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E/2005/26

Commission for Social Development : report on the 43rd session (20 February 2004 and 9-18 February 2005)

UN Document Symbol E/2005/26
Alternate ID E/CN.5/2005/7
Convention Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Document Type Annual/Sessional Report
Session 43rd
Type Document
Description

vi, 60 p.

Subjects Sustainable Development, Persons with Disabilities, Social Integration, Poverty Mitigation, Full Employment, Equal Opportunity, AIDS Prevention

Extracted Text

E/2005/26
E/CN.5/2005/7
United Nations
Commission for
Social Development
Report on the forty-third session
(20 February 2004 and 9-18 February 2005)
Economic and Social Council
Official Records, 2005
Supplement No. 6
Commission for
Social Development
Report on the forty-third session
(20 February 2004 and 9-18 February 2005)
Economic and Social Council
Official Records, 2005
Supplement No. 6
United Nations ??New York, 2005
E/2005/26
E/CN.5/2005/7
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures.
ISSN 0251-964X

Summary
At its forty-third session, the Commission for Social Development considered
two topics under its agenda and multi-year programme of work: the priority theme,
“Review of further implementation of the World Summit for Social Development and
the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly”; and the
review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the
situation of social groups.
The Commission held a two-day high-level segment on 10 and 11 February
2005 devoted to the 10-year review of the World Summit for Social Development. It
adopted the Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Social
Development and, as mandated by the General Assembly and the Economic and
Social Council, the Declaration will be transmitted to the high-level plenary of the
Assembly, through the Council, as a contribution to the review of the United Nations
Millennium Declaration. The Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World
Summit, inter alia, reaffirmed that the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of
Action adopted by the Summit and the further initiatives for social development
adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session constitute the
basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and
international levels and recognized that the implementation of the Copenhagen
commitments and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals are mutually
reinforcing and that the Copenhagen commitments are crucial to a coherent, peoplecentred
approach to development.
As part of its high-level segment, the Commission held three simultaneous
round tables on each of the core issues addressed by the Summit, namely, poverty
eradication, promotion of full employment and fostering social integration. The
summary of these round tables by the Chairman of the Commission is contained in
the present report. The summaries by the Chairs of the relevant round tables are
contained in annexes I to III to the present report.
Also under the priority theme, the Commission held two interactive panels on
the review of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth
special session of the General Assembly. One was held with representatives of the
International Labour Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund and the other was held with Executive Secretaries of the United Nations
regional commissions. The summaries prepared by the Chairs of the panels are
contained in annexes IV and V to the present report.
Furthermore, under the priority theme, the Commission heard a presentation on
the findings of the fourth meeting of the International Forum for Social
Development. The subject of that meeting was “Equity, inequalities and
interdependence”.
The Commission also adopted a resolution on “Implementation of the social
objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)”, in which it
decided that it should continue to give prominence to the social dimensions of
NEPAD in discussing its future priority themes.
In connection with its review of plans and programmes of action pertaining to
the situation of social groups, the Commission held its general debate and a panel
discussion on youth in the context of the 10-year review of the World Programme of

Action for Youth and the upcoming five-year review of the Millennium Development
Goals. The tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Programme of Action provides
an opportunity to review the global situation of young people and to reaffirm efforts
to address priority areas. A panel discussion, “Working with Young People on
Common Goals”, was held. The Chairman’s summary of the discussion is contained
in annex VI to the present report.
Regarding older persons, during its general debate the Commission heard calls
for overcoming obstacles to the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action on
Ageing. With regard to the family, numerous countries described activities related to
the recent observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family.
As to persons with disabilities, the Commission recommended to the Economic
and Social Council the adoption of two draft resolutions. In the first, on further
promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities
and protection of their human rights, the Commission recommends that the Council
decide to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the
Commission for Social Development through 31 December 2008 to further the
promotion and monitoring of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and request the Special Rapporteur to
submit an annual report.
In the second draft resolution, on the comprehensive and integral international
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
the Commission recommends that the Council request the Commission for Social
Development to continue to contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft
convention, welcome the contributions of the Special Rapporteur to the process of
elaboration of a draft convention, request the Special Rapporteur to contribute
further to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and 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 continue their
active participation and contributions to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee.
In response to General Assembly resolution 57/270 B, in which the Assembly
requested each functional commission to examine its methods of work in order to
better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations
conferences and summits, the Commission adopted a decision in which it decided
that beginning with its forty-fifth session, its work will be organized in a series of
two-year action-oriented implementation cycles, alternating with a review segment
and a policy segment. It further decided that in its sessions, the Commission will also
continue to review plans and programmes of action pertaining to social groups,
including in relation to the priority theme. Finally, the Commission decided that at its
forty-fourth session, it should further consider its methods of work, including the
nature of its outcomes, the inclusion of emerging issues within its programme of
work and the choice of themes for the 2007/2008 cycle.
Concerning the agenda item entitled “Programme questions and other matters”,
the draft programme of work for the biennium 2006-2007 and the programme
performance and implementation for the biennium 2002-2003 for the Division for
Social Policy and Development were presented to the Commission for its
information. The Commission also took note of the report of the Board of the United
Nations Research Institute for Social Development on the work of the Institute
v
during the period 2003-2004 and nominated, for confirmation by the Economic and
Social Council, two candidates for membership in the Board.
Finally, the Commission recommended that the Economic and Social Council
approve the provisional agenda and documentation for its forty-fourth session in
2006.

Contents
Chapter Page
I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention . . . . 1
A. Outcome of the high-level plenary segment on the implementation of the Copenhagen
Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special
session of the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
B. Draft resolutions for adoption by the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
C. Draft decision for adoption by the Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
D. Decision calling for action by the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
E. Resolution and decision brought to the attention of the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
II. Organizational matters: review of the methods of work of the Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
III. Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special
session of the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
IV. Programme questions and other matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
V. Provisional agenda for the forty-fourth session of the Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
VI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-third session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
VII. Organization of the session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
A. Opening and duration of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
B. Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
C. Election of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
D. Agenda and organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
E. Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Annexes
I. Conclusions of the high-level round table on the eradication of poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
II. Conclusions of the high-level round table on promoting full employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
III. Conclusions of the high-level round table on fostering social integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
IV. Summary of the panel discussion with the International Labour Organization, the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
V. Summary of the panel discussion with the Executive Secretaries of the regional commissions. 53
VI. Summary of the panel discussion entitled “Working with young people on common goals” . . . 56
VII. List of documents before the Commission at its forty-third session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

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Chapter I
Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social
Council or brought to its attention
A. Outcome of the high-level plenary segment on the implementation
of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and
the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the
General Assembly
1. The Commission for Social Development, in accordance with Economic and
Social Council resolution 2004/58 of 23 July 2004, requests the Council to transmit
to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, including to the high-level event of
the Assembly on the review of the Millennium Declaration, the following
Declaration, adopted by the Commission at its forty-third session:
Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for
Social Development
We, the representatives of Governments gathering at the forty-third session of
the Commission for Social Development in New York on the occasion of the tenth
anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen in
1995, in the context of the review of the outcome of the Summit and the twentyfourth
special session of the General Assembly and its contribution to the high-level
plenary meeting for the review of the Millennium Declaration, to be held from 14 to
16 September 2005,
1. Reaffirm that the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action
adopted by the Summit and the further initiatives for social development adopted by
the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session constitute the basic
framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and
international levels;
2. Recognize that the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and
the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the Millennium Declaration, are mutually reinforcing and that the
Copenhagen commitments are crucial to a coherent, people-centred approach to
development;
3. Stress that policies and programmes designed to achieve poverty
eradication should include specific measures to foster social integration, including
by providing marginalized socio-economic sectors and groups with equal access to
opportunities;
4. Reaffirm that an employment strategy which aims to promote full, freely
chosen and productive employment with full respect for fundamental principles and
rights at work under conditions of equity, equality, security and dignity should
constitute a fundamental component of any development strategy. We further
reaffirm that macroeconomic policies should, inter alia, support employment
creation. The social impact and dimension of globalization deserve further attention;

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5. Recommit to promoting social integration by fostering societies that are
stable, safe and just and that are based on the promotion and protection of all human
rights, as well as on non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for diversity, equality of
opportunity, solidarity, security and participation of all people, including
disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons;
6. Reaffirm the importance of promoting and attaining the goals of universal
and equitable access to quality education, the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health and the access of all to primary health care as part of the effort to
eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social
integration. We also recognize the continued need to address the impact of
HIV/AIDS and other major infectious diseases on social and economic
development;
7. Recognize that gender equality and the full participation of women in
society are integral to building a society for all and must be at the centre of all
economic and social development. We recommit ourselves to the urgent goal of
achieving gender equality, to eliminating discrimination against women and to
ensuring their full participation in all areas of life and at all levels;
8. Reaffirm that enhanced international cooperation and action at the
national level are essential to the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration
and Programme of Action. We underline the importance of adopting effective
measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts
of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable
development, poverty eradication and strengthening of their democratic systems. We
reaffirm that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and
social development and that national policies have the leading role in the
development process. We also reaffirm that good governance is essential to
sustainable development;
9. Recognize that ten years after Copenhagen, despite the efforts made and
progress achieved in economic and social development, the situation of many
developing countries, particularly in Africa and the least developed countries as
well as countries with economies in transition, requires further attention and action.
We renew our commitment to support national efforts to promote a favourable
environment for social and economic development, including the provision of
technical and financial assistance, as appropriate, including through regional and
other initiatives such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development;
10. Dedicate ourselves, a decade after Copenhagen, on the basis of our
common pursuit of social development, to building solidarity, and renew our
invitation to all people in all countries and in all walks of life, as well as the
international community, to join in realizing our shared vision for a more just and
equitable world. Therefore, we reaffirm our will and commitment to continue
implementing the Declaration and Programme of Action, in particular to eradicate
poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration to
achieve stable, safe and just societies for all.

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B. Draft resolutions for adoption by the Council
2. The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and
Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolutions:
Draft resolution I
Further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities and protection of their human
rights*
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling General Assembly resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which
the Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons, 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 56/168 of 19 December
2001, by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, 58/132 of 22 December 2003 and 59/198 of
20 December 2004, as well as Assembly decision 59/521 of 20 December 2004 on
the issue of the proposed supplement to the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,
Recalling its resolutions 2002/26 of 24 July 2002 and 2004/15 of 21 July 2004
on further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with
disabilities and protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities,
Encouraged by the elaboration of a convention carried out in the Ad Hoc
Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the
Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities,
Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective strategies and policies to
promote the rights and the full and effective participation of persons with
disabilities in economic, social, cultural and political life on the basis of equality in
order to achieve a society for all,
Noting with satisfaction that the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities play an increasingly important role in the
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,
Noting with grave concern that persons with disabilities are, in some
circumstances, among the poorest of the poor and that they continue to be excluded
from the benefits of development, such as education and access to gainful
employment,
Encouraging States to further participate actively in international cooperation
for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,
1. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the
Commission for Social Development, and takes note of her report;1
__________________
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 39-42.
1 See E/CN.5/2005/5.

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2. Urges Governments, the Secretary-General, intergovernmental
organizations and non-governmental organizations, and invites relevant human
rights treaty bodies, relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system,
including the Bretton Woods institutions, multilateral development agencies and
regional commissions, to create greater awareness and support for the further
implementation of the Standard Rules, to work closely with the United Nations
programme on persons with disabilities, to promote the enjoyment of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities and to improve
consultation, exchange of information and coordination;
3. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and the
private sector to continue to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary Fund on
Disability in order to support the activities of the Special Rapporteur as well as new
and expanded initiatives to strengthen national capacities for equalization of
opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities;
4. Decides to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur through
31 December 2008 to further the promotion and monitoring of the Standard Rules in
accordance with the provisions set down in section 4 of the Standard Rules,
including the human rights dimensions of disability;
5. Requests the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for
Social Development to take into account the general ideas contained in the proposed
supplement to the Standard Rules2 in the accomplishment of her mandate;
6. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to participate in and
contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity
of Persons with Disabilities;
7. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an annual report on the
monitoring of the implementation of the Standard Rules to the Commission for
Social Development.
Draft resolution II
Comprehensive and integral international convention to protect
and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities*
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by
which the Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of
all Member States and observers of the United Nations, to consider proposals for a
comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the
rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on the holistic approach in the
work carried out in the fields of social development, human rights and nondiscrimination
and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on
Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development,
__________________
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 43-47.
2 E/CN.5/2002/4, annex.

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Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/14 of 21 July
2004 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
Welcoming the important contributions made so far to the work of the Ad Hoc
Committee by all stakeholders,
Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for their full enjoyment to be
guaranteed to persons with disabilities, without discrimination,
Convinced of the contribution that a convention will make in this regard, and
welcoming the firm support of the international community for such a convention
and the continued engagement in its elaboration,
Recognizing the strong commitment and the positive steps taken by
Governments to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities, including through collaboration and cooperation at the regional and
international levels, with the aim of strengthening national capacities and supporting
national efforts in order to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities
in all regions,
1. Welcomes the important progress achieved so far in the negotiation of a
draft convention, and invites Member States and observers to continue to participate
actively and constructively in the Ad Hoc Committee, with a view to an early
conclusion of a draft text of a convention in order to present it to the General
Assembly, as a matter of priority, for adoption;
2. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to
contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft international convention, bearing
in mind its area of expertise and the experience in the implementation of the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities3
and the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;4
3. Welcomes the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the
Commission to the process of elaboration of a draft convention, and requests the
Special Rapporteur to contribute further to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee,
drawing from her experience in the monitoring of the Standard Rules by, inter alia,
providing her views on the elements to be considered in a draft international
convention;
4. Requests the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat, through its Division for Social Policy and Development, to continue to
support the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in collaboration with the Special
Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, through, inter
alia, the provision of information on issues related to a draft international
convention and the promotion of awareness of the work of the Ad Hoc Committee,
from within existing resources;
5. Underlines the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination
between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and
the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in order to provide technical support
__________________
3 General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex.
4 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendations I (IV).

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to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 59/198 of 20 December 2004;
6. Invites bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system to
continue to participate, as appropriate, in the Ad Hoc Committee and to contribute
to its work;
7. Invites non-governmental organizations, national disability and human
rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter to continue
their active participation and contributions to the Ad Hoc Committee, and
encourages the relevant bodies of the United Nations to continue to promote and
support such active participation of civil society, in accordance with General
Assembly decision 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and Assembly resolution 57/229 of
18 December 2002;
8. Invites Governments, civil society and the private sector to contribute to
the voluntary fund established by the General Assembly to support the participation
of non-governmental organizations and experts from developing countries, in
particular from least developed countries, in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely to nongovernmental
organizations all available information on accreditation procedures,
modalities and supportive measures for their participation in the work of the Ad Hoc
Committee, as well as the criteria for the financial assistance that is available
through the voluntary fund;
10. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure reasonable accessibility
to facilities and documentation at the United Nations for all persons with
disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
11. Requests the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur to report to
the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fourth session, on the
implementation of the present resolution.
Draft resolution III
Future organization and methods of work of the Commission for
Social Development
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which
the Assembly requested each functional commission of the Economic and Social
Council to examine its methods of work in order to better pursue the implementation
of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, and to report
to the Council no later than 2005 on the outcome of that examination,
Recalling also the primary responsibility of the Commission for Social
Development for the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and

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the review of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action5 and the
outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,6
1. Recognizes that the organization of work of the Commission for Social
Development should contribute to advancing the implementation of the Copenhagen
Declaration and Programme of Action5 and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special
session of the General Assembly,6 bearing in mind links with the internationally
agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations
Millennium Declaration;7
2. Decides that in order to fulfil its mandate, beginning with its forty-fifth
session, the work of the Commission will be organized in a series of two-year
action-oriented implementation cycles, which will include a review segment and a
policy segment and that the Commission should strengthen the connection between
its review of implementation and its policy recommendations;
3. Also decides that in its sessions, the Commission will also continue to
review plans and programmes of action pertaining to social groups, including in
relation to the priority theme;
4. Decides further that in its review of the implementation of the
Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome of the twentyfourth
special session of the General Assembly, the Commission should emphasize
increased exchange of national, regional and international experiences, focused and
interactive dialogues among experts and practitioners, and sharing of best practices
and lessons learned;
5. Decides that the Commission should invite all relevant stakeholders to
continue to participate in its work at an appropriately high level;
6. Invites the regional commissions, in collaboration with the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, to consider organizing regional
meetings and activities, as necessary and appropriate, in order to contribute to the
work of the Commission, in collaboration, as appropriate, with other regional and
subregional intergovernmental organizations and bodies and the regional offices of
funds and programmes of the United Nations system;
7. Decides that the Commission at its forty-fourth session should consider
further its methods of work, bearing in mind its own experiences and those of other
functional commissions, and that its consideration should include the nature of its
outcomes, negotiated and otherwise, the inclusion of emerging issues within its
programme of work and the choice of themes for the 2007/2008 cycle;
8. Also decides that the Commission, at its forty-sixth session, should
review the functioning of the two-year review and policy cycle, in order to ensure
that this approach enhances the effectiveness and functioning of the Commission.
__________________
5 Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II.
6 General Assembly resolution S-24/2, annex.
7 See General Assembly resolution 55/2.

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C. Draft decision for adoption by the Council
3. The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and
Social Council the adoption of the following draft decision:
Report of the Commission for Social Development on its fortythird
session and provisional agenda and documentation for the
forty-fourth session of the Commission
The Economic and Social Council:
(a) Takes note of the report of the Commission for Social Development on
its forty-third session;
(b) Approves the provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-fourth
session of the Commission as set out below:
Provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-fourth session
of the Commission
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
3. Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the twentyfourth
special session of the General Assembly:
(a) Priority theme: review of the first United Nations Decade for the
Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006);
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on the review of the first United Nations
Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)
(b) Review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action
pertaining to the situation of social groups:
(i) World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;
(ii) World Programme of Action for Youth;
(iii) Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002;
(iv) Family issues, policies and programmes.
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General: proposals for conducting the review and
appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002
4. Programme questions and other matters.
5. Provisional agenda for the forty-fifth session of the Commission.
6. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-fourth session.

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D. Decision calling for action by the Council
4. The following decision adopted by the Commission is brought to the attention
of the Economic and Social Council:
Decision 43/101
Nomination of members of the Board of the United Nations
Research Institute for Social Development
The Commission for Social Development decides to nominate, for
confirmation by the Economic and Social Council, the following six candidates for
membership in the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social
Development:
(a) Tony Atkinson (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland),
Anna Hedbord (Sweden), Amina Mama (Nigeria) and Adele Smith Simmons
(United States of America) for a two-year term beginning on 1 July 2005 and
expiring on 30 June 2007;
(b) Christian Comeliau (Belgium/France) and Asma Jahangir (Pakistan) for a
four-year term beginning on 1 July 2005 and expiring on 30 June 2009.
The Commission also decides to postpone the nomination of one candidate to
the Board to complete the term of office of a deceased member, Salma Sobhan
(Bangladesh), for a term beginning on the date of confirmation by the Economic and
Social Council and expiring on 30 June 2007.
E. Resolution and decision brought to the attention of the Council
5. The following resolution and decision adopted by the Commission are brought
to the attention of the Economic and Social Council:
Resolution 43/1
Implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development
The Commission for Social Development,
Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen
from 6 to 12 March 1995,8 and the twenty-fourth special session of the General
Assembly, entitled “World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving
social development for all in a globalizing world”, held in Geneva from 26 June to
1 July 2000,6
Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration7 of 8 September 2000
and the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development9 of 16 September 2002 and General Assembly resolution 57/7 of
__________________
8 Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8).
9 See General Assembly resolution 57/2.

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4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New
Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 58/233 of 23 December 2003, in which
the Assembly, inter alia, welcomed the creation of the Office of the Special Adviser
on Africa and requested the Secretary-General to continue to take measures to
strengthen the Office to enable it to fulfil its mandate effectively,
Welcoming the conclusions of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on
Employment and Poverty Alleviation, held in Ouagadougou in September 2004,
Welcoming the adoption of the chapter entitled “Sustainable development for
Africa” in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development,10
Cognizant of the link between the priorities of the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in which the
international community committed itself to addressing the special needs of Africa,
and of the need to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including
those set out in the Millennium Declaration,
Bearing in mind the reports of the Secretary-General of 20 June 199511 and
12 June 200112 submitted to high-level segments of the Economic and Social
Council devoted to the consideration of the development of Africa,
Bearing in mind also that, while the primary responsibility for the
development of Africa remains with African countries, the international community
has a stake in it and in supporting the efforts of those countries in that regard,
Acknowledging the importance of various initiatives, such as the Tokyo
International Conference on African Development process and its Tokyo
International Conference on African Development-Asia — Africa Trade and
Investment Conference, the Africa Action Plan of the Group of Eight, initiated in
Genoa, Italy, as developed as the summit of the Group, held in Kananaskis, Canada
in June 2002, and furthered at their subsequent summits, held in Evian, France, in
2003 and at Sea Island, United States of America, in 2004, as well as the Africa
Partnership Forum in support of the implementation of the New Partnership,
emphasizing, in this regard, the importance of effective coordination of such
initiatives for Africa, and looking forward to the forthcoming report of the
Economic Commission for Africa,
Underlining the fact that international cooperation based on a spirit of
partnership and solidarity among all countries contributes to create an enabling
environment so as to achieve the goals of social development,
Recognizing the urgent need to continue to assist African countries in their
efforts to diversify their economies as well as enhance capacity-building and
promote regional cooperation, and in this context noting the outcome of the Fourth
__________________
10 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa,
26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and
corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex.
11 A/50/190-E/1995/.
12 E/2001/83.

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Pan-African Conference of Ministers of Public Service, held in Stellenbosch, South
Africa, from 4 to 7 May 2003,
Recognizing also the serious challenges facing social development in Africa,
in particular illiteracy, poverty and HIV/AIDS, malaria and other communicable
diseases,
1. Emphasizes that economic development, social development and
environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components
of sustainable development;
2. Recognizes that while social development is primarily the responsibility
of Governments, international cooperation and assistance are essential for the full
achievement of that goal;
3. Reiterates the importance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including the right to development;
4. Reaffirms the need to strengthen, inter alia, in a spirit of partnership,
international, regional and subregional cooperation for social development and
implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development8 and
the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled “World Summit
for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a
globalizing world”;6
5. Reaffirms also the need for effective partnership and cooperation
between Governments and the relevant actors of civil society for the achievement of
social development;
6. Welcomes the New Partnership for Africa’s Development9 as a socioeconomic
programme of the African Union that embodies the vision and
commitment of all African Governments and peoples;
7. Welcomes also the commitment of African countries and the African
Union to peace, security, democracy, good governance, human rights and sound
economic management, as well as their commitment to taking concrete measures to
strengthen the mechanism for conflict prevention, management and resolution as
embodied in the New Partnership, as an essential basis for sustainable development
in Africa, welcomes further the role played by regional initiatives and bodies in this
regard, and in this context welcomes the ongoing efforts of African countries to
develop further the African peer review mechanism, which is an important and
innovative feature of the New Partnership;
8. Stresses the need for renewed and political will at the national, regional
and international levels to invest in people and their well-being so as to achieve the
objectives of social development;
9. Emphasizes that democracy, respect for all human rights and fundamental
freedoms, transparent and accountable governance, and administration in all sectors
of society, as well as effective participation by civil society, are among the
indispensable foundations for the realization of social and people-centred
sustainable development;
10. Emphasizes also the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development to eradicate poverty in Africa and to place African countries, both

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individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development, thus
facilitating Africa’s participation in the globalization process;
11. Underlines the need for effective partnership and cooperation between
Governments and the relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental
organizations and the private sector, in the implementation of and follow-up to the
Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for
Social Development5 and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly
and the need for ensuring, in the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development, their involvement in the planning, elaboration, implementation and
evaluation of social policies at the national, regional and international levels;
12. Emphasizes the important role of regional and subregional initiatives and
bodies in the process of the implementation of the programmes and initiatives of the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development, and calls for increased international
support to enhance their capacities and strengthen regional integration;
13. Welcomes with appreciation actions already under way at the regional
level to organize the activities of the United Nations system around thematic
clusters covering the priority areas of the New Partnership, and in that regard urges
the strengthening of that process as a means of enhancing the coordinated response
of the United Nations system in support of the Partnership;
14. Notes the growing collaboration among the entities of the United Nations
system in support of the New Partnership, and requests the Secretary-General to
promote greater coherence in the work of the United Nations system in support of
the Partnership, based on the agreed clusters;
15. Stresses, in that context, the vital need for the United Nations to assist
Member States to achieve the development objectives and targets of the United
Nations Millennium Declaration7 and to mainstream them in an integrated and
coordinated manner in United Nations development activities;
16. Recognizes that illiteracy, poverty, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
communicable diseases add challenges to Africa’s development, and urges the
international community to continue to increase its assistance to African countries in
their efforts to address these challenges;
17. Welcomes the Maputo Declaration on the integration of the secretariat of
the New Partnership for Africa’s Development in the African Union structures;
18. Welcomes also the entry into force of several institutions of the African
Union foreseen in the Constitutive Act, notably the Pan-African Parliament, the
Peace and Security Council and the African Court of Human and People’s Rights,
which will be essential for the promotion of social development and strengthening
of democracy in Africa, and looks forward to the rapid entry into force of the
Economic, Social and Cultural Council;
19. 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 for Africa’s Development in the new spirit of
partnership;

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20. Invites the international financial institutions to ensure that their support
for Africa is compatible with the principles, objectives and priorities of the New
Partnership in the new spirit of partnership;
21. Urges the United Nations system, in coordinating its activities at the
national, regional and global levels, to foster a coherent response, including through
close collaboration with bilateral donors, in the implementation of the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development in response to the needs of individual
countries within the larger framework of the New Partnership;
22. Welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to invite the Economic
and Social Council, pursuant to its role in respect of system-wide coordination, to
consider how to support the objectives contained in General Assembly resolution
57/7 of 4 November 2002;
23. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in his efforts to harmonize current
initiatives on Africa, to enhance coordination between the United Nations and its
specialized agencies, programmes and funds;
24. Acknowledges reflection by the Secretary-General of the social
dimensions of the New Partnership in his report on the priority theme “National and
international cooperation for social development” to the Commission for Social
Development at its forty-first session13 and invites him to continue to reflect those
dimensions in future reports submitted to the Commission on its priority themes;
25. Notes with satisfaction the work in progress in the five clusters of United
Nations agencies established by the United Nations system with a view to
operationalizing the renewed interaction, collaboration and cooperation with Africa
on the established clusters (infrastructure: water and sanitation, energy, transport,
and information and communication technologies; governance, peace and security;
agriculture, trade and market access; environment, population and urbanization; and
human resources development, employment and HIV/AIDS);
26. Acknowledges the linkage between the work of the Committee of African
Ministers of Public Service and the programmatic thrust of the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development;
27. Calls upon the international development and continental development
partners actively to support the governance and public administration programme of
the Conference of Ministers of Public Service through the provision of critical
resources and collaboration in building the capacity of local institutions and their
staff to ensure sustainability into the future;
28. Decides that the Commission for Social Development should continue to
give prominence to the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development and to consider the New Partnership during the discussions of its
future priority themes at its forty-fourth session.
__________________
13 E/CN.5/2003/5 and Corr.1.

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Decision 43/102
Documents considered by the Commission for Social Development
at its forty-third session
The Commission for Social Development takes note of the following
documents which were before it at its forty-third session:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the review of methods of work of the
Commission;14
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on review of further implementation of
the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth
special session of the General Assembly;15
(c) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Board of the
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development on the work of the
Institute during 2003 and 2004.16
__________________
14 E/CN.5/2005/2.
15 E/CN.5/2005/6.
16 E/CN.5/2005/3.

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Chapter II
Organizational matters: review of the methods of work of
the Commission
1. The Commission considered the review of its methods of work under agenda
item 2 at its 11th and 15th meetings, on 15 and 18 February 2005. It had before it
the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the methods of work of the
Commission for Social Development (document E/CN.5/2005/2).
2. At the 11th meeting, on 15 February, the Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat made an introductory statement.
3. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the
United States of America and Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), and the observer
for Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union).
Action taken by the Commission
Future organization and methods of work of the Commission for Social
Development
4. At its 15th meeting, on 18 February, the Commission had before it a draft
resolution entitled “Future organization and methods of work of the Commission for
Social Development”, which was circulated in an informal paper submitted by the
Chairman on the basis of informal consultations.
5. At the same meeting, the Commission recommended the draft resolution for
adoption by the Economic and Social Council (see chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution III).
Report of the Secretary-General on the review of methods of work of the
Commission for Social Development
6. At its 15th meeting, on 18 February, the Commission took note of the report of
the Secretary-General on the review of methods of work of the Commission for
Social Development (E/CN.5/2005/2) (see chap. I, sect. E, decision 43/102).

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Chapter III
Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and
the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly
1. The Commission considered item 3 of its agenda (Follow-up to the World
Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the
General Assembly) at its 2nd to 10th, 13th and 15th meetings, from 9 to 11 and on
14, 15, 17 and 18 February 2005.
Action taken by the Commission under agenda item 3 as a whole
Implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development
2. At the 13th meeting, on 17 February, the representative of South Africa, on
behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group
of 77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Implementation of the social
objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”, which was circulated
in an informal paper.
3. At the 15th meeting, on 18 February, the Commission had before it a revised
text of the draft resolution, also circulated in an informal paper. Following
statements by the representatives of South Africa (on behalf of the States Members
of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China) and the
United States of America, the Commission adopted the revised text of the draft
resolution, as corrected during the discussion (see chap. I, sect. E, resolution 43/1).
A. Priority theme: review of further implementation of the World
Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twentyfourth
special session of the General Assembly (agenda item 3 (a))
4. The Commission considered agenda item 3 (a) at its 2nd to 7th, 9th and 15th
meetings, from 9 to 11, 14 and 18 February 2005, including a series of high-level
plenary meetings. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on review of further implementation of
the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth
special session of the General Assembly (E/CN.5/2005/6);
(b) Statement submitted by the International Federation on Ageing, a nongovernmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/1);
(c) Statement submitted by Franciscans International, a non-governmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
and Dominican Leadership Conference, International Association of Schools of
Social Work, International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the
Presentation, Lutheran World Federation, and VIVAT International, nongovernmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/3);

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(d) Statement submitted by the Elizabeth Seton Federation, a nongovernmental
organization in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/4);
(e) Statement submitted by Franciscans International, a non-governmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
American Psychological Association, Pax Christi International, Society for the
Psychological Study of Social Issues, and World Youth Alliance, non-governmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
and International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, a nongovernmental
organization on the Roster (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/5);
(f) Statement submitted by AARP, Congregations of St. Joseph, Franciscans
International, International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres,
and International Movement ATD Fourth World, non-governmental organizations in
general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council; and Christian
Children’s Fund, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd,
Dominican Leadership Conference, Elizabeth Seton Federation, Federation of
Associations of Former International Civil Servants, International Association of
Charities, International Association of Schools of Social Work, International
Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation, Maryknoll Sisters of
St. Dominic, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas,
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries, and
VIVAT International, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status
with the Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/6);
(g) Statement submitted by International Movement ATD Fourth World, a
non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council; and Baha’i International Community, and Sisters of Notre Dame de
Namur, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/7);
(h) Statement submitted by Elizabeth Seton Federation and International
Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation, non-governmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2005/NGO/8);
(i) Statement submitted by the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the
Good Shepherd, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with
the Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/9);
(j) Statement submitted by Congregations of Saint Joseph, a nongovernmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council; and School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Sisters of Mercy of the
Americas, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/10);
(k) Statement submitted by Christian Children’s Fund, Congregation of Our
Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, nongovernmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council; and Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a non-governmental organization
on the Roster (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/11);

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(l) Statement submitted by International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions, a non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/12);
(m) Statement submitted by the Foundation for the Rights of the Family, a
non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/13);
(n) Statement submitted by the American Psychological Association, Center
for Migration Studies of New York, Child Welfare League of America, Greek
Orthodox Archdiocesan Council of North and South America, International Council
of Psychologists, International Federation for Home Economics, International
Federation of Social Workers, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues,
and World Federation of the Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, non-governmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2005/NGO/14);
(o) Statement submitted by International Movement ATD Fourth World, a
non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/15);
(p) Statement submitted by HelpAge International, a non-governmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2005/NGO/16).
5. At the 2nd meeting, on 9 February, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs addressed the Commission.
6. At the same meeting, the Director of the Division for Social Policy and
Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat
made an introductory statement under the sub-item.
7. Also at the 2nd meeting, the Chairperson of the NGO Committee on Social
Development made a statement on the outcome of the Civil Society Forum.
8. At the same meeting, the Commission held a panel discussion under the subitem,
followed by an interactive dialogue with the panellists. Presentations were
made by Gerry Rodgers, Director of the Policy Integration Department,
International Labour Organization; Mark W. Plant, Senior Adviser, Policy
Development and Review Department, International Monetary Fund; and Ian
Johnson, Vice-President, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development,
World Bank.
9. A summary of the panel discussion is contained in annex IV to the present
report.
10. At the 3rd meeting, on 9 February, the Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development made a statement regarding the outcome of the
International Forum for Social Development.
11. At the same meeting, the Commission heard presentations by, and held a panel
discussion and interactive dialogue with, the Executive Secretaries of the Economic
Commission for Europe, the Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic
Commission for Africa and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

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12. A summary of the panel discussion is contained in annex V to the present
report.
High-level plenary segment
13. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/58, the
Commission convened high-level plenary meetings under sub-item 3 (a), which
were open to the participation of all States Members of the United Nations and
observers.
14. At the 4th meeting, on 10 February, the Chairman opened the high-level
plenary segment.
15. The Deputy Secretary-General addressed the Commission.
16. At the 5th meeting, on 10 February, statements were made by: Marie-Josée
Jacobs, Minister of Family and of Integration of Luxembourg (on behalf of the
European Union); Stafford Neil, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United
Nations (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China); Zola S. T. Skweyiya, Minister for
Social Development of South Africa; Qiao Zonghuai, Vice Minister of Foreign
Affairs of China; Gholamali Khossro, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Legal
and International Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Hussain Yousif Al-Molla,
Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing of Qatar;
Mikael Sjöberg, State Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden;
Seamus Brennan, Minister for Social and Family Affairs of Ireland; Abderrahim
Harouchi, Minister for Social Development, Solidarity and Family of Morocco;
Samuel Pawironadi, Minister of Social Affairs and Housing of Suriname (on behalf
of the Caribbean Community); Juli Minoves-Triquell, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Andorra; Tony Ianno, Minister of State (Families and Caregivers) of Canada; Ana
María Romero-Lozada, Minister of Women and Social Development of Peru;
Márcia Lopes, Deputy Minister for Social Development of Brazil; Paul Mangwana,
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe; Chris Pond,
Employment Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
Josefina Vazquez Mota, Minister for Social Development of Mexico; Mustapha
Abdul-Hamid, Minister of Social Development of Trinidad and Tobago; Amparo
Valcarce García, Secretary of State for Social Services, Family and the Disabled of
Spain; Riad Abukaraki, Minister for Social Development of Jordan; Samiollah
Lauthan, Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity, Senior Citizen’s Welfare
and Reform Institution of Mauritius (on behalf of the South African Development
Community).
17. At the 6th meeting, on 11 February, statements were made by: Nirupam Sen,
Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations; Aldo Mantovani, Deputy
Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; Amina El Guindy, Minister
of Insurance and Social Affairs of Egypt; Yasna Provoste, Minister of Planning and
Cooperation of Chile; David Faiti, Minister of Economic Planning and Development
of Malawi; Juma A. Kapuya, Minister for Labour, Youth Development and Sports of
the United Republic of Tanzania; Eugenia Kistruga, First Deputy Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova; Sichan Siv, Representative to the
Economic and Social Council at the Permanent Mission of the United States of
America to the United Nations; Ambrose Masalila, Assistant Minister, Ministry of
Local Government of Botswana; Enrique Deibe, Secretary of Employment, Ministry

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of Labour, Employment and Social Security of Argentina (on behalf of the Rio
Group); Muhammad Humayun Farshori, Secretary, Planning and Development
Division of Pakistan; Peter Maurer, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the
United Nations; Baki Ilkin, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United
Nations; Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, Secretary of the Pontifical Council of Justice
and Peace, of the Holy See; Teruneh Zenna, Deputy Permanent Representative of
Ethiopia to the United Nations; Susanto Sutoyo, Director General for Multilateral
Economic, Financial and Development Affairs of Indonesia; Abdallah Baali,
Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations.
18. At the 7th meeting, on 11 February, statements were made by: George W.
Talbot, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations;
Anabella Lardé de Palomo, Under-Secretary of the Technical Presidential Office of
El Salvador; Gulshara N. Abdykalikova, Vice-Minister of Labour and Social
Development of Kazakhstan; Djibril Tangara, Minister for Social Development,
Solidarity and Ageing of Mali; Chem Widhya, Permanent Representative of
Cambodia to the United Nations; Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner for
Employment, Social Affairs and Equality of the European Community; Intisar
Al-Wazir, Minister for Social Affairs of Palestine; Teodoras Medaiskis, Adviser to
the Minister for Social Security and Labour of Lithuania; Musa Mohammed,
Minister of Sports and Social Development of Nigeria; Fayssal Mekdad, Permanent
Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations; Carlos Alvarado,
Vice-Minister for Social Development of Venezuela; Orlando Requeijo Gual,
Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations; Kanda Vajrabhaya,
Inspector-General, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of
Thailand; Nino Žganec, Secretary-General for Social Welfare of Croatia; Olga
Samarina, Deputy Director, Department of Ministry of Health and Social
Development of the Russian Federation; Ilgar Mammadov, Counsellor at the
Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations; Shin Kak-Soo, Deputy
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations; Mare Lo,
Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry for Family, Social Development and
National Solidarity of Senegal; Nana Effah-Apenteng, Permanent Representative of
Ghana to the United Nations; Andrei Dapkiunas, Permanent Representative of
Belarus to the United Nations;. Shinichi Kitaoka, Deputy Permanent Representative
of Japan to the United Nations; Armen Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of
Armenia to the United Nations; Md. Zulfiqur Rahman, Counsellor at the Permanent
Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations; Mwelwa C. Musambachime,
Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations; Ahmed A. Own, Deputy
Permanent Representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations.
19. At the 9th meeting, on 14 February, statements were made by: Kyi Tun,
Deputy Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations; Kim Chang
Guk, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea to the United Nations; Samir Shakir M. Sumaida’ie, Permanent
Representative of Iraq to the United Nations; Catherine Bakang Mbock, Minister for
Social Affairs of Cameroon; Bayani S. Mercado, Deputy Permanent Representative
of the Philippines to the United Nations.
20. At the same meeting, statements were also made by: Djjankou Ndjonkou,
representative to the United Nations and Director of the International Labour
Organization; Gian Luigi Valenza, Minister Counsellor of the Sovereign Order of
Malta; Eduardo A. Doryan, Special Representative of the World Bank to the United

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Nations; Brigita Schmognerova, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission
for Europe; the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific; the Director of the New York Office of UNAIDS; Luca
Dall’Oglio, Permanent Observer for the International Organization for Migration.
21. Also at the 9th meeting, observers for the following non-governmental
organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council also
made statements: International Movement ATD Fourth World; International
Chamber of Commerce (also on behalf of the International Organization of
Employers); International Council on Social Welfare; International Federation of
Associations of the Elderly; Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues;
Triglav Circle.
Round tables
22. On 10 February, the Commission held three parallel high-level round-table
discussions on the topics of eradication of poverty, promoting employment and
fostering social integration.
23. At the 6th meeting, on 11 February, the chairpersons of the round tables
reported to the Commission on their respective discussions. Subsequently, the
Commission had before it conclusions from the chairpersons of the three roundtable
discussions, circulated in informal papers, which the Commission agreed to
include in annexes to its final report. The conclusions by the chairpersons are
contained in annexes I, II and III to the present report.
24. At its 6th meeting, the Commission also agreed to include in its final report a
summary of the round-table discussions prepared by the Chairman of the
Commission. The summary by the Chairman of the Commission is set out below:
“1. Three high-level round tables were convened on 10 February 2005, each
addressing one of the core issues of Copenhagen. The first, on eradication of
poverty, was chaired by Ana Maria Romero-Lozada, Minister of Women and
Social Development, Peru, and moderated by Professor Kaushik Basu of
Cornell University. The second, on promoting full employment, was chaired
by Aart-Jan de Geus, Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, the
Netherlands, and moderated by Allan Larsson, Member of the High-level
Panel, Youth Employment Network. The third, on fostering social integration,
was chaired by Samiollah Lauthan, Minister of Social Security, National
Solidarity, Senior Citizen’s Welfare and Reform Institution, Mauritius, and
moderated by Augusto Varas of the Ford Foundation, Chile. The following is a
brief summary of the three round tables, including some proposals that
emerged from the discussions.
Round table on eradication of poverty: summary of discussion
“2. Participants at the high-level round table on poverty eradication focused
on three broad themes: the root causes of poverty; the comprehensive approach
to poverty; and the international environment.
“3. Consensus emerged that coordinated global and national action is needed
in the fight against poverty and that to formulate effective poverty eradication
strategies, the root causes of poverty had to be recognized and understood.

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Among the wide-ranging root causes of poverty are: unequal distribution of
assets; insecurity and vulnerability; and social exclusion and powerlessness.
“4. The persistence of inequalities in income, assets and opportunities
exacerbate poverty and high unemployment rates and lack of access to
productive resources, such as land, credit, market and information, further
limit the productive capacity of the poor. Lack of access to basic services, such
as education and health care, limit the opportunities available to the poor,
while social exclusion and lack of voice prevent poor people from fully
participating in decisions that affect their lives. The vulnerability and
insecurity of poor people is magnified by weak social protection and
exacerbated by long-term civil conflict and breakdown of the rule of law.
Moreover, the HIV/AIDS pandemic confounds national efforts to eradicate
poverty by depleting the labour force and diverting valuable resources away
from economic and social development.
“5. Responding to the root causes of poverty requires the collective efforts of
Governments, international organizations, civil society and other partners, with
volunteerism and social mobilization serving as powerful partners in the fight
against poverty. Participants shared their good practices, ranging from land
reform to policies to promote sustainable livelihood and partnership with the
private sector.
“6. Poverty reduction has received increased attention nationally and
Governments have established goals and targets accordingly, with special
emphasis on promoting agriculture and sustainable rural development;
improving access to education and health, social protection and other social
services; targeting the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups; and
promoting employment opportunities. Considerations of equity and equality
need to be incorporated into all of these national strategies. Furthermore,
empowering the poor, especially women, as they constitute the bulk of the
poor, improving access to productive assets, reducing social exclusion and
vulnerabilities of disadvantaged groups and ensuring gender equality
perspective at all levels should be at the centre of a comprehensive approach to
poverty.
“7. Participants stressed the essential role of creating productive
employment, especially for young people, and generating adequate income in
the effort to reduce poverty and recommended that employment constitute a
key element of national poverty reduction strategies. In addition, the
importance of better integration and strengthening the relationship between
macroeconomic policies and social development goals was underscored.
“8. At the international level, participants recognized that poverty exists in
both developed and developing countries and poverty eradication is an ethical,
social, political and economic imperative that should be collectively addressed
by the international community. The global commitment to eradicating poverty
should be on a sustained basis and not just in response to financial
emergencies or national calamities. This commitment can take the form of debt
relief, innovative partnerships between regions and countries, including the
consultations with the private sector, and the sharing of information and best
practices for poverty eradication.

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“9. Many Member States have instituted policies and laws that ensure
government transparency and accountability. Participants agreed that while
these steps are welcome at the national level, these good practices should also
be reinforced at the regional and international levels, through the United
Nations system and regional mechanisms, to ensure durable democratic
practices that increase the political and economic participation of all segments
of society.
“10. Some proposals were made by participants, including the following:
create collective responsibility for poverty eradication at both the national and
global levels; ensure that the comprehensive approach to poverty eradication
as agreed to in Copenhagen forms the basis of the approach to address the
Millennium Development Goal to halve poverty by 2015; integrate social and
macroeconomic policies, as while economic growth is necessary, it is not
sufficient for poverty eradication; take into account the gender dimension of
poverty, particularly the feminization of poverty, when formulating strategies
and policies for the eradication of poverty; intensify efforts to address the
debilitating debt burden, particularly through debt cancellation, in order to
allow countries to redirect their scarce resources to social expenditures;
expand international and bilateral cooperation, including the transfer of
technology and the sharing of experiences and good practices for poverty
eradication; promote good governance and the rule of law in order to combat
poverty successfully.
Round table on promoting full employment: summary of discussion
“11. Participants in the high-level round table on employment addressed three
areas of concern: the economic potential of the world’s growing labour force
and how it can be viewed as a positive force; employment as the key to
development and poverty reduction; and initiatives at the global and national
levels that can make a difference in promoting full employment.
“12. Rather than viewing the increase in the world’s growing labour force as a
problem, participants focused on the strong potential that a dynamic work
force can present for economic growth and poverty reduction. Particular
attention thus should be paid to generating employment for young people,
women, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities so as to encourage
their potential and counter poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
Collecting statistics to better identify the most vulnerable groups would aid in
this endeavour. The importance of strengthening the link between education
and employment so that people become more ‘trainable and employable’,
particularly for jobs in new and emerging sectors, was also mentioned.
Transferring technology and know-how among countries could assist in this
effort. Furthermore, calls were made to expand social protection programmes,
primarily for those in less stable employment situations.
“13. The need to make employment the cornerstone of development was
stressed by many participants, who also pointed out that the centrality of
employment to poverty reduction has been lacking from international policy
discussions, with the exception of the inclusion of youth employment in the
Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals. Promoting full
and productive employment is a prerequisite for better and more equally

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distributed income, growth and development, and expanding access to quality
jobs is essential for achieving peace, stability and social cohesion. To this end,
macroeconomic policies should incorporate employment creation as a key
objective. Some participants further noted that the application of
macroeconomic policies without measuring their social impacts has led to
increased poverty and unemployment, even to the risk of social disintegration
of many societies. With regard to financing employment initiatives,
participants discussed, at the international level, re-examining official
development assistance so that it is directed at employment promotion and, at
the national level, rectifying the imbalance between taxation levels for labour
and capital.
“14. Participants emphasized the importance of advancing global initiatives
that strengthen policy coherence both nationally and internationally, especially
with regard to the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions.
On the international level, it was suggested that high-level inter-ministerial
coordinating committees be established to implement strategic plans and
actions on employment creation. It was further stated that globalization and
international trade are closely linked to the employment situation in
developing countries, with protectionist trade policies potentially leading to
job losses, particularly in agriculture, and the actions of multinational
corporations possibly compromising local labour standards. One delegation
mentioned that, in some cases, significant progress in terms of employment
creation had been made despite the imposition of punitive and discriminatory
policies. Participants also raised the issue of unsustainable external debt faced
by many developing countries and how debt servicing obligations undermine
their ability to finance investment in human capital and infrastructure, thereby
affecting economic growth and employment generation. The challenges posed
by international migration were also raised, especially the need to develop a
skills certification procedure to facilitate the employment of workers as they
cross international borders.
“15. Finally, attention was called to developing national employment plans
that support the promotion of full and productive employment, with special
attention given to the informal economy, as it comprises the majority share of
the labour force in many developing countries. The important role of the State,
in both creating and expanding employment opportunities, was also
highlighted.
“16. Some proposals were made by participants, including the following:
strengthen the link between education and employment so that people become
more ‘trainable and employable’, particularly for jobs in new and emerging
sectors; transfer technology and know-how from country to country as a means
for generating employment and fostering education and skills development;
build upon the youth employment strategy contained in the Millennium
Development Goals as a first step in strengthening and broadening the focus
towards well coordinated employment-oriented development strategies;
promote the development of quality jobs through respect for fundamental
principles and rights at work under conditions of equity, equality, security and
dignity; create national employment plans which respect fundamental
principles and rights at work, promote active labour markets and pay special
attention to vulnerable groups; intensify efforts to ‘formalize’ the informal

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economy, including initiatives to extend regulations and labour protections to
informal workers, provide credit to small and microenterprises to build up
their businesses and resolve property rights so that informal entrepreneurs can
translate their assets into capital.
Round table on fostering social integration: summary of discussion
“17. The high-level round table on social integration recognized that although
globalization can yield advantages and encourage social development, the
differing pace across countries has led to greater social exclusion. Achieving a
‘society for all’ means all members of society should enjoy full and equal
participation. Investing in social cohesion and social development was noted to
be good and productive investment and not simply a cost.
“18. Participants noted that 10 years after Copenhagen, progress in
implementing its commitments has been disappointing. The social integration
component of social development appears to have lost ground and has not been
fully integrated into the general discourse outside social development circles.
The principle of solidarity among peoples, societies and nations has eroded.
Focus on a people-centred approach, with equal opportunities for all, must be
regained and policies must address the social and economic conditions of all
people, particularly those in developing countries.
“19. It was agreed that it is essential to overcome the apparent rift between
efforts to achieve the goals of the Millennium Development Goals and the
broader Copenhagen commitments. The concept of social integration
developed at Copenhagen should be mainstreamed into efforts to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals.
“20. Participants discussed the need to eradicate poverty, noting that an
integrated approach must be pursued to promote employment and reduce
inequality. Employment, especially access to decent work, is vital for fostering
social integration. It empowers individuals and fosters social inclusion.
Education is also vital in providing people with the skills to participate in
society and engage in productive employment and thus reduces prejudice. The
education of girls is particularly important as it yields the highest return on
investment in developing countries. Investment in health is also vital for social
integration. Similarly, public health policy can directly influence social
development, combat poverty and reduce social exclusion. It was noted that
gender mainstreaming should be aggressively pursued and that women should
be protected from discrimination, violence and disease.
“21. In many countries, groups with special needs are marginalized in the
political process. Persons with disabilities, among others, require special
focus. Their integration requires legal instruments to protect them from
discrimination and ensure their rights and equal opportunities in society.
Similar protections are required for immigrants, refugees and displaced
persons. The needs of ageing populations were emphasized, particularly with
regard to pensions. If changes are not made in current systems for financing
pensions and long-term care, future generations of older persons may be left
without adequate social protection. Despite facing tremendous pressures and
undergoing significant changes, the family is essential for facilitating social
inclusion.

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“22. Participants emphasized the role of civil society in promoting a peoplecentred
approach. Since they work directly with local people, civil society
groups are often able to ensure that those who need support have access to it.
The role of the private sector was also noted. However, Governments, civil
society and the private sector all need mechanisms, networks and institutions
through which to build consensus and improve collaboration.
“23. Some proposals were made by participants, including the following:
ensure security, social justice, equal access to goods and services and equal
treatment for all people; improve public administration, including democratic
governance and the rule of law, and establish stable and transparent institutions
that guarantee and respect human rights and freedoms, and allow for broadbased
participation; improve Government coordination of ministries and
departments and promote decentralization of authority to local governments,
with allocation of sufficient resources; integrate economic and social goals and
policies, rather than focus on economic goals alone, which may lead to greater
social disparities, polarization and exclusion; ensure partnership and
coordination with all stakeholders within the context of a Government-created
regulatory framework for cooperation; recognize the role of the family and
home environment for integrating and supporting vulnerable members and
provide families with requisite resources, skills and knowledge; provide
resources for continued investment in the social sectors, including increased
development assistance, with particular attention to ensuring free and universal
access to quality education that are amenable to attendance and participation
of girls; encourage the private sector to make investments in social sectors and
provide civil society organizations with support to carry out programmes;
recognize the importance of volunteerism as a mechanism to develop social
capital, support social integration and overcome social exclusion; foster
improved international cooperation, including strengthening the Commission
for Social Development, which remains the main place for all countries to
come together to identify and share examples of good practices and policy
approaches.”
Action taken by the Commission at its high-level segment under
agenda item 3 (a)
Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for
Social Development
25. At its 7th meeting, on 11 February, the Commission had before it a draft text
entitled “Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Social
Development” (E/CN.5/2005/L.2), which was submitted by the Chairman on the
basis of informal consultations.
26. At the same meeting, the Chairman corrected the text of the draft declaration
orally. The Commission then adopted the draft declaration, as corrected, and agreed
to transmit it, through the Economic and Social Council, to the high-level event of
the sixtieth session of the General Assembly on the review of the Millennium
Declaration, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/58
(see chap. I, sect. A).

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Other action taken under agenda item 3 (a)
Report of the Secretary-General on review of further
implementation of the World Summit for Social Development
and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the
General Assembly
27. At its 15th meeting, on 18 February, the Commission took note of the report of
the Secretary-General on review of further implementation of the World Summit for
Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the
General Assembly (E/CN.5/2005/6) (see chap. I, sect. E, decision 43/102).
B. Review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of
action pertaining to the situation of social groups
28. The Commission considered agenda item 3 (b) at its 8th to 10th, 13th and 15th
meetings, on 14, 15, 17 and 18 February 2005. It had before it the following
documents:
(a) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Special
Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development, on monitoring
the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities (E/CN.5/2005/5);
(b) Statement submitted by Associated Country Women of the World,
European Union of Women, Foundation for the Rights of the Family, International
Confederation of Christian Family Movements, International Kolping Society,
Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture, and SOS
Kinderdorf International, non-governmental organizations in special consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2005/NGO/2).
29. At the 8th meeting, on 14 February, introductory statements were made by the
Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, and the Special Rapporteur on
Disability of the Commission for Social Development, who also engaged in a
dialogue with the representative of Mexico.
30. At the same meeting, the Commission held a panel discussion under the subitem,
followed by an interactive dialogue with the panellists. Presentations were
made by the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development; João
Salviano, bureau member of the European Youth Forum; Renata Florentino of Brazil
Youth Voices; and Guido Schmidt-Traub, Policy Adviser at the Millennium Project.
31. A summary of the panel discussion is contained in annex VI to the present
report.
32. At its 9th and 10th meetings, on 14 and 15 February, the Commission held a
general discussion on agenda item 3 (b).
33. At the 9th meeting, statements were made by the representatives of
Switzerland, China, Japan, Argentina and Indonesia and by the observer for
Luxembourg (on behalf of the European Union).

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34. At the 10th meeting, statements were made by the representatives of Zambia,
Tunisia, the Republic of Korea, Haiti, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Suriname and Mexico
and by the observers for Kenya, Malawi, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
Zimbabwe, Colombia and Cuba.
35. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the
United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the United Nations Volunteers.
36. Also at the 10th meeting, the observer for the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies made a statement.
37. At the same meeting, observers for the following non-governmental
organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council also
made statements: International Federation on Ageing; International Council of
Psychologists (also on behalf of the American Psychological Organization); and
HelpAge International.
38. At the 13th meeting, on 17 February, the Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development reported to the Commission on the implementation of
Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/14.
Action taken by the Commission on agenda item 3 (b)
Further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities and protection of their human rights
39. At the 13th meeting, on 17 February, the observer for Luxembourg,1 on behalf
of Austria, Belgium,1 Bulgaria, Cyprus,1 the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,1
Finland,1 France, Germany, Greece,1 Hungary,1 Ireland,1 Italy, Latvia,1 Lithuania,1
Luxembourg,1 Malta, the Netherlands,1 Poland,1 Portugal,1 Romania, Slovakia,1
Slovenia,1 Spain, Sweden1 and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland,1 introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.5/2005/L.3), entitled “Further
promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities
and protection of their human rights” (subsequently issued in E/CN.5/2005/L.3),
which read:
“The Economic and Social Council,
“Recalling General Assembly resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by
which the Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons, 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities, 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it established the Ad Hoc
Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the
Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities, 58/132 of 22 December 2003 and 59/198 of 20 December 2004,
“Recalling its resolutions 2002/26 of 24 July 2002 and 2004/15 of
21 July 2004 on further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and
__________________
1 In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the
Economic and Social Council.

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with persons with disabilities and protection of the human rights of persons
with disabilities,
“Encouraged by the elaboration of a convention carried out in the Ad
Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on
the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities,
“Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective strategies and
policies to promote the rights and the full and effective participation of
persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural and political life on the
basis of equality in order to achieve a society for all,
“Noting with satisfaction that the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities play an increasingly important role
in the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,
“Recalling General Assembly decision 59/521 of 20 December 2004,
whereby the Assembly decided to postpone consideration of the issue of the
proposed supplement to the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities until its sixty-first session, at the
latest, and requested the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission
for Social Development to take into account the general ideas contained in the
proposed supplement to the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in the accomplishment of her
mandate,
“1. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the
Commission for Social Development, and takes note of her report;
“2. Urges Governments, intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental
organizations to take practical action to create greater awareness
and support for the further implementation of the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities;
“3. Invites the relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations
system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies, within their respective
mandates, and urges the regional commissions, intergovernmental
organizations and non-governmental organizations, in particular organizations
of persons with disabilities, to work closely with the United Nations
programme on persons with disabilities to promote the rights of persons with
disabilities, including activities at the field level, by sharing knowledge,
experiences, results and recommendations concerning persons with
disabilities;
“4. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen and improve
mechanisms for consultation, the exchange of information and coordination, as
appropriate, and the active participation of the relevant United Nations bodies,
the specialized agencies and related organizations to further the
implementation of the Standard Rules;
“5. Encourages Governments and the United Nations system, including
the Bretton Woods institutions, to enhance cooperation with organizations of
persons with disabilities and other organizations concerned with disability
issues in order to implement the Standard Rules in an effective and

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coordinated manner, and invites multilateral development agencies to pay due
attention to disability-related human rights issues in connection with the
projects they fund;
“6. Also encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations
and the private sector to continue to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability in order to support the activities of the Special Rapporteur
as well as new and expanded initiatives to strengthen national capacities for
equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities;
“7. Decides to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur through
31 December 2008 to further the promotion and monitoring of the Standard
Rules in accordance with the provisions set down in section 4 of the Standard
Rules, including the human rights dimensions of disability, while taking into
account the general ideas contained in the proposed supplement to the
Standard Rules in the accomplishment of her mandate;
“8. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to participate in the
work of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of
Persons with Disabilities;
“9. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an annual report on the
monitoring of the implementation of the Standard Rules to the Commission for
Social Development.”
40. At the 15th meeting, on 18 February, the observer for Luxembourg introduced
revisions to the draft resolution, which were circulated in an informal paper.
41. Andorra,1 Croatia,1 Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova
and Switzerland joined in sponsoring the draft resolution, as revised.
42. At the same meeting, the Commission recommended draft resolution
E/CN.5/2005/L.3, as revised, for adoption by the Economic and Social Council (see
chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution I).
Comprehensive and integral international convention to protect
and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities
43. At the 13th meeting, on 17 February, the representative of Mexico, on behalf
of Chile, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala,1 Jamaica, Japan,
Mexico, South Africa, and Uruguay,1 introduced a draft resolution
(E/CN.5/2005/L.4), entitled “Comprehensive and integral international convention
to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities”.
Subsequently, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela joined in sponsoring the draft
resolution, which read as follows:
“The Economic and Social Council,
“Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001,
by which the Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the
participation of all Member States and observers of the United Nations, to
consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention
to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based

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on the holistic approach in the work carried out in the fields of social
development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the
recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission
for Social Development,
“Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/14 of
21 July 2004 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
“Recalling further General Assembly resolution 58/246 of 23 December
2003, in which the Assembly decided that the Ad Hoc Committee on a
Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Promotion and
Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities should start
negotiations on a draft convention at its third session,
“Welcoming the important contributions made so far to the work of the
Ad Hoc Committee by all stakeholders,
“Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for their full enjoyment
to be guaranteed to persons with disabilities, without discrimination,
“Convinced of the contribution that a convention can make in this regard,
and encouraged by the increased support of the international community for
such a convention,
“Recognizing the positive steps taken by Governments, including
continued collaboration at the regional and international levels, to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
“1. Welcomes the important progress achieved so far in the negotiation
of a draft convention, and invites Member States and observers to continue to
participate actively and constructively in the Ad Hoc Committee, with a view
to an early conclusion of a draft text of a convention in order to present it to
the General Assembly, as a matter of priority, for adoption;
“2. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to
contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft international convention,
bearing in mind its area of expertise and 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;
“3. Welcomes the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on Disability
of the Commission to the process of elaboration of a draft convention, and
requests the Special Rapporteur to contribute further to the work of the Ad
Hoc Committee, drawing from her experience in the monitoring of the
Standard Rules by, inter alia, providing her views on the elements to be
considered in a draft international convention;
“4. Requests the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat, through its Division for Social Policy and Development, to
continue to support the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in collaboration with
the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations bodies and agencies,
through, inter alia, the provision of information on issues related to a draft

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international convention and the promotion of awareness of the work of the Ad
Hoc Committee, from within existing resources;
“5. Underlines the importance of strengthening cooperation and
coordination between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in order to
provide technical support to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in accordance
with General Assembly resolution 59/198 of 20 December 2004;
“6. Invites bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system as
well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human rights
institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter to continue
to participate in the Ad Hoc Committee and to contribute to its work;
“7. Encourages the relevant bodies of the United Nations to continue to
promote and support the active participation of civil society, including nongovernmental
organizations, in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in
accordance with General Assembly decision 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and
Assembly resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002;
“8. Invites Governments, civil society and the private sector to
contribute to the voluntary fund established by the General Assembly to
support the participation of non-governmental organizations and experts from
developing countries, in particular from least developed countries, in the work
of the Ad Hoc Committee;
“9. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely to nongovernmental
organizations all available information on accreditation
procedures, modalities and supportive measures for their participation in the
work of the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as the criteria for the financial
assistance that is available through the voluntary fund;
“10. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure reasonable
accessibility to facilities and documentation at the United Nations for all
persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision
56/474 of 23 July 2002;
“11. Requests the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur to
report to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fourth session,
on the implementation of the present resolution.”
44. At the 15th meeting, on 18 February, the Secretary of the Commission read out a
statement regarding programme budget implications relating to the draft resolution.
45. At the same meeting, the representative of Mexico introduced a revised text of
the draft resolution, which was circulated in an informal paper.
46. Algeria,1 Argentina, Bolivia,1 Brazil,1 Burkina Faso,1 the Central African
Republic, China, Costa Rica,1 Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba,1 Ecuador,1 Egypt,1 Gabon, Haiti,
Indonesia, Jordan,1 the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi,1 Mali, Morocco,1 Nigeria,1
Paraguay,1 Peru, the Philippines,1 the Republic of Korea, Senegal, Switzerland, the
United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia joined in sponsoring the draft resolution,
as revised.
47. Also at the 15th meeting, the Commission recommended draft resolution
E/CN.5/2005/L.4, as revised, for adoption by the Economic and Social Council (see
chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution II).

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Chapter IV
Programme questions and other matters
1. The Commission considered item 4 of its agenda at its 12th meeting on
16 February 2005. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Board of the
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development on the work of the
Institute during 2003 and 2004 (E/CN.5/2005/3);
(b) Note by the Secretary-General on nomination of members of the Board
of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (E/CN.5/2005/4
and Add.1).
2. At the 12th meeting, the Director of the Division for Social Policy and
Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat
made an introductory statement under sub-item 4 (a) and drew the attention of the
Commission to an informal paper (E/CN.5/2005/WP.1) that had been circulated,
regarding the proposed programme of work of the Commission for the biennium
2006-2007, under sub-item 4 (b).
3. Also at the 12th meeting, the Deputy Director of the United Nations Research
Institute for Social Development reported on the work of the Institute, under subitem
4 (c).
Action taken by the Commission
Nomination of seven members of the Board of the United Nations
Research Institute for Social Development
4. At its 12th meeting, on 16 February, the Commission nominated, for
confirmation by the Economic and Social Council, the following candidates to serve
on the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development for
a two-year term beginning on 1 July 2005 and expiring on 30 June 2007:
Tony Atkinson (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland);
Anna Hedbord (Sweden); Amina Mama (Nigeria); and Adele Smith Simmons
(United States of America).
5. The Commission also nominated Christian Comeliau (Belgium/France) and
Asma Jahangir (Pakistan) to serve on the Board of the Institute for a four-year term
beginning on 1 July 2005 and expiring on 30 June 2009, subject to confirmation by
the Economic and Social Council.
6. The Commission postponed the nomination of one candidate to the Board who
would complete the term of office of a deceased member, Salma Sobhan
(Bangladesh), for a term beginning on the date of confirmation by the Economic and
Social Council and expiring on 30 June 2007 (see chap. I, sect. D, decision 43/101).

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Report of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for
Social Development
7. At its 12th meeting, on 16 February, the Commission took note of the report of
the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development on the
work of the Institute during 2003 to 2004, which had been transmitted in a note by
the Secretary-General (E/CN.5/2005/3) (see chap. I, sect. E, decision 43/102).

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Chapter V
Provisional agenda for the forty-fourth session of
the Commission
1. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at its 15th meeting on
18 February 2005. It had before it the draft provisional agenda and documentation
for the forty-fourth session of the Commission (E/CN.5/2005/L.5).
2. At the same meeting, the Commission approved the provisional agenda and
documentation for its forty-fourth session (see chap. I, sect. C, draft decision).

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Chapter VI
Adoption of the report of the Commission on its
forty-third session
1. At its 15th meeting, on 18 February 2005, the Vice-Chairperson of the
Commission with rapporteurial responsibilities, Octavian Stamate (Romania),
introduced and corrected the draft report of the Commission on its forty-third
session (E/CN.5/2005/L.6).
2. The Commission adopted the draft report, as corrected, and entrusted the
Rapporteur with its completion.
3. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representative of Argentina
and the observers for the Netherlands, Cuba and Canada.

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Chapter VII
Organization of the session
A. Opening and duration of the session
1. The Commission for Social Development held its forty-third session at United
Nations Headquarters on 20 February 2004 and from 9 to 18 February 2005. It held
15 meetings (1st to 15th), including a high-level segment open to the participation
of all States Members of the United Nations and observers, in accordance with
Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/58.
B. Attendance
2. The session was attended by representatives of 46 States members of the
Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations and for
non-member States, representatives of organizations of the United Nations system
and observers for intergovernmental, non-governmental and other organizations also
attended. The list of participants is contained in document E/CN.5/2005/INF/1.
C. Election of officers
3. In subparagraph (c) of its decision 2002/210 of 13 February 2002, the
Economic and Social Council decided that immediately following the closure of a
regular session, the Commission for Social Development would hold the first
meeting of its subsequent regular session for the sole purpose of electing the new
Chairman and other members of the Bureau. In pursuance of that decision, the
Commission elected the following officers by acclamation at its 1st meeting, on
20 February 2004:
Chairperson:
Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo (South Africa)
Vice-Chairpersons:
Paloma Durán (Spain)
Ewald Wensley Limon (Suriname)
Hossein Moeini Meybodi (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Octavian Stamate (Romania)
4. At its 2nd meeting, on 9 February 2005, the Commission was advised that
Ms. Durán was unable to carry out her functions as Vice-Chairperson.
5. Consequently, the Commission elected Gerda Vogl (Austria) by acclamation as
Vice-Chairperson to replace Ms. Durán.
6. Also at its 2nd meeting, the Commission designated Octavian Stamate
(Romania) Vice-Chairman with rapporteurial responsibilities.

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D. Agenda and organization of work
7. At its 2nd meeting, on 9 February, the Commission adopted its provisional
agenda, as contained in document E/CN.5/2005/1. The agenda read as follows:
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
3. Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the twentyfourth
special session of the General Assembly:
(a) Priority theme: review of further implementation of the World
Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twentyfourth
special session of the General Assembly;
(b) Review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action
pertaining to the situation of social groups:
(i) World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;
(ii) World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and
Beyond;
(iii) Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002;
(iv) Tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and
beyond.
4. Programme questions and other matters:
(a) Programme performance and implementation for the biennium
2002-2003;
(b) Proposed programme of work for the biennium 2006-2007;
(c) United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.
5. Provisional agenda for the forty-fourth session of the Commission.
6. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-third session.
8. At the same meeting, the Commission approved the organization of work of
the session, as contained in document E/CN.5/2005/L.1.
E. Documentation
9. The list of documents before the Commission at its forty-third session is
contained in annex VII to the present report.

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Annex I
Conclusions of the high-level round table on the eradication
of poverty
Chairperson: Ms. Ana Maria Romero-Lozada (Minister of Women and Social
Development, Peru)
Root causes of poverty
1. The participants agreed that the current level of global poverty could not be
tolerated and that coordinated global and national action was needed in the fight
against poverty. They recognized that it was necessary to identify the root causes of
poverty in order to plan policy and poverty strategies. The wide-ranging root causes
of poverty could be categorized into three broad groups: unequal distribution of
assets; insecurity and vulnerability; and social exclusion and powerlessness. Besides
identifying those root causes, it was also important to ask if the causes were indeed
being appropriately addressed.
2. It was acknowledged that the persistence of high levels of inequality of
income, assets and opportunities exacerbated poverty. High unemployment rates, a
lack of access to productive resources such as land, credit, market and information
limited the productive capacity of the poor. A lack of access to basic services, such
as education and health care, resulted in limited opportunities for the poor.
Vulnerability and insecurity among the poor was made worse by weak social
protection programmes. In addition, long-term civil conflict and the breakdown of
the rule of law put the poor at more risk. The poor suffered from social exclusion
and powerlessness and were thereby unable to participate in decisions that affected
their lives.
3. The response to the root causes of poverty should be not only at the level of
individuals directly affected by poverty but should also be a collective responsibility
of civil society, Governments and international organizations. Further, there was a
need to establish a pace in dealing with poverty that was commensurate to the level
of poverty. That involved translating the goals and aspirations of poverty strategies
into costs needed to achieve them. An important aspect was to value volunteerism
and social mobilization in poverty strategies.
4. Some of the good practices of Member States in tackling the root causes of
poverty included the role of Governments in the redistribution of assets such as land
reform, and in asset building. Policies that provided opportunities for sustainable
livelihood, partnership with the private sector and the promotion of pro-poor growth
were promoted. Consultations with the poor in planning policies and giving the poor
a voice allowed for the wider participation of the poor in policy formulation.
Comprehensive approach to poverty
5. Most of the speakers underlined that, since the World Summit for Social
Development, their Governments had given increased priority to poverty reduction
through formulating and implementing national strategies for poverty eradication
and establishing national goals and targets to reduce poverty. Special emphasis had
been placed on promoting agriculture and sustainable rural development, improving
access to education and health, social protection and other social services, targeting

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the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and promoting employment
opportunities. It was emphasized that equity and equality dimensions needed to be
incorporated into national strategies and programmes to eradicate poverty.
Furthermore, elements of national strategies should include empowering people
living in poverty, especially women, improving access to productive assets and
ensuring gender equality perspective at all levels. It was well-documented that
households headed by women were more likely to be poor.
6. It was also noted that a low level of employment creation, especially among
young people was a serious obstacle in reducing poverty. The creation of productive
employment and the generation of adequate income needed to be seen as important
elements of national poverty reduction strategies.
7. Several speakers highlighted the importance of the better integration of
economic and social policies, especially through the relationship between
macroeconomic policies and social development goals, including poverty
eradication.
International environment
8. It was important to recognize that poverty existed in both developed and
developing countries. Poverty eradication was an ethical, social, political and
economic imperative and the world needed to assume collective responsibility for
eradicating poverty. In the past, that collective responsibility had only been felt in
times of emergency, such as in the aftermath of the financial crises of the past 15
years or in the aftermath of some natural calamity. However, it was necessary that
the global commitment to address poverty be sustained over the long term. That
commitment could take the form of relieving the debt burden of the poorest nations,
innovative partnerships between regions and countries, and the sharing of
information and best practices for poverty eradication. Consultation with the private
sector might also be an integral part of the effective partnerships to alleviate poverty
while stimulating more balanced growth across sectors. That international
cooperation also created an environment conducive to more efficient
implementation of poverty reduction strategies on the ground.
9. Many States had instituted policies and laws that ensured Government
transparency and accountability. While those steps were welcome on the national
level, such good practices should also be reinforced at the regional and international
levels, through the United Nations system and the mechanism of regional bodies, to
ensure durable democratic practices that increased the political and economic
participation of all segments of society. Volunteerism had been an important
resource for poverty eradication in many developing countries and could be
successfully tapped by the demonstrated commitment of leaders at the local and
national levels to the goal of poverty eradication and social development.
10. The following recommendations emerged from the discussion:
• There should be collective responsibility for poverty eradication both at the
national and global levels.
• The comprehensive approach to poverty eradication as agreed to in
Copenhagen should form the basis of the approach to address the Millennium
Development Goal to halve poverty by 2015.

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• Economic development was necessary but often not sufficient for poverty
eradication and social policy should be integrated into macroeconomic
policies.
• Strategies and policies for the eradication of poverty should take into account
the gender dimension of poverty, particularly the feminization of poverty, and
the fact that households headed by women tended to be significantly poorer
than other households.
• Many countries still faced debilitating debt burdens and more effort should be
made to address that issue, particularly through debt cancellation, in order to
allow countries to redirect their scarce resources to social expenditures.
• Increased international and bilateral cooperation should be expanded,
including the transfer of technology and the sharing of experiences and best
practices for poverty eradication.
11. The promotion of good governance and the rule of law was often an essential
precondition for successfully combating poverty.

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Annex II
Conclusions of the high-level round table on promoting
full employment
Chairperson: Mr. Aart-Jan de Geus (Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, the
Netherlands)
1. Ten years ago, in Copenhagen, we committed ourselves to promoting full
employment as a basic priority of our economic and social policies, and to enabling
all men and women to attain secure and sustainable livelihoods through freely
chosen productive employment and work.
2. The high-level round table on promoting full employment held its final
meeting on 10 February 2005. It reviewed the implementation of commitment 3 of
the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development on full employment. A lively,
inspiring and thought-provoking exchange of views took place. Participants from all
over the world shared the view that the promotion of full, productive and freely
chosen employment should continue to form the centre of our social development
strategies.
3. It is an honour for me, as Chairman of the round table, to present the following
conclusions.
4. The high-level round table on promoting full employment recognized and
recommended actions in four main areas.
Focus on the potential of the global labour force
5. The round table recognized the world’s growing labour force as a strong
potential for economic growth and poverty reduction, with young people
constituting the overwhelming share of that potential.
6. The round table therefore recommended:
• To strengthen the link between education and employment, so that people
became more “trainable and employable”
• To develop the skills potential of workers so that they could be qualified for
jobs in new and emerging sectors.
Make employment the cornerstone for development
7. The round table recognized that providing decent jobs was the best way to get
people out of poverty. Decent work was the engine of economic growth and a
prerequisite for poverty eradication and fostering social integration. It also
recognized that a large part of the world’s unemployed were young people. In that
regard it stressed that youth should be seen as an asset, not a problem. Youth
employment should be a starting point for an international strategy on employment.
The round table further recognized that full employment was a prerequisite for
better and more equally distributed economic growth and development.

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8. The round table therefore recommended:
• To build upon the youth employment strategy contained in the Millennium
Development Goals, as a first step in strengthening and broadening the focus
on employment-oriented development strategies
• To increase participation in the youth employment network, including through
fostering partnerships
• To respect the fundamental labour standards of the International Labour
Organization
• To transfer technology and expertise as a means for building employment and
fostering education and skills development.
Global initiatives on enhancing full employment
9. The round table recognized the importance of advancing global initiatives that
strengthened policy coherence both nationally and internationally, especially with
regard to the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions. It also
recognized that the centrality of employment to poverty reduction and development
was lacking in international policy discussions: the overarching goal of full,
productive and freely chosen employment, with full respect for core labour
standards was currently absent from the Millennium Development Goals. It further
recognized that globalization and international trade were closely linked to the
employment situation in developing countries. Increased market access would lead
to job creation, particularly in the agricultural sector. In the same vein,
macroeconomic policies should incorporate employment creation as a key objective.
The round table recognized the importance of the report of the World Commission
on the Social Dimension of Globalizationa and the recommendations contained
therein.
10. The round table therefore recommended:
• To enhance inter-agency cooperation and coherence of policies. That was not
only a challenge for the international organizations; the coherence of policies
should also be enhanced at the national level. Member States should speak
with one voice in international forums
• To promote full employment as a bridge between Copenhagen, the Millennium
Development Goals, the International Labour Organization and the
international financial institutions
• To incorporate the goal of decent work for everyone in the review of the
United Nations Millennium Declaration and the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals
• To strengthen the Commission for Social Development within the overall
framework of United Nations reform.
Recognition and recommendations: develop national action plans
11. The round table recognized the need for national action to develop
employment plans that supported the promotion of full, productive and freely
chosen employment. That included special attention to the informal economy, which
represented the majority share of the labour force in many developing countries.

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12. The round table therefore recommended:
• To create national employment plans that fully respected fundamental
principles and rights at work
• To intensify efforts to “formalize” the informal economy, including initiatives
to extend regulations and labour protections to informal workers, as well as
provide credit to small and microenterprises to build up their businesses.
13. I hope and trust that participants in the high-level round table on full
employment will go home invigorated and inspired to continue to implement the
commitments made at Copenhagen. It is at the national level that action is most
needed. Each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social
development. National action plans on employment need to be developed and
strengthened, with particular emphasis on specific groups, such as women and
youth. Ten years after Copenhagen there is still a lot of work to be done.
Notes
a International Labour Organization, A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All
(Geneva, 2004).

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Annex III
Conclusions of the high-level round table on fostering
social integration
Chairperson: Mr. Samiollah Lauthan (Minister of Social Security, National
Solidarity, Senior Citizen’s Welfare and Reform Institution, Mauritius)
1. While in most cases the goals of social integration are easily agreed, the means
to achieve it have not received sufficient consideration. There should be greater
coherence between principles and practice, and fostering social integration requires
more effective social policies. How policies are formulated and implemented is as
important as what they aim to achieve and can significantly affect their success. The
challenge is to reinstate the concepts of social integration at the centre of all policies
and to find practical ways and means to achieve a “society for all”.
2. There is disappointment, 10 years after the World Summit for Social
Development, at the extent to which commitments have been implemented. A return
to a people-centred approach is required, with policies focused on improving the
social and economic conditions of all people, particularly in developing countries.
There is a sense of a rift between efforts to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals and implementation of the broader Copenhagen commitments. It is essential
to overcome this rift, as the processes are essentially two sides of the same coin.
The concepts of social integration developed at Copenhagen should be
mainstreamed into efforts to achieve the goals.
Issues and concerns
3. Social integration is a prerequisite for social development. The concept of
“being left out” is a recurring theme and a barrier to social development. Equality of
opportunity is crucial to social integration and “a society for all”. Achieving a
society for all means ensuring that all members of society enjoy full and equal
participation. Investing in social cohesion and social development is a good, solid
and productive investment and not simply a cost.
4. Poverty must be eradicated. An integrated approach must be pursued where
economic policies promote employment and reduce inequality. Employment is vital
for fostering social integration and access to employment and decent work
empowers individuals and leads to social inclusion. Discrimination in hiring leads to
disenfranchisement and social exclusion.
5. Globalization provides advantages and encourages social development in some
cases, yet has also led to greater social exclusion, as the pace of change and
progress is different in different places and some workers have difficulties
competing.
6. Education is vitally important in providing people with the skills to engage in
productive employment and to participate in society, in reducing prejudice and
discrimination and increasing tolerance. The education of girls is particularly
important for social integration and yields the highest return on investment in
developing countries. Benefits include wage gains for women, increases in national
per capita income growth and healthier, better educated children. Several policies
are conducive to increasing the enrolment of girls and improving their educational

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level. It is therefore now a question of political will to introduce and implement
these policies.
7. Achieving gender equality is fundamental for social development. Because of
discrimination, women have less access to employment, education, health care and
other services. Gender mainstreaming — which concerns the rights and
responsibilities of both women and men — should be further developed and
implemented, and women need to be fully protected against discrimination, violence
and disease. Maternal mortality remains a pressing concern in developing countries.
In these countries, young married women are increasingly infected by HIV/AIDS,
mainly contracting the disease from their husbands.
8. In many countries, groups with special needs continue to be marginalized in
the political process, although increasingly since the World Summit these groups
don’t wait to be included but insist on it.
9. Increasingly, older persons constitute large proportions of national populations
and their numbers are rising worldwide. While older persons are increasingly active,
the ageing of societies will have profound effects on social integration and social
solidarity. Current systems for financing pensions and long-term care will prove
unsustainable and future generations of older persons may not fare as well as
today’s older persons if changes are not introduced. Pension reform, on the agenda
of many countries, may be particularly painful and could affect the intergenerational
solidarity implicitly or explicitly reflected in political conflicts.
10. Ensuring the social integration of persons with disabilities requires legal
instruments that protect them from discrimination while ensuring their rights and
guaranteeing equal opportunities in society. It also includes creating an environment
that respects their desire to stay with families and reside within the communities of
their choice with the maximum possible independence.
11. The family, as a time-tested institution, is essential for facilitating social
inclusion. Families, however, have faced tremendous pressures and undergone
significant changes. The skills needed to sustain a family are not something that can
be assumed — for example, it cannot be assumed that men and women know how to
be parents.
12. Immigrants, refugees and displaced persons are often excluded. Legal
protections and skills enhancement are important for their social inclusion and
integration.
13. Public health policy can directly influence social development and combat
poverty. Universal access to public health can also reduce social exclusion.
Investments in health are therefore important for social integration and equality. At
the same time, social policies and investments contribute to improving public
health. Improvements in health conditions are not the result of medical interventions
alone, but also involve improvements in social and environmental conditions.
14. Civil society is vital for social development, particularly in promoting a
people-centred focus. Local civil society groups work directly with people who are
excluded and in need, and are often able to ensure that those who need support have
access to it and know where to get it. Therefore, greater attention should be given to
civil society groups as partners in promoting social integration and social
development. Civil society needs support to continue and improve the work it does.

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Focus must be put on how the sector can be expanded and strengthened so that it is
better able to participate and advocate and more effective in doing so.
15. Governments alone won’t make the total difference and neither will civil
society alone. They must therefore work together in partnership. Although the
importance of civil society was greatly recognized at the World Summit and many
Governments are working in partnership with non-governmental organizations and
other civil society organizations, the relationship needs constant attention and
continuous improvement. In particular, it is important to create mechanisms,
networks and institutions through which Governments and civil society
organizations can build consensus and improve their work together. The private
sector is also an important partner for social integration and development, not only
out of altruism and on humanitarian grounds but it is also in its direct interest that
poverty is eliminated and vulnerable groups are integrated into mainstream
societies.
Recommendations
16. Governments should ensure equal treatment for all people and equal access to
goods and services for all. There may be a need for affirmative action to enable
those people who have suffered from discrimination or exclusion to participate
equally.
17. Fostering social integration requires ensuring security and social justice,
access to social services and social protection, overcoming barriers and prejudice,
teaching tolerance, combating discrimination and ensuring gender equality. It also
requires:
• Improved public administration, including democratic governance and the rule
of law, stable and transparent institutions that guarantee and respect human
rights and fundamental freedoms and allow and encourage broad-based
participation. Policies should be based on a principle of non-discrimination.
Social integration is cross-cutting and requires a holistic policy approach.
Governments should improve coordination among ministries and departments
in order to overcome sectorial approaches and competition so that governance
structures become more flexible and responsive to current challenges.
Decentralization of authority to local governments, with allocation of
sufficient resources, is key to ensuring more participatory decision-making.
• Integrated economic and social goals and policies. There is still a tendency for
many Governments to focus mainly on promoting economic growth, but if
social concerns are left out, economic growth may actually lead to greater
social disparities, polarization and exclusion.
• Partnership. The role of the State should continue to evolve. Policy
development and implementation requires consultation with all stakeholders,
based on healthy dialogue, partnership, respect and a long-term perspective.
Governments should create the necessary regulatory framework for
cooperation with civil society and other partners, including the private sector,
so that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. Governments should act
as facilitators to strengthen civil society. Support should be given to the
organizations that people create themselves and networks of these
organizations should be strengthened.

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• Recognition of the importance of the home environment for the care and wellbeing
that it affords to family members. Families can serve to integrate and
support vulnerable members, but they must have the resources, skills and
knowledge to fulfil this function. The rights of all family members must be
respected if families are to function effectively.
• Resources for continued investment in the social sectors. The private sector
should be encouraged to make investments in social sectors. Civil society
organizations also need support to carry out programmes.
• Provision of greater resources for girls’ education, including ensuring free and
universal access to quality education, community-based and supported schools
that are “girl-friendly” with regard to sanitation facilities, female teachers and
curriculums and provision of scholarships.
• Stressing the importance of volunteerism as a mechanism to develop social
capital, support social integration and overcome social exclusion. Volunteering
provides a way for people to develop social and vocational skills, to participate
in society and to contribute to their own and their community’s well-being.
Such active participation and involvement develops a sense of ownership of
development programmes so badly needed to achieve overall success.
• Improved international cooperation, including strengthening of the
Commission for Social Development, which has done a good job in promoting
and developing further the social integration consensus reached at
Copenhagen. The Commission remains the essential place for all countries to
come together to discuss these issues and its work and agenda on issues of
social cohesion should be expanded and strengthened. It is important to
identify examples of good practices and policy approaches so that these may
be shared among all countries. This sharing of experiences is one positive
aspect of intergovernmental cooperation.
• Increased development assistance for activities that promote social
development.
18. It appears that the social integration component of social development has lost
ground, that the goal has not been fully integrated into the general development
discourse outside social development circles. The important principle of solidarity
among peoples, societies and nations has eroded. We must all reconsider our
fundamental commitment to the equality of every human being. While we accept the
notion in principle, how do we live it in everyday life? Without an acceptance of the
fundamental equality of every person, there is no basis for solidarity and no hope for
social integration.

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Annex IV
Summary of the panel discussion with the International
Labour Organization, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund
1. The Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs welcomed the
panellists and opened the discussion by stressing the importance of the link between
economic and social policies. He pointed out that the recognition of that link was
essential for building the capacity of economic systems to contribute to poverty
alleviation and social development. He remarked that the manner in which social
development was financed, especially in poorer countries, was central to achieving
the objective of improving social conditions as highlighted in the Copenhagen
Declaration on Social Development.
2. Following the introduction, statements were made by the Vice-President of
Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development of the World Bank; the
Director of the Policy Integration Department of the International Labour
Organization (ILO), and the Senior Adviser of the Policy Development and Review
Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Presentations
3. The representative of the World Bank noted the importance of the social
dimensions of development, adding that failure to deal with them could foil efforts
at sustainable development. Inspired in large part by the goals of the Copenhagen
Declaration, the World Bank had become more sensitive to the social dimensions of
development. Particular progress had been made in four areas. First, there was
greater recognition by the Bank of the need to embed social policy within economic
policy as a way of fostering overall development. As a result, the Bank since 1999
had provided most of its assistance to countries within the context of poverty
reduction strategies, which recognized the links between economic and social
policies. In addition, the Bank’s analytical work paid substantial attention to social
development issues. Second, the Bank recognized that a pro-poor approach to
economic growth was essential. It had therefore fostered community-centred
development, which had become a dominant aspect of the Bank’s assistance to
countries. Third, given the importance assigned in the Millennium Development
Goals to health and education, the Bank had moved to expand its lending to those
sectors to about 25 per cent of its total annual lending. The World Bank considered
the particular needs of Africa as a priority in its lending. Africa currently receives
the bulk of the Bank’s no-interest loans, which it offered through the International
Development Association.
4. The representative of ILO noted that ILO had been fully engaged with the
World Summit for Social Development from the beginning. He stated that the
Copenhagen Declaration had helped to set the direction of ILO work, in part
because each of the commitments made in Copenhagen had a bearing on ILO
concerns. By the time of the 2000 special session of the General Assembly, there
was evidence that progress towards meeting the Summit’s goals was slow and the
global picture with respect to employment, in particular, was wanting. The special
session had turned to ILO for leadership in developing a coherent international

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strategy on employment. He added that, unfortunately, the momentum created by the
special session to tackle global employment challenges was insufficiently echoed
and developed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration. ILO had nevertheless
responded to the challenges with respect to employment in several ways. Within the
context of a global employment agenda, ILO had developed a decent work agenda,
which emphasized employment, rights at work, social protection and social
dialogue. ILO had also put more emphasis on ensuring that employment and decent
work goals were incorporated both in the formal and informal sectors and in poverty
reduction strategies. An important contribution of ILO was its establishment of an
independent World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, whose
report had been issued in 2004.a The report emphasized the immense potential of
globalization to improve social welfare and the ways in which Governments,
business, labour, parliamentarians, civil society and the international community
could all work towards promoting a more inclusive globalization. In the follow-up
to the Commission’s findings, ILO had initiated a policy coherence initiative among
multilateral organizations to develop better policies to promote sustainable growth,
investment and employment.
5. The representative of IMF began by noting the scepticism during the 1990s
about the role of IMF in social development. There was a contention at the time, he
noted, that the Fund should cede its role in social development to the World Bank
and instead focus on macroeconomic policy and reform. IMF, however, had rejected
that view in favour of an approach that took into account social aspects in
macroeconomic development. In that regard, IMF worked with its partners to ensure
that the social dimensions of development were addressed at the macroeconomic
level. That focus of IMF had led it to make substantial changes in a number of areas
of work. For example, at the field level, the focus had been on poverty reduction
strategies and how macroeconomic policies affected social development. In that
regard, IMF’s lending had become more linked to the poverty reduction strategy of
individual countries. At headquarters, poverty reduction and pro-poor growth were
issues of major concern. An important question in that regard was what forms of
budgetary allocations were needed to achieve pro-poor growth without diminishing
macroeconomic performance. IMF had also made major strides in the area of donor
coordination to ensure that the Fund’s programmes did not disrupt donor
involvement and continuity. In that connection, it had also strengthened its
collaboration with other international organizations and with non-governmental
organizations, labour unions and central statistical offices.
Discussion
6. A number of participants discussed poverty and poverty eradication initiatives.
In response to a question on good practices to ensure that the poor benefited from
social development, the representative of the World Bank emphasized the
importance of country-specific poverty reduction strategies and the importance of
community participation in development projects. In addition, he echoed the
Chairman’s comments on the linkages between social, environmental and economic
issues, remarking that although poverty had a critical economic aspect, a more
holistic view should take environmental and social issues into account. Several
questions were raised about the IMF policy recommendations and their effects on
poor countries and their efforts to combat poverty. The IMF representative replied
by emphasizing the priority focus of his organization on economic stabilization.

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That, he said, was one of the essential preconditions for sustained economic growth
and poverty reduction. He added that although progress had been made in recent
decades towards increased stabilization, it had often failed to generate rapid growth.
7. On the subject of growth, the moderator, the Under-Secretary-General for
Economic and Social Affairs, mentioned ongoing debates on growth and poverty
and whether the term pro-poor growth was redundant, since growth would always
benefit the poor to some extent. He also wondered whether pro-poor growth should
be associated with decreasing inequality. The representative of the World Bank
added that although growth usually had some positive impact on the poor, it was
important to ensure that growth be sustainable and its benefits be redistributed for
such sectors as education and health.
8. The ILO representative, responding to questions on the interdependency of
global economic relations and on realizing full employment, stressed that the goals
of employment creation and decent work needed to be placed at the heart of
economic and social policies. Citing the World Commission on the Social
Dimension of Globalization and its recommendations for a policy coherence
initiative to develop better global policies to promote growth, investment and
employment, he emphasized that despite some negative recent trends, globalization
could be a positive force for the creation of decent work. The goal of full
employment was possible, but only if all relevant actors took responsibility for full
employment. Concern was expressed over the high levels of unemployment among
young people, especially young women. The establishment of the Youth
Employment Network and its recommendations for addressing that situation were
recognized.
9. The effects of international migration on labour markets were of concern to
several participants. Several speakers mentioned the growing recognition of
international migration as a central issue on the global agenda and the need for
global, regional and bilateral frameworks. The “brain drain” from developing
countries, which had resulted from the free movement of skilled labour while the
movement of unskilled labour remained restricted, had led to increased inequalities
between countries and regions. Concern was also expressed that the increased flow
of remittances, although a valuable source of income for many developing countries,
might become a justification for donors to withdraw or limit aid to developing
countries.
10. The Under-Secretary-General pointed to the relationship between globalization
and risk. Globalization had increased the risks borne by countries (e.g.,
macroeconomic risk through financial volatility) and individuals (e.g., through the
privatization of socialized risks, as in the case of the privatization of pensions,
which had been witnessed in Latin America in the recent past). He posed the
question of what possibilities there were for a better sharing of those risks.
11. The ILO representative commented that shifts in the patterns of production and
trade, as in the case of outsourcing, were creating new winners and losers and that
80 per cent of the global population had no access to social protection. The
representative of the World Bank expanded on the idea of risk and vulnerability,
adding issues such as environmental and health risks and how those cut across
countries. Those issues called for public and private policy responses at both the
national and international levels.

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12. Concern was expressed over the narrow economic definition of development
inherent in the Millennium Development Goals, which omitted the consideration of
human rights. Replying to a question on the Global Compact Initiative and its
potential contribution to alleviating employment inequality, the Under-Secretary-
General pointed out that the Global Compact Initiative was primarily a mechanism
to promote corporate responsibility in several agreed areas. With regard to research
on social development, concern was expressed that the increased tendency for such
research to be funded from private rather than public sources could have a negative
impact on the nature and volume of research output.
Notes
a International Labour Organization, A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All
(Geneva, 2004).

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Annex V
Summary of the panel discussion with the Executive
Secretaries of the regional commissions
1. The panel discussion with the Executive Secretaries of the regional
commissions on a regional perspective on the implementation of the World Summit
for Social Development, focused on the issues of poverty, employment and social
integration. Mixed progress was reported by all of the commissions and many of the
same constraints facing the regions that were present at the time the World Summit
for Social Development took place continue to prevail.
Presentations and discussion
2. The Executive Director of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
reported that in sub-Saharan Africa, poverty had continued to rise and over one third
of the population was undernourished. There had been a net addition of more than
63 million people to the ranks of the poor. Unemployment on the continent was
extremely high and underemployment was rampant, affecting 40 per cent of the
labour force.
3. He reported that progress had been made on the issue of social integration,
which had been attributed to the growth of democracy and a notable improvement in
governance throughout the region. While it was acknowledged that conflict
continued to be a major disruptive factor, the African Union had had important
achievements in conflict resolution and progress in the areas of civil society
organization and gender equality.
4. The challenges to progress listed by ECA were low growth, persistent poverty,
weak governance and institutional capacity, the social and economic disruption
resulting from conflict, and shortfalls in health and educational services. Further
constraints noted were inadequate financial resources and weak human and
institutional capacity. He underlined the fact that the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development would be instrumental in providing a framework to address those
challenges and allow Africans to take ownership of the development process.
5. The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
noted the major challenges facing the less advanced economies and the emerging
market economies in Europe. Less advanced economies were facing massive
poverty and increasing inequality since the reforms of the late 1980s. Quality and
access to health care were also inadequate, with a temporary increase of death rates,
a decrease in life expectancy, a decline in fertility and the rapid spread of infectious
diseases.
6. Major trends of the emerging market economies were noted, such as high and
increasing unemployment and low employment rates. Disparities in income were
growing quickly within some countries and urban-rural inequalities and regional
inequalities in gross domestic product per capita were deepening. Education, social
and pension reforms had led to a deterioration of the immediate social situation of
the majority of the population.
7. The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and
the Caribbean (ECLAC) noted an overall lack of social progress in the region since

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the World Summit. While poverty rates had decreased slightly in recent years, the
total number of poor had risen substantially. Urban unemployment and informal
employment had increased and the number of those employed in the formal
economy had been decreasing since 1990. Workers without social protection now
comprised the vast majority of the urban labour force.
8. He indicated further that persistence of income concentration and employment
constraints threatened social integration by segmenting society, reducing social
protection and participation of the poor in the development process. Disruptive
processes, such as risky and violent behaviour among youth, had emerged as
growing obstacles in the labour market and difficulties in achieving social mobility
grew.
9. On a positive note, ECLAC noted that Governments had increased the levels
of public social expenditures, which had contributed to alleviating somewhat the
special needs of the poor and most vulnerable groups. Similarly, significant progress
had been made in the implementation of policies for reversing discrimination
against women and against indigenous and Afro-descendant groups, but sharp
disparities still prevailed.
10. The representative of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (ESCAP) reported that efforts to eliminate poverty had produced mixed
results. While some areas had reported progress, implementing national poverty
reduction strategies into effective policies would be needed in areas where the
situation had deteriorated.
11. In the area of employment, the issue of female international migration was
highlighted. While female unemployment rates were higher than that of males,
youth unemployment was greater than that of adults. He further noted that the Asia-
Pacific region housed 70 per cent of the illiterate population of the world (600
million persons), and 65 per cent of those were women.
12. Insofar as social integration was concerned, comprehensive social
development programmes were being formulated and laws were being revised vis-àvis
vulnerable groups, and institutional arrangements for social development were
being established with time-bound targets to ensure cost-efficiency and maximum
impact.
13. He underlined the great devastation in human and economic terms that the
recent tsunami had brought to the region. A framework of action had been
presented, which included the development of an early warning system, the building
of infrastructure to reduce vulnerabilities and the expansion of financial assistance.
14. The Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western
Asia (ESCWA) reported that efforts to create an enabling environment for social
development included governance and democracy projects and numerous
community development undertakings. In the area of poverty alleviation, progress
had been made in the preparation of technical studies on the measurement,
characteristics and determinants of poverty, as well as the development of policy
tools necessary for poverty reduction.
15. She reported that, with a view towards full employment, technical studies had
been conducted focusing on the effects of globalization, the creation of employment
opportunities among the rural population and the promotion of new technologies. In

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the area of social integration, activities to improve the situation of vulnerable groups
had included implementing field projects, preparing studies and organizing seminars
and training workshops to strengthen community self-reliance. In addition to
encouraging policy makers and donors to increase resources allotted for social
development, studies were also being prepared to improve access to education and
primary health care.
16. Following those presentations, an exchange took place between the Executive
Secretaries and the Commission. The Executive Secretaries elaborated further on
their plans of implementing policies of gender mainstreaming, addressing growing
demographical imbalances and how to improve coordination between the regional
commissions and actors in civil society. The issue of violence and youth was also
raised, as well as the question of how best to face the challenge of gathering reliable
data.
Recommendations
17. For ECA, in order to advance social development priorities, lessons learned in
the poverty reduction strategies must be applied. Employment policy and the
promotion of better governance could be achieved through research and advocacy.
The importance of gender mainstreaming and tackling HIV/AIDS was also
important.
18. Recommendations for the less advanced economies of ECE included the
promotion of policies that created pro-poor growth and the implementation of
reforms that provided effective social protection for all. To redress current
challenges in employment and in wage and income distribution, attention must be
placed on the non-observed economy, as it did not provide social protection and
deepened, among others, gender inequalities. For the emerging market economies,
correcting market failures and integration of policies (education, housing, among
others) were needed to increase employment opportunities.
19. For ECLAC, it was necessary to increase the level of high-quality employment
and social protection and to reduce income inequality and social disparities.
Building human capital among low income groups and maintaining growth trends in
social expenditures would also be essential to uphold the commitments made at
Copenhagen.
20. Looking forward, in the ESCAP region there were pertinent issues that
deserved further attention, such as poverty, migration, ageing, gender disabilities,
HIV/AIDS and other contagious diseases. Additionally, in anticipating the longerterm
effects of the tsunami, the needs of vulnerable groups in the area of health and
development must be attended to and close cooperation with relevant bodies would
be needed to assist in the recovery.
21. In the ESCWA region, national, regional and international efforts to achieve
social development goals must be interlinked. On an international level, political,
financial and technical support were a prerequisite to overcoming challenges in the
region. Promoting an environment free of war and instability was necessary to
facilitate such support.

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Annex VI
Summary of the panel discussion entitled “Working with
young people on common goals”
1. In its resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, the General Assembly adopted
the World Programme of Action for Youth, making commitments to develop policies
and programmes for youth development to the year 2000 and beyond. Young people
worldwide are involved in consultative activities to evaluate the progress achieved
in 10 years. Two consultative meetings were organized by the Secretariat with
representatives of youth organizations, one in Coimbra, Portugal, from 31 January
to 3 February 2005, and the other in New York from 14 to 17 February 2005.
2. The panel discussion that took place in New York during the forty-third
session of the Commission for Social Development highlighted the youth
development agenda of the World Programme of Action for Youth as well as its
linkages to the Millennium Development Goals and internationally agreed targets.
Presentations
3. The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat presented the main
findings of the Secretary-General in the World Youth Report 2005 and his
recommendations to the General Assembly (A/60/61-E/2005/7). While some
progress had been achieved in a number of the priority areas, the report
demonstrated that the current generation of young people were facing ever more
complex challenges. The report recommended a need for intensified commitment
and investment in the child-focused Millennium Development Goals, which would
have enormous benefits for the young people in 2015. Governments should see
young people as partners in achieving those goals. To formulate better policies and
to evaluate progress achieved, a set of verifiable indicators should be developed. At
its sixtieth session, the General Assembly might consider requesting the Secretariat
to develop a suitable set of indicators, which could be used by Governments and
other actors to measure progress achieved by 2015.
4. João Salviano (bureau member, European Youth Forum) said that he had
participated in the consultative meeting held in Coimbra, Portugal. He presented
some of the views and recommendations that were put forward by the youth
representatives during that meeting, including the need for inter-agency
collaboration in the United Nations on youth-related issues coordinated by the
Programme on Youth. National action plans for youth should be established in order
to develop strategies on how to implement the priorities agreed upon at the national
level. For that to work, it was advisable that Governments encouraged the creation
of autonomous and independent national youth councils. The Coimbra meeting had
reaffirmed the need for more youth representatives to be involved in activities of the
United Nations system and suggested creating a method of co-management between
youth non-governmental organizations and the United Nations.
5. Renata Florentino (Co-coordinator, Brazil Youth Voices) participated in the
consultative meeting held in New York. She presented her work at the national level
on evaluating the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth,
using the “Making Commitments Matter” toolkit produced by the Division for

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Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
She highlighted the establishment of an interministerial group for youth and the
convening of the first National Conference on Youth, which brought together 4,000
young people. She also informed the Commission about the work currently under
way in Brazil to establish a national youth secretariat and a national youth council.
She mentioned her concern about the lack of data specifically focusing on youth;
such data was imperative to policy planning and formulation. Furthermore, she
emphasized the need for greater civil society participation. Young people should be
major partners for development. In Brazil, United Nations offices worked with civil
society and the Government on various youth issues. The office of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization had created a youth
development index, which was comparable to the human development index. The
World Bank had moderated a dialogue between the Government and youth
organizations. Brazil was a lead country of the Youth Employment Network, in
which employers, employees and youth organizations participate as real partners.
The office of the United Nations Development Programme in Brazil was planning a
youth leadership summit to mobilize young people to get involved in the
Millennium Development Goals.
6. Guido Schmidt-Traub (Policy Adviser for the Millennium Project) presented
some of the implementation strategies required to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals, with particular emphasis on the need to engage social groups,
such as youth. The agenda of the World Programme of Action for Youth fit the
agenda of the goals. He highlighted those issues embodied in the goals that aimed to
improve the global situation of young people, such as the important focus on
education. Besides a focus on primary education, secondary and tertiary education
should be addressed. Governments should be bold and pro-active to achieve the
goals. Poverty reduction strategy papers should be in line with achieving the goals.
Civil society in general and youth organizations in particular had an important role
to play. Developed countries should fulfil commitments to make resources available.
Furthermore, there was a need for more investment in better data collection, while
data should be disaggregated by gender and age. There was a lack of trained
professionals in various fields needed to scale up development. The year 2005 might
be considered a “make or break” year regarding the implementation of the goals and
establishment of a global partnership for social development.
Discussion
7. During the discussion that followed the presentations, speakers addressed a
number of pertinent issues. One delegate asked which issues Governments should
address on a priority basis to promote youth development. Mr. Salviano responded
that, although youth issues would differ in each country, education was a priority
area to all. The important thing for Governments was to collaborate with youth
organizations to set their national youth development agenda.
8. Another delegate acknowledged the importance of the Millennium
Development Goals, but also drew attention to the commitments made by
Governments during other world conferences and summits. Regarding the five new
priority areas, attention should also go to youth affected by natural disasters.
Mr. Salviano explained the perspective of the participants to the Coimbra meeting
on the five new priority areas. Globalization and its social impact was identified as a
cross-cutting issue that should not be mentioned separately, but in relationship to all

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priority areas. Volunteerism was identified as a priority issue by itself that should be
added to the list.
9. Participants also wished to receive more information on how decisions would
be made regarding indicators to measure progress. Mr. Schmidt-Traub stated that the
discussion on indicators was ongoing, although the general consensus currently was
that the list should not be extended much further. The Millennium Project
encouraged Governments to set national goals and adjust data collection
accordingly.
10. The issue of the globalization of the media was raised, with images and
messages that exposed many young people to consumption patterns unaffordable to
them. The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development responded
that in certain cases, the messages popularized by the media were not necessarily
positive, but there were no simplified solutions in that area. For instance, real
progress had been made by banning the advertisement of alcohol and tobacco.
Mr. Schmidt-Traub added that the media could be constructive and referred to the
emerging discussion on international development in the media as positive.
Mr. Salviano added that the media should assist in spreading the voices of youth.
11. Another participant addressed the link between youth at risk and the family.
She referred to research that young people growing up in a family with both a
mother and father were less likely to engage in risky behaviour and would do better
in school. Mr. Salviano responded that it was more important to look at how the
family could be involved in youth development, no matter how it was composed.
The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development added that
Governments could not create family structures for people. They should focus on
how best to assist young people in existing situations.
12. Various participants raised questions on youth employment. One asked the
panel how to address the problem of youth unemployment, especially among
women. Another raised the need to include the private sector in youth employment
strategies. A third mentioned various projects running in his country that involved
young people in unpaid and paid unemployment. His Government, for example, had
established a national promotion fund to sponsor and support youth employment.
Ms. Florentino stated that youth could create their own jobs and asked the
Governments to be supportive in that regard. The Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development said that one of the focuses of the Youth Employment
Network was to develop entrepreneurship. Governments should assist young people
in starting up their own businesses. Mr. Schmidt-Traub said that youth
unemployment and the involvement of the private sector were interlinked and
Governments should strive to create conditions for greater job creation, including
addressing such issues as the rule of law, property rights and infrastructure.
13. One participant stated that the issue of the positive potential of young people
was somewhat missing in the presentations. Volunteerism offers an opportunity for
youth to contribute to society. He expressed concern with the term “youth at risk”.
Being young did not necessarily mean being in a dangerous period in life; rather, it
was a very exciting period of growth into independence.
14. One participant stressed the importance of information and communication
technologies for youth and their competitiveness in the global market.
Mr. Schmidt-Traub agreed that international communication technologies were

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critical to national development. Without access to international communication
technologies it was difficult to participate in the global economy and it was more
difficult to deliver services to people, including health services. Governments
should support greater investment in new technologies, including through greater
private investment.
15. One participant observed that all panellists stressed the need for a dialogue
between Governments and civil society. In his country, youth were directly involved
in the Government: the Minister for Youth Affairs was only 27 years old. Young
people were highly represented in the national and local governing bodies. The
national youth council was involved in policy making from conceptualization to
implementation. Ms. Florentino provided examples of how young people could be
partners for development. Young people could be involved in training for capacitybuilding,
in projects on the ground and in local youth councils. Mr. Salviano stated
that through non-formal education, young people could help to raise awareness
among their peers about issues of importance. “If you give young people the
opportunity to participate, they will grab it,” he said.

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Annex VII
List of documents before the Commission at its
forty-third session
Document symbol Agenda item Title or description
E/CN.5/2005/1 2 Provisional annotated agenda
E/CN.5/2005/2 2 Report of the Secretary-General on the review of methods of
work of the Commission for Social Development
E/CN.5/2005/3 4 (c) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the
Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social
Development on the work of the Institute during 2003 and 2004
E/CN.5/2005/4 and Add.1 4 (c) Note by the Secretary-General on nomination of members of
the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social
Development
E/CN.5/2005/5 3 (b) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the
Special Rapporteur on monitoring the implementation of the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons
with Disabilities
E/CN.5/2005/6 3 (a) Report of the Secretary-General on review of further
implementation of the World Summit for Social Development
and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the
General Assembly
E/CN.5/2005/L.1 2 Note by the Secretariat on the organization of work of the
session
E/CN.5/2005/L.2 3 (a) Draft declaration entitled “Declaration on the tenth anniversary
of the World Summit for Social Development”
E/CN.5/2005/L.3 3 (b) Draft resolution entitled “Further promotion of equalization of
opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities and
protection of their human rights”
E/CN.5/2005/L.4 3 (b) Draft resolution entitled “Comprehensive and integral
international convention to protect and promote the rights and
dignity of persons with disabilities”
E/CN.5/2005/L.5 5 Provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-fourth
session of the Commission
E/CN.5/2005/L.6 6 Draft report of the Commission on its forty-third session
E/CN.5/2005/NGO/1-16 3 Statements submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
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