Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

In progress at UNHQ

Social issues

SOC/4837

Poverty Remains World’s Biggest Challenge, Social Development Commission Chair Says as Session Concludes with Approval of 3 Texts, Election of New Vice-Chairs

The Commission for Social Development concluded its fifty-fourth session today, approving three draft resolutions for adoption by the Economic and Social Council with one on Africa’s development, traditionally endorsed by consensus, requiring a rare vote to address the United States’ concerns over language around trade issues, and more generally, “the right to development”.

SOC/4835

Ending Poverty by 2030 Depends on Social Development Commission’s Policy Guidance, Secretary-General Says as Body’s General Debate Continues

Economies must be put at the service of people, through effective integrated social policies, the United Nations Secretary-General told the Commission for Social Development today, stressing that, in a world where inequality was still too high and too few economies had attained sustainable growth, the body’s policy guidance would be critical to global efforts to end poverty by 2030.

SOC/4834

Urging Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in 2030 Agenda-Based Policies, Speakers Hail Historic Gains at Social Development Commission Discussion

There was now a common understanding that social policies inclusive of persons with disabilities were a “sound” investment in society and that their exclusion from decisions came with economic costs that countries could no longer ignore, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities told the Commission for Social Development today, outlining ways to ensure the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development built on historic gains in their recognition.

SOC/4833

Widening Inequality Stymies Efforts to Achieve Inclusive Progress, Speakers Tell Social Development Commission during General Debate on Bolstering Results

Despite progress, the development crisis continued to prevail, with the widening inequality between people and countries, delegates in the Commission for Social Development heard today, debating ways to design policies that could improve overall well-being and effectively address challenges without sacrificing the productivity that allowed their communities to advance.