Commission for Social Development

Forty-first Session

10^th Meeting (PM)

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CONCLUDES FORTY-FIRST SESSION WITH ACTION ON TEXTS

RELATED TO COOPERATION, YOUTH, DISABLED, AGEING AND FAMILY

Also Elects Bureau for Forty-Second Session

The Commission for Social Development concluded its forty-first session this afternoon with the adoption, without a vote, of five texts on national and international cooperation for social development, youth, persons with disabilities, ageing and the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004.

A functional body of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission meets annually to discuss specific themes related to social development.  The 46-member Commission is the key United Nations body for the implementation of the outcome of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development.  This year’s priority theme was national and international cooperation for social development

The text on the implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), would have the Economic and Social Council, cognizant of the link between the priorities of NEPAD and the Millennium Declaration, recommend that the Commission continue to give due prominence to the social dimensions of NEPAD in its future priority themes.

The text would also have the Council call on the Secretary-General, in his efforts to harmonize bilateral initiatives on Africa, to ensure the coordination of the work of the various United Nations bodies.  The Council would also stress the vital role of the United Nations in assisting Member States achieve the development objectives and targets of the Millennium Declaration and to mainstream them in United Nations development activities.

A text on comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, would have the Economic and Social Council request the Commission to continue to contribute to the process of a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

Further to the same text, the Council would also invite bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human rights institutions and independent experts, to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee on the convention, suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention.

Also this afternoon, the Commission adopted texts on the modalities for the review and appraisal of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, policies and programmes involving youth, and preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004.

In other action, the Commission adopted its report for the current session, which was introduced by Commission Vice-Chairperson and Rapporteur Nicole Elisha (Benin).  The Commission also adopted its provisional agenda for the forty-second session.

Prior to adopting the Commission’s agreed conclusions, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Alejandra Ayuso (Argentina), speaking in her capacity as facilitator during the negotiations, said the informal text before the Commission reflected the views of all delegations.  Conclusions of the session stressed that the issue of cooperation -- both at the national and international levels -– was centred on the concept of partnership.  The Commission, in its conclusions, had also highlighted the need to strengthen national capabilities -- particularly in developing countries -- in order to advance the social development process.  Aspects concerning a people-centred approach, the social dimension of reform and structural adjustment processes, and resources mobilization for social development were also highlighted.

The representatives of Morocco (speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Greece, United States and Israel thanked the Vice-Chairman and Facilitator for her constructive leadership during the negotiations and said that the agreed conclusions reflected the spirit of cooperation needed and appreciated within the social development process.  The representative of Israel did, however, regret the lack of emphasis in the text on the importance of factors such as tolerance.

In addition, the Commission took note of the report of the Secretary-General on preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, and a note by the Secretary transmitting the report of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.

In closing, Commission Vice-Chairman Paloma Duran (Spain) thanked all member States for their active involvement and contribution to the session.  The Commission had, this year, placed special focus on the importance of cooperation and partnerships in the process of social development.  The suggestions and the views expressed by delegations and reflected throughout the session would guide the entire United Nations in its social development agenda.

Following the closing of the session, the Commission held a short organizational meeting to elect its bureau for the next session.  Jean-Jacques Elmiger (Switzerland) was elected as Chairman, and Ivana Grollova (Czech Republic) and Darmansjah Djumala (Indonesia) were elected as two of the four vice-chairmen for the next session.  The election of the remaining two vice-chairmen from the African States and the Latin American and Caribbean States was postponed. 

Summary of Texts

A draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth (document E/CN.5/2003/L.4) would have the Economic and Social Council call on all States, United Nations bodies, and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort towards 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.

The text would also have the Council invite the General Assembly to consider devoting, at its sixtieth session in 2005, two plenary meetings to reviewing the situation of youth and achievements made in the implementation of the Programme of Action 10 years after its adoption.

Before the Commission there was also a draft resolution on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities (document E/CN.5/2003/L.5/Rev.1), which would have the Council request the Commission for Social Development to continue to contribute to the process established by General Assembly 56/168 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, by providing its views regarding social development of persons with disabilities.

Further to the same text, the Economic and Social Council would also invite bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, as well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter, to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention.

By the terms of a draft resolution on national and international cooperation for social development:  implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (document E/CN.5/2003/L.6/Rev.1), the Economic and Social Council, cognizant of the link between the priorities of the New Partnership and the Millennium Declaration, would recommend that the Commission continue to give due prominence to the social dimensions of NEPAD in its future priority themes.

The draft would also have the Council call upon the Secretary-General, in his efforts to harmonize bilateral initiatives on Africa, to ensure the coordination of the work of the various United Nations bodies.  It would also stress the vital role of the United Nations in assisting Member States achieve the development objectives and targets of the Millennium Declaration and to mainstream them in United Nations development activities.

Also according to the text, the Council would urge the international community and the United Nations system to organize support for African countries in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the Partnership.  The international community would be invited to ensure that their support for Africa is compatible with NEPAD’s principles. 

According to the terms of the draft resolution on modalities for review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, (document E/CN.5/2003/L.7), the Council would invite all actors at all levels, as appropriate, to participate in the implementation of and follow-up to the Madrid Plan of Action.  It would also invite the United Nations system to consider mainstreaming ageing in the design and implementation of their work plans.  Member States and other stakeholders would be invited to do the same in their programmes and policies.

Also, the Council would invite 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 sharing of ideas, data collection and best practices.

By the terms of the draft resolution on preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 (document E/CN.5/2003/L.8), the Assembly, recalling that one plenary meeting at its fifty-ninth session will be devoted to the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year, and building upon events to be held on 15 May 2004 on the occasion of the International Day of Families, would encourage governments to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the tenth anniversary and to integrate a family perspective in the planning process.

The Assembly would also recall its invitation to all States to set the end of 2003 as a target date for finalizing a programme for the observance of the tenth anniversary, as well as its invitation to governments to set up national coordinating committees or similar mechanisms for the anniversary.  It would also recommend that all relevant actors, including governments, civil society including relevant non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions, contribute to developing strategies and programmes to strengthen the livelihood of families.

The Assembly would, by further terms of the text, encourage United Nations agencies and bodies, including the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions, to work closely with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs on family-related issues, including by sharing experience and findings.  Recalling its invitation to the Secretary-General to launch the tenth anniversary of the Year in early December 2003, it would request him to report at its fifty-ninth session, through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council, on the final preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary at all levels.

Overview of Session

The Commission’s forty-first session was devoted to the priority theme of national and international cooperation for social development, as well as five sub-themes, including sharing of experiences and practices in social development; forging partnerships for social development; social responsibility of the private sector; impact of employment strategies on social development; and policies and role of international financial institutions and their effect on national social development strategies.  On the opening day of the two-week session, the Commission heard several presentations, including the presentations by India and Burkina Faso on the impact of social development initiatives in their countries.

During the general discussion of the priority theme, speakers stressed the importance of international partnerships for social development.  Many speakers agreed that, while governments had the primary responsibility for social

development, the private sector also had an important role.  Also highlighted during the general debate was the need for capacity-building with regard to international development and assistance.  The link between social development and economic growth was also discussed, with many speakers stressing the need to simultaneously address both issues.

Under the agenda item on the review of United Nations plans and programmes pertaining to the situation of particular social groups, the Commission reviewed the global situation of youth, preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and the review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

Background on Commission

The Commission is a functional body of the Economic and Social Council, whose 46 members are elected for four-year terms.  The mandate and the membership of the Commission were expanded following the 1995 World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen.  Since then, the Commission has been the key United Nations body in charge of follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.

The Chairman of the Commission at its forty-first session is Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury (Bangladesh).  Other members of the bureau are Ivana Grollova (Czech Republic), Alejandra Marta Ayuso (Argentina), Nicole J. Elisha (Benin) and Paloma Duran (Spain).

The current members of the Commission are:  Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bulgaria, China, Comoros, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, United States and  Viet Nam.

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