailed manner.  Among its recommendations was that the statute of the Institute be amended to incorporate the position of director of the Institute.  However, the Dominican Republic remained concerned over the continued vacancy in this post of director, despite many requests submitted to the Secretary-General and a recommendation from the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee that the Secretary-General appoint a director at the level of D-2 immediately.  The Dominican Republic felt sure that the Council would make the necessary efforts to ensure the continued operation of INSTRAW.

MATHILDA A. ALOMATU (Ghana) said gender mainstreaming within the United Nations and its agencies was of critical importance.  Some strides had been made in achieving gender equality, but much more remained to be done, including the presence of women in the higher echelons of the system.  Particular stress was placed on women from developing countries being given higher positions.  This would enable the international community to achieve the goal of fifty-fifty gender equality.  She stressed that the impact of women in post-conflict situation and peacekeeping could not be underestimated.  The Government of Ghana supported a process that would encourage women participation in international peacekeeping efforts.  Such an initiative must begin on the national level.  In this connection, the Government of Ghana had initiated several activities to advance and empower women in the political sphere.  Women in Ghana were still disproportionately affected by poverty, and government activities, both in terms of micro-credit schemes and the social status of women, were under way.  Unfortunately, there were various forms of violence against women across the world.  Programmes had been undertaken in Ghana aimed at promoting equity, raising awareness and streamlining gender relations.

JILLIAN DEMPSTER (New Zealand, speaking on behalf of New Zealand, Australia and Canada), said that there had been good progress made in the last year in the system-wide mainstreaming of gender perspectives, particularly in the creation of the post of gender adviser in the Best Practices Unit of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  However, this post merited a higher classification than it had received.  Furthermore, although the Security Council had included references to gender in recent resolutions, the application of these had been inconsistent and it was unsure whether the two most recent missions -– to West Africa and the Great Lakes -– had included gender advisers or specialists.  The reports of those missions were silent on gender issues.

While the report of the Secretary-General listed a pleasing array of United Nations meetings that had taken gender perspectives into account, she said that the important thing was for these documents to be turned into action on the ground by United Nations policies, programmes and activities.  A good opportunity to provide more guidance in this context would be the comprehensive review and appraisal of the 1997 agreed conclusions on gender mainstreaming, which would provide the opportunity to examine the activities of United Nations programmes, departments, funds and agencies.

PEDRO OYARCE (Chile) stressed the need to mainstream gender perspectives into the United Nations system.  The Commission on the Status of Women had focused on a legal and holistic approach to ensure a modern formulation of the problems and obstacles faced by women.  The reports of the Secretary-General were tools for the implementation of a more equal system on a national and international level.  The participation of women in processes related to preserving peace was stressed.  Their participation needed to be promoted in areas of reconstruction and peacekeeping, he said.  Another sphere that needed to see increased female participation was that of women, trade and development.  Rural development was also an area where women could and must play a key role.  ECOSOC had a central role to play in promoting a gender perspective in economic and social fields.

VLADIMIR ZHEGLOV (Russian Federation) said that the initiative adopted in the area of social development and the objectives formulated in the social section of the Millennium Declaration constituted important priority areas for the Russian Federation.  In order to increase the well-being of citizens, it was important to have economic growth, which necessitated socially conscious States, business sectors and civil society.  The current objectives for social development made it necessary to increase the current output of decisions in this respect at the United Nations; however, politicizing social problems would have a destructive impact on State capacity to deal with them.

On the subject of the advancement of women, he said that there were alarming trends, including the increasingly confrontational attitude of some States to use the whole series of issues surrounding women’s rights to strengthen their power roles within the United Nations.  There was also concern over the duplication of work between the Council and Commission on the Status of Women.  Ensuring sustainable social development and improving the situation of women were worldwide objectives requiring joint efforts.

PHILLIP RICHARD O.OWADE (Kenya) said that although considerable gains had been made with regard to gender mainstreaming, progress remained uneven and inequalities between women and men continued to exist for various reasons.  These included deep-rooted historical, cultural and socio-economic practices and value systems that had over time continued to influence the structure of societies and hence the relationships between women and men in terms of decision-making, power and influence sharing, as well as access to productive resources at all levels.  The greatest challenge facing Kenya today was the reduction of poverty and the achievement of rapid and sustainable economic growth and development.  The female-headed households in Kenya were generally poorer that the male-headed ones and they had limited access to basic social services and other productive resources.  Kenya had recently put in place development strategies that recognized the vital role of women as actors and effective agents of positive change.  Kenya wished to register its appreciation for the technical and financial assistance already received from their development partners including the United Nations system with regard to gender mainstreaming and called for enhanced engagement in this areas, especially at a time when Kenya was involved in major economic and social recovery efforts.

SICHAN SIV (United States) said that the benefits of education were well documented, yet more than 120 million children worldwide were not attending school and two thirds of the 850 million illiterate people worldwide were women.  A mother’s level of education was the single most important determinant of child survival; children of educated women had an increased chance of receiving better nutrition, health care and education.  For these reasons the United States had provided $232.5 million to 36 countries last year to improve their educational systems, especially in the area of educational access for girls.  Looking forward to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, he said that much remained to be done in further increasing school enrolment.  Yet, the United States believed it was possible to accomplish these goals, and that education truly empowered people in all aspects of their lives, strengthened families and allowed them to take control of their own destinies.

GEORGES MALEMPRE (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) said UNESCO’s follow-up to the Copenhagen Programme of Action and the Geneva Outcome Document emphasized endogenous capacity-building and human resource development through education at all levels and throughout life; democratic and participatory governance; the incorporation of cultural factors in development strategies; environmental protection and the harnessing of science and technology; the ethics of science; and the exercise of human rights as the guiding principles for development.  Over the past years, UNESCO had endeavoured to assist social scientists in providing adequate responses to societal issues of high complexity.  Several activities, including the Management of Social Transformation Programmes, were aiming to up-grade the potential of the social sciences on topical, infrastructure and institutional level and to spark pro-active contributions of social scientists to policy-making in order to put social sciences in the service of societal needs.

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