Commission for Social Development

Fiftieth Session

10^th Meeting (PM)

Commission for Social Development Considers Programme Intended to Make Social

Policy Division’s Work ‘More Precise, Transparent, Measurable’

 

In a brief meeting today, the Commission for Social Development considered a proposed programme of work for the Division for Social Policy and Development for the biennium 2014-2015, which was to be “more precise, transparent, and measurable” than in previous years.

Taking up its agenda item “Programme questions and other matters”, the Commission reviewed the draft programme of work, which was transmitted in a note by the Secretary-General (document E/CN.5/2012/CRP.1) presented by Daniela Bas, Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Noting that the Division’s Strategic Framework took the Commission’s strategic vision into account, she said the proposals were based on existing mandates and there were no substantive changes.  However, the draft contained more specific details, in response to concerns expressed by Member States, and in light of the request by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) that, in the future, an attempt be made to identify objectives and expected accomplishments that were more specific to each programme.  The purpose of the Strategic Framework for the next biennium was to identify specific objectives, improve the indicators used, and overall, to be more precise and transparent than previously.

The Commission then took up the review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups, for which it had before it a draft resolution headed “Preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family” (document E/CN.5/2012/L.3).  Submitting the text on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, Algeria’s representative said the anniversary was an opportunity to “revitalize attention to the valuable objectives of the International Year of the Family”.

According to the draft — which the Commission would recommend for adoption by the Economic and Social Council — the latter would urge Member States to view 2014 as a target year by which concrete efforts would be made to improve family well-being through the implementation of effective national policies, strategies and programmes.  It would request the Commission for Social Development to hold annual reviews of preparations for the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family as part of its agenda, and of its multi-year programme of work until 2014.

By other terms, the Council would adopt the following themes to guide preparations for the anniversary:  (a) poverty eradication:  confronting family poverty and social exclusion; (b) full employment and decent work:  ensuring work-family balance; and (c) social integration:  advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity.

The Commission will reconvene at 10 a.m. Friday, 10 February, to take action on that draft resolution, as well as several others to be presented, and to close its fiftieth session.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record