56th Commission for Social Development (CSocD56)
United Nations Headquarters, New York
29 January to 7 February 2018
The Commission is the advisory body responsible for the social developmentpillar of global development.
The 2018 prioritytheme was «Strategies for eradicatingpoverty to achievesustainabledevelopment for all «
This year, the CSocD56 concluded with the adoption of measures by governmentalofficials and civil society leaders, including the creation of social protection systems,thatwould help lift the millions of people still living in poverty, especiallythose in vulnerable situations. «At the global level, we have experienced impressive reductions in extremepoverty. Significantprogress has also been made in improvingaccess to schooling and healthcare, promoting the empowerment of women, youth, persons with disabilities, olderpersons and indigenous populations», said UN DeputySecretary-General Amina Mohammed at the opening of the Commission. «However, the drop in extreme povertremainsunevenacrossregions, within countries and betweenvarious social groups «shenoted.
Delegatesfromaround the world sharedtheirexperiences in combatingpovertyagainst the backdrop of both long-standing and emerging challenges, including an unprecedented global displacementcrisis, protractedconflicts and a risingtide of intolerance. Speakers alsocitedeconomic sanctions, lack of adequate support fromdevelopmentpartners, and a slow recoveryfrom the pastdecade’sfinancialcrisis as major obstacles to povertyeradication. Somepointed to risinginequality as another crucial impediment, calling for more progressive policies to distributewealth, whileothersemphasized the need to focus on key groups such as women and youth.
Amidrapidageing population growth, States must do more to combat discrimination againstelderly people and support caregivers. Against a backdrop of an ongoing «mega-trend» of ageing and itsmyriad challenges acrossmanyregions, thereis no time to waste in protecting the world’soldestpersons. Presentingfindings of the thirdreview and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, panelistspresentedregional «report cards» on gains and cited a range of concerns, including a dearth in disaggregated data, unevenprogress in implementingtargetedpolicies and recent trends in how societiestreatedtheiroldestmembers, some of whom face neglect, underemployment, poverty and alienation. Rapid ageing population growthisanothersharedconcern in someregions: in member States of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the ageing population isexpected to quadruple by 2050, representing 15% of the total population and exceeding the youth population in many States.
Boostingyouth participation in efforts to shape a better world for all based on 2030 Agenda principles was a recurrentthemeduring the Commission. Manyrepresentatives and theiryouthdelegateshighlighted pressing concerns, from clean water access to qualityeducation. Somewarned of new challenges to food and water security,giventhat by 2030 about 60% of the world’s population would live in cities, and over ½ of thoseurbandwellerswouldbeunderage 18.
In the YouthForum’sdeliberations, participants hadcalled for improving the use of science, technology and innovation, greaterinvolvent of young people at the grassrootslevel, more transparent Governments, reducing the votingage and stronger efforts to preventradicalization, amongotherthings
Representatives of NGOsadvocated for more progressive, inclusive policies an a range of critical issues, fromdisasterresilience and earlychildhoodeducation to support families and farmers.
Four draft resolutionswererecommended to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),on ageing, future workingmethods, strategies for eradicatingpoverty and Africa’sdevelopment;
The«Future organization and methods of work of the Commission for Social Development» wasapprovedwithout a vote as orallyrevised; The ECOSOC woulddecidethat, goingforward, the Commission wouldconsidera single prioritytheme at each session, leading to the proposal of an action-orientedresolution with recommendations to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It wouldalsodecidethat the 2019 prioritythemewouldbe «Adressinginequalities and challenges to social inclusion through fiscal, wage and social protection policies» , and furtherrequest the Commission to adopt a multi-year programme of work to guide its future sessions.
A draft resolutiontitled «Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’sDevelopment» was alsoapprovedwithout a vote, as orallyamended. Introducingthattext on behalf of the «Group of 77» developing countries and China, the representative of Egyptsaidongoing efforts weregiving a global impetus in the drive to leave no one behind, with developmentremaining at the core of the Group of 77. Focusing on Africa was essential, shesaid, emphasizingthatareas of focus includedhealth, clean water, sanitation and empoweringwomen and girls, with the draft resolutionemphasizing the need to scale up efforts. Despite the lack of progress in World Trade Organization discussions, the Group of 77 reiterated a call for a resumption of negociations and for Member States to enhancetheir efforts in that regard.
The Commission approved, alsowithout a vote, a draft resolutiontitled «Thirdreview and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002», by whoseterms the Council would encourage Member States to furtherstrengthentheirimplementation of that Plan.Amongotherthings, itwouldrecognize the potential of olderpersons and their essential contributions to societies and the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment’simplementation. The Council wouldalso encourage States to takeintoaccount the multidimensional nature of vulnerability of olderpersons to poverty and economicinsecurity, includingthrough the promotion of good health, care and well-being in theirimplementation of the SustainableDevelopment Goals at the national level.
Acting againwithout a vote, the Commissionapproved a draft resolutiontitled «Strategies for eradicatingpoverty to achievesustainabledevelopment for all»
In closingremarks, the Chair of the Commission, Mr NikulasHannigan (Iceland) said the session’sworkhadproceededsmoothlythanks to efforts by the Secratariat, the Vice-Chairs, a number of strongkeynote speakers and a range of otherparticipants.Over the last eightdays, the Commission hadconvened four substantive panel discussions, each of whichhad been followed by highlyintercative discussions. There hadalso been an unprecedentlyrobustlevel of participation by civil society, whose forum had been incorporated in the Commission’swork for the very first time.