UN Human Rights Treaties

E/2004/26
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United Nations
Commission for Social
Development
Report on the forty-second session
(21 February 2003 and
4-13 and 20 February 2004)
Economic and Social Council
Official Records, 2004
Supplement No. 6
Commission for Social
Development
Report on the forty-second session
(21 February 2003 and
4-13 and 20 February 2004)
Economic and Social Council
Official Records, 2004
Supplement No. 6
United Nations ??New York, 2004
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E/CN.5/2004/8
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures.

Summary
At its forty-second session, the Commission for Social Development considered
three topics under its agenda and multi-year programme of work: the priority theme,
“Improving public sector effectiveness”; the review of relevant United Nations plans
and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups; and emerging
issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting social development:
international migration and migrants from a social perspective.
In respect of the priority theme, the Commission adopted its agreed conclusions
and recommended them to the Economic and Social Council for endorsement.
Aside from holding a general debate on the priority theme, the Commission
held a panel discussion on “Improving public sector effectiveness”. The
Chairperson’s summary of the panel’s work is contained in annex I to the present
report.
Also under the priority theme, the Commission recommended to the Economic
and Social Council the adoption of a draft resolution entitled “Implementation of the
social objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”.
In connection with its review of plans and programmes of action pertaining to
the situation of social groups, the Commission adopted draft resolutions relating to
older persons, persons with disabilities and the family.
To promote wider awareness of modalities for a “bottom-up” approach to
review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, a
panel discussion was organized in order to bring before the Commission experts with
knowledge and experience of participatory methodologies. The Chairperson’s
summary of the discussion is contained in annex II to the present report.
The Commission also adopted a resolution on modalities for review and
appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002.
With regard to persons with disabilities, the Commission also recommended to
the Economic and Social Council the adoption of two draft resolutions.
The Commission recommended to the General Assembly, through the
Economic and Social Council, the adoption of a draft resolution concerning the
celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and
beyond.
As part of its consideration of the agenda item on “Emerging issues, trends and
new approaches to issues affecting social development”, the Commission heard a
panel presentation on the main findings of the Third International Forum for Social
Development, which took place in October 2003. The subject of the meeting was
“International migration and migrants from a social perspective”. Also under this
item, the Commission held a panel discussion on “International migration and
migrants from a social perspective”. The Chairperson’s summary of the discussion is
contained in annex III to the present report.
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 implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations
conferences and summits, the Commission had before it for its consideration the
iv
report of the Secretary-General on the review of the methods of work of the
Commission, which contained specific recommendations. The Commission, taking
note of the views expressed during the session, took note of the report of the
Secretary-General and decided to continue consideration and discussion of the
methods of work at its forty-third session.
The Commission was also invited to review the proposed strategic framework
for social policy and development for the biennium 2006-2007 and to provide its
comments thereon.
Finally, the Commission recommended that the Economic and Social Council
approve the provisional agenda and documentation for its forty-third session in 2005.
Contents
Chapter Page
I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention . . . . 1
A. Draft resolution to be recommended by the Council for adoption by the General
Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
B. Draft resolutions for adoption by the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
C. Agreed conclusions for adoption by the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
D. Draft decision for adoption by the Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
E. Resolution and decisions brought to the attention of the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
II. Organizational matters: review of the methods of work of the Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
III. Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special
session of the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
IV. Programme questions and other matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
V. Provisional agenda for the forty-third session of the Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
VI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-second session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
VII. Organization of the session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
A. Opening and duration of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
B. Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
C. Election of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
D. Agenda and organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
E. Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Annexes
I. Chairperson’s summary of the panel discussion on the priority theme “Improving public
sector effectiveness” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
II. Chairperson’s summary of the panel discussion on the review and appraisal of the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
III. Chairperson’s summary of the panel discussion on international migration and migrants from
a social perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
IV. List of documents before the Commission at its forty-second session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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Chapter I
Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social
Council or brought to its attention
A. Draft resolution to be recommended by the Council for adoption
by the General Assembly
1. The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and
Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolution:
Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of
the Family and beyond*
The Economic and Social Council,
Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft
resolution:
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 45/133 of 14 December
1990, 46/92 of 16 December 1991, 47/237 of 20 September 1993, 50/142 of
21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999,
56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002 and 58/15 of
3 December 2003 concerning the proclamation of, preparations for and observance
of the International Year of the Family in 1994 and its tenth anniversary in 2004,
Recalling also that relevant United Nations instruments on human rights as
well as relevant global plans and programmes of action call for the widest possible
protection and assistance to be accorded to the family, bearing in mind that in
different cultural, political and social systems various forms of the family exist,
Recalling further that the family is the basic unit of society and, as such,
should be strengthened, and that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection
and support,
Noting that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United
Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes
continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred
components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive
approach to development,
Recognizing that the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary
of the International Year of the Family provided a useful opportunity for drawing
further attention to the objectives of the Year for increasing cooperation at all levels
on family issues,
Also recognizing the commendable efforts made by Governments at the local
and national levels in carrying out specific programmes concerning families,
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 40-46.

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Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for all human
rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members are essential to family wellbeing
and to society at large, noting the importance of reconciliation of work and
family life, and recognizing the principle that both parents have common
responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child,
Aware that families are affected by social and economic changes, manifested as
observable worldwide trends and that the causes and consequences of those trends
concerning families have to be identified and analysed,
Noting with concern the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on
family life as well as the devastating effects on family life of other infectious
diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis,
Also noting with concern the devastating effects of difficult social and
economic conditions, armed conflicts and natural disasters on family life,
Recognizing the important role of non-governmental organizations, at both the
local and the national level, working in the interest of families,
Aware that there is a need for continued inter-agency cooperation on the family
in order to generate greater awareness of family issues among the governing bodies
of the United Nations system,
Recalling that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family will
be observed and celebrated during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,1
1. Notes that the follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year
of the Family is an integral part of the agenda and the multi-year programme of
work of the Commission on Social Development until 2006;
2. Urges Governments to continue to take sustained action at all levels
concerning family issues, including applied studies and research, in order to
promote the role of families in development and develop concrete measures and
approaches to address national priorities to deal with family issues;
3. Urges the international community to address family-related concerns
within the framework of the commitments undertaken at relevant major United
Nations conferences and their follow-up processes, including those agreed to in the
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly at its
twenty-sixth special session in June 2001;2
4. Encourages more inter-agency cooperation within the United Nations
system on issues related to the family;
5. Encourages the regional commissions of the United Nations, within
existing resources, to further promote the exchange of experiences at the regional
level through the provision of technical assistance, including advisory services to
Governments upon request;
6. Emphasizes that the Secretariat should continue its important role in the
programme of work on family issues within the United Nations system, and in this
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1 E/CN.5/2004/3.
2 Resolution S-26/2.

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regard encourages the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat,
within existing resources, to continue to cooperate with Governments, the United
Nations system and civil society in strengthening national capacities through the
implementation of the mandated objectives of the Year, including through:
(a) The provision of policy guidance on emerging issues and trends affecting
the family through the preparation of studies and research papers aimed, in
particular, at enhancing the role of family in society;
(b) The provision of technical assistance to countries, upon request, to
enhance, where appropriate, their national capacities in the area of family-related
work;
7. Invites the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to disseminate a
compilation of existing development cooperation activities of the United Nations
system in the field of the family for the benefit of the Department of Economic and
Social Affairs, other relevant United Nations bodies, Member States and observers
by the time of the holding of the forty-fourth session of the Commission for Social
Development;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to:
(a) Give appropriate consideration to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family by preparing the observance of the International
Day of Families on 15 May 2004 and by taking appropriate steps for the celebration
of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family;
(b) Continue to utilize the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities to
provide financial assistance for activities specific to the family and for projects of
direct benefit to it, with special focus on least developed and developing countries;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of
the present resolution to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.
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
Comprehensive and integral international convention on
protection and promotion of 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 to 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
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 47-51.

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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,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/12 of 21 July
2003 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,
by which the Assembly decided that the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive
and Integral International Convention on Promotion and Protection of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities would start the 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,
Welcoming the progress made in the Working Group established by the Ad Hoc
Committee in preparing a draft text that will form the basis for negotiations on a
draft convention in the Ad Hoc Committee, taking into account all contributions,
Encouraging Member States and observers to participate actively in the Ad
Hoc Committee in order to present to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority,
a draft text of a convention,
Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be
guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
Recognizing the positive steps taken by Governments, including continued
collaboration at regional and international levels, to promote and protect the rights
and dignity of persons with disabilities,
Encouraged by the increased support of the international community for the
promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities under
a comprehensive and integral approach,
1. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to
contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft international convention by, inter
alia, providing its views regarding the social development perspective, bearing in
mind 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
2. 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 further contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee,
drawing from her experience in the monitoring of the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and in collaboration with
the Secretariat, by, inter alia, providing her views on the elements to be considered
in drawing up a draft international convention;
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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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3. 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;
4. 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 jointly support the work
of the Ad Hoc Committee;
5. Invites bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system,
including the funds and programmes, in particular those working in the fields of
social and economic development and human rights, within their respective
mandates, as well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human
rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter, to continue
to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee suggestions about elements to be
considered in a draft international convention;
6. 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 resolutions 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and 57/229 of 18
December 2002, and 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;
7. 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;
8. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility with
reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation at the United
Nations for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly
decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
9. Requests the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur to report, as
part of their presentations to the Commission for Social Development at its fortythird
session, on the implementation of the present resolution.

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Draft resolution II
Further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities, and protection of the human rights
of persons with disabilities*
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and
reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights instruments,
Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by
which it 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, and 58/132 of
22 December 2003,
Recalling further General Assembly resolutions 56/168 of 19 December 2001,
by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of
Persons with Disabilities, 57/229 of 18 December 2002, in which it sought views on
proposals for a convention, and 58/246 of 26 November 2003, by which it decided
that the Ad Hoc Committee would start negotiations on a draft convention at its
third session,
Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/26 of 24 July
2002 on further promotion of the equalization of opportunities by, for and with
persons with disabilities and protection of their human rights, Commission on
Human Rights resolution 2003/49 of 23 April 20035 on the human rights of persons
with disabilities and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the
Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions,
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,
1. Takes note of the views of Governments, contained in the report of the
Secretary-General,6 on the proposals contained in the report of the former Special
Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission on Social Development,7 especially on
the suggested supplement to the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities contained in the annex to the report of the Special
Rapporteur,8 as well as the views expressed during the forty-second session of the
Commission for Social Development;
2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on Disability undertaken in
accordance with section IV of the Standard Rules;
__________________
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 52-55.
5 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23),
chap. II, sect. A.
6 E/CN.5/2004/4.
7 E/CN.5/2002/4.
8 Ibid., annex.

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3. Recommends that the General Assembly consider the suggested
supplement to the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons
with Disabilities contained in the annex to the report of the Special Rapporteur, with
a view to completing its consideration at its fifty-ninth session;
4. Recommends also that the General Assembly, in considering the
suggested supplement to the Standard Rules, take into account the work of the Ad
Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;
5. Invites the Special Rapporteur on Disability to contribute to the
consideration by the General Assembly of the suggested supplement to the Standard
Rules, and requests the Secretary-General to make her contributions available to all
Member States and observer States;
6. Encourages Governments, as well as 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. Requests the Special Rapporteur, to submit a report on the monitoring of
the implementation of the Standard Rules to the Commission for Social
Development at its forty-third session.
Draft resolution III
Implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development*
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen
from 6 to 12 March 1995, 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 at Geneva from 26 June to
1 July 2000,
Recalling also General Assembly resolution 56/218 of 21 December 2001, by
which the Assembly established the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the General
Assembly for the Final Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the United
Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s to conduct, during
the fifty-seventh session of the Assembly, the final review and appraisal of the New
Agenda and related initiatives on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General on
the independent high-level quality evaluation, as well as on the basis of proposals by
the Secretary-General on the modalities of the future engagement of the United
Nations with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and its resolution
56/508 of 27 June 2002,
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 4-7.

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Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration9 of 8 September 2000,
the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development10
of 16 September 2002 and General Assembly resolution 57/7 of 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, on the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and
international support, 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 effectively fulfil its
mandate,
Welcoming the adoption of the chapter entitled “Sustainable development for
Africa” in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted at the World Summit
on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to
4 September 2002,11
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 199512 and 12
June 200113 submitted to the high-level segments of the Economic and Social
Council devoted to the consideration of the development of Africa,
Also bearing in mind 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,
Noting with appreciation the commitment of the international community in its
support of the New Partnership, and welcoming in this regard the outcome of the
third Tokyo International Conference on African Development,
Underlining that international cooperation based on a spirit of partnership and
solidarity among all countries contributes to create an enabling environment for the
achievement of 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 notes the outcome of the fourth
Pan-African Conference of Ministers of Public Service, held in Stellenbosch, South
Africa, from 4 to 7 May 2003,
__________________
9 See General Assembly resolution 55/2.
10 See General Assembly resolution 57/2.
11 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa,
26 August to 4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and
corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex.
12 E/1995/81.
13 E/2001/83.

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Recognizing also the serious challenges facing social development in Africa, in
particular illiteracy, poverty and HIV/AIDS, the scourge of malaria and other major
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, in a spirit of partnership, inter alia,
international, regional and subregional cooperation for social development and
implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development 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”;
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 Development as a socioeconomic
programme of the African Union that embodies the vision and
commitment of all African Governments and peoples;
7. Also welcomes the commitment of African countries 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, 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. Notes the progress made with respect to the African peer review
mechanism, in particular the accession of a number of member States of the African
Union to the mechanism, as well as the appointment of the Panel of Eminent
Persons;
9. Stresses the need for renewed and political will at the national, regional
and international levels to invest in people and their well-being in order to achieve
the objectives of social development;
10. Emphasizes that democracy, respect for all human rights and fundamental
freedoms and 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;
11. Emphasizes also the objectives of the New Partnership to eradicate
poverty in Africa and to place African countries, both individually and collectively,

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on a path of sustainable growth and development, thus facilitating Africa’s
participation in the globalization process;
12. 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 on Social Development14 and the Programme of Action of
the World Summit for Social Development15 and the twenty-fourth special session
of the General Assembly and the need for ensuring, within the framework of the
New Partnership, their involvement in the planning, elaboration, implementation
and evaluation of social policies at the national, regional and international levels;
13. Welcomes with appreciation actions already under way at the regional
level to organize the activities of the United Nations system around thematic
clusters16 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 New Partnership;
14. Stresses, in that context, the vital need for the United Nations in assisting
Member States to achieve the development objectives and targets of the United
Nations Millennium Declaration and to mainstream them in an integrated and
coordinated manner in United Nations development activities;
15. Recognizes that illiteracy, poverty, HIV/AIDS, the scourge of malaria and
other major 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;
16. Notes the African Union declaration on the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development of July 2003, in which the Union recognized the need for the formal
integration of the New Partnership into the structures and processes of the Union as
well as the need to sustain the momentum, genuine interest, support and solidarity
created by the New Partnership;
17. 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 in the new spirit of partnership;
18. 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;
19. 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, in response to the needs of individual countries within its larger
framework;
__________________
14 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I.
15 Ibid., annex II.
16 The clusters are: 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.

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20. 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 of General Assembly resolution 57/7 of
4 November 2002;
21. 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;
22. Acknowledges the 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 of Social
Development at its forty-first session,17 and invites him to continue to reflect those
dimensions in future reports submitted to the Commission on its priority themes;
23. Invites all development partners, including regional and international
development partners and the United Nations system, to support the governance and
public administration programme and the Pan-African 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, as outlined in the Stellenbosch Declaration;
24. Acknowledges the linkage between the work of the Committee of African
Ministers of Public Service and the programmatic thrust of the New Partnership;
25. Recommends that the Commission for Social Development continue to
give prominence to the social dimensions of the New Partnership in its future
priority themes;
26. Decides to bring the present resolution to the attention of the General
Assembly at its fifty-ninth session during its consideration of the agenda item
entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation
and international support”.
C. Agreed conclusions for adoption by the Council
3. The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and
Social Council the adoption of the following text:
Agreed conclusions of the Commission for Social Development on
improving public sector effectiveness*
The Economic and Social Council,
Endorses the following agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission for
Social Development with respect to its priority theme at its forty-second session:
1. Governments have the primary responsibility for the provision of social
services in order to enhance social development and contribute to the achievement
of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the
__________________
17 E/CN.5/2003/5 and Corr.1.
* For the discussion, see chap. III, paras. 22-26.

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Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development18 and the Programme of Action of
the World Summit for Social Development,19 the outcome document adopted at the
twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,20 entitled World Summit for
Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All in a
Globalizing World, and the Millennium Declaration.21 In this regard, national
priorities and policies have the leading role in the development process. At the same
time, national efforts need to be supported by an enabling international environment.
The Commission emphasizes the crucial role of the public sector in, inter alia, the
provision of equitable, adequate and accessible social services for all to meet the
essential needs of the entire population, in particular those excluded from social
services and those most in need. Governments should constantly strive to improve
the public sector, taking into account the level of economic and social development
of each country.
2. The Commission reiterates that sound social and economic development
policies at the national and international levels should be part of the framework for
the improvement of the effectiveness of the public sector. This requires long-term
planning, well-defined priorities and coherent policies, effective implementation and
capacity-building. Those policies should be formulated and implemented by
Governments, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, and
should be supported by the international community.
3. The Commission acknowledges that improvement of public sector
effectiveness can be achieved through, inter alia, dialogue, partnership and
cooperation at all levels. The Commission encourages Governments to strengthen
the exchanges of experience and methods of effective delivery of public services.
The United Nations system and international financial, trade and economic
institutions and bilateral donors are invited to play an important role, through an
integrated and coherent approach, in assisting Governments, in particular those in
developing countries, least developed countries and countries with economies in
transition, in this endeavour, specifically in exchanging and disseminating good
practices and capacity-building activities aimed at improving public sector
effectiveness.
4. The Commission acknowledges that developing countries, in particular
the least developed countries, need to have a sufficient level of financial resources
in order to provide social services commensurate with the needs of their citizens.
5. The Commission recognizes that a substantial increase in official
development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries
are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives,
including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. In order to build support
for official development assistance, heads of State and Government have pledged to
further improve policies and development strategies, both nationally and
internationally, to enhance aid effectiveness.
__________________
18 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, annex I.
19 Ibid., annex II.
20 General Assembly resolution S-24/2, annex.
21 General Assembly resolution 55/2.

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6. Achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the Millennium Declaration, demands a new partnership between
developed and developing countries. In this context, the Commission stresses the
importance of the commitment recently made by heads of State and Government to
achieving sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law, as well
as to mobilizing domestic resources, attracting international flows, promoting
international trade as an engine for development, increasing international financial
and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt financing and external
debt relief and enhancing the coherence and consistency of the international
monetary, financial and trading systems.
7. Each country has the primary responsibility for its own economic and
social development, within which the role of national policies and development
strategies cannot be overemphasized. In this context, the Commission reaffirms that
international cooperation has an essential role in assisting developing countries,
including the least developed countries, in the strengthening of their human,
institutional and technological capacity and that the improvement of the
effectiveness of the public sector is one of the conditions for social development
requiring strengthened international cooperation.
8. The Commission stresses that in making recommendations on
macroeconomic policies and implementing various programmes related to
development and poverty eradication, the international financial institutions are
invited to take full account of the role and specificity of the public sector, notably
public social services.
9. At the international level, the Commission has the primary responsibility
in the follow-up to and review of the implementation of the commitments made at
the World Summit for Social Development and the further initiatives agreed upon at
the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly. In this regard, the
Commission is a forum where countries can participate in an exchange of views and
assessment of efforts, including through best practices aimed, inter alia, at
promoting public sector effectiveness and seeking optimal ways of ensuring
equitable delivery of social services in order to enhance social cohesion and
accelerate social development.
10. The Commission recommends that, when making decisions about
allocation of public resources, Governments, with the contribution of relevant
stakeholders, should consider the social development goals when developing or
strengthening, inter alia, their national poverty eradication policies and strategies,
taking into account that the financing of effective social services is an investment in
economic growth and should be evaluated in the context of their impact on social
development goals as well as on public expenditures and finances.
11. The Commission, while noting that economic hardship has in some cases
led to reduced public social expenditures, recognizes that social and economic
development policies and programmes should be complementary and that effective
spending in strengthening public social services, including human capital
development, social equity enhancement and social protection, contributes to longterm
economic development and the development of society as a whole.
12. The Commission invites Governments to consider complementary and
alternative approaches to the delivery of social services, including decentralization,

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privatization and public-private partnerships or, where appropriate, the introduction
of competitive market-based structures. In general, social services can be delivered
most effectively and efficiently by entities that are most appropriate and closest to
local communities and are therefore more aware of their needs. While services can
be provided by private entities, the fundamental objectives of those services and the
ultimate responsibility of the State remain unchanged. The Commission reaffirms
that any reform of public service delivery should aim at promoting and attaining the
goals of universal and equitable access to those services by all, without
discrimination, and at eradicating poverty and the promotion and protection of all
human rights, promoting full and productive employment and fostering social
integration. In this regard, factors such as the rule of law, good governance, sound
financial management at all levels, gender equality and strengthened international
cooperation are important elements for success in meeting these objectives.
13. The Commission underlines that improvement of public sector
effectiveness requires, inter alia, that all countries strive to eliminate corruption at
all levels and welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of the United
Nations Convention against Corruption.
14. The Commission emphasizes the importance of dialogue and inclusive
stakeholder participation, as appropriate, in the formulation, implementation and
evaluation of social development policies, including policies on social services, to
increase efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, affordability and flexibility of such
services and the importance of the sense of ownership among all relevant
stakeholders, including civil society, as well as entities that provide social services.
15. The Commission underscores the importance of the principles of
transparency, accountability, integrity, efficiency and equality for improving the
effectiveness of the public sector. In addition, the Commission considers that when
Governments address the monitoring and evaluation of the delivery and impact of
social services, equitable access to and quality of such services as well as the
attainment of their initial objectives should be taken into account.
D. Draft decision for adoption by the Council
4. 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 forty-first
session and provisional agenda and documentation for the fortysecond
session of the Commission
The Economic and Social Council:
(a) Takes note of the report of the Commission for Social Development on
its forty-second session;
(b) Approves the provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-third
session of the Commission as set out below:

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Provisional agenda and documentation for the forty-third session
of the Commission
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters: review of
methods of work of the Commission for Social Development.
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on review of the methods of work of the
Commission for Social Development
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;
(iii) Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002;
(iv) Tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and
beyond.
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on the review of further implementation
of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the
twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly
Report of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for
Social Development on the monitoring of the implementation of the
Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities
World Youth Report 2005
Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the Second World
Assembly on Ageing
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.

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Documentation
Note by the Secretary-General on the draft programme of work of the
Division for Social Policy and development for the biennium 2006-2007
Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Board of the
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
Note by the Secretary-General on nominations of members of the Board
of the 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.
E. Resolution and decisions brought to the attention of the Council
5. The following resolution and decisions adopted by the Commission are
brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council:
Resolution 42/1
Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002
The Commission for Social Development,
Recalling all its previous resolutions on ageing and on preparations for the
Second World Assembly on Ageing,
Recalling also all resolutions of the General Assembly on ageing and on the
International Year of Older Persons,
Recalling further that the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing,
2002,22 adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid from 8
to 12 April 2002, requested the systematic review of its implementation by Member
States as being essential for its success in improving the quality of life of older
persons and that the modalities of review and appraisal should be decided as soon as
possible,
Bearing in mind that the General Assembly, in its resolution 58/134 of 26
November 2002, requested the Commission for Social Development to address the
issue of the periodicity and the format of the review of the implementation of the
Madrid Plan of Action at its forty-second session, taking into account the provisions
of General Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003,
Also bearing in mind that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution
2003/14 of 21 July 2003, invited Governments, the United Nations system and civil
society to participate in a “bottom-up” approach to the review and appraisal of the
Madrid Plan of Action,
__________________
22 Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.

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Taking note of the note by the Secretariat on modalities for the review and
appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action,23
1. Reiterates its call to all actors at all levels, as appropriate, to participate
in the implementation of and follow-up to the Madrid International Plan of Action
on Ageing, 2002;22
2. Decides to undertake the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of
Action every five years, with each review and appraisal cycle to focus on one of the
priority directions identified in the Madrid Plan of Action;
3. Encourages Member States to establish or to strengthen, as appropriate,
national coordinating bodies or mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of and
dissemination of information about the Madrid Plan of Action, including its review
and appraisal;
4. Also encourages Member States to include both ageing-specific policies
and ageing-mainstreaming efforts in their review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan
of Action and in their national strategies, bearing in mind the importance of
mainstreaming ageing into global agendas;
5. Requests the Secretary-General, through the Department of Economic
and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, to facilitate and promote the Madrid Plan of
Action, including by making proposals for the design of guidelines for policy
development and implementation, advocating means to mainstream ageing issues
into development agendas, engaging in dialogue with civil society and the private
sector and promoting information exchange;
6. Also requests the Secretary-General to propose guidelines for the review
and appraisal process, taking into account the views of Member States, civil society
and the private sector, including a proposal for a specific theme emanating from the
Madrid Plan of Action for the first review and appraisal cycle;
7. Requests the United Nations regional commissions, within their
mandates, to promote and facilitate the implementation, review and appraisal of and
dissemination of information about the Madrid Plan of Action at the regional level,
inter alia, by assisting national institutions, at their request, in implementation and
monitoring of their actions on ageing, and stresses that such regional
implementation strategies should take into account initiatives currently under way in
a number of regions;
8. Requests the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to actively
support national efforts of review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action by
providing, upon request, among other things, technical assistance for capacitybuilding,
including for the development of modalities for disaggregating population
data and statistics by age and sex;
9. Encourages the United Nations funds and programmes, within their
mandates, to continue integrating ageing, including from a gender perspective, in
their programmes and projects, including at country level, where appropriate, and to
report on their progress in their annual reports to the Economic and Social Council;
__________________
23 E/CN.5/2004/6.

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10. Requests the Secretary-General to forward his report on the
implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action to the forty-third session of the
Commission for Social Development in 2005.
Decision 42/101
Review of methods of work of the Commission for
Social Development
The Commission for Social Development takes note of the report of the
Secretary-General on the review of methods of work of the Commission24 and the
views expressed by delegations at its forty-second session and decides to continue
consideration of the review of the methods of work of the Commission at its fortythird
session.
Decision 42/102
Report of the Secretary-General on improving public
sector effectiveness
The Commission for Social Development takes note of the report of the
Secretary-General on improving public sector effectiveness.25
__________________
24 E/CN.5/2004/2.
25 E/CN.5/2004/5.

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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 resumed 14th meetings, on 11 and 20 February 2004. It had
before it the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the methods of work of
the Commission for Social Development (E/CN.5/2004/2).
2. At the 11th meeting, on 11 February, the Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development made an introductory statement.
3. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the
United States of America, India, Indonesia and Peru, and the observers for Ireland
(on behalf of the European Union), Cuba, Canada and Qatar (on behalf of the States
Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China).
4. The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development responded to
questions raised during the discussion.
Action taken by the Commission
Review of the methods of work of the Commission for Social Development
5. At its resumed 14th meeting, on 20 February, following statements by the
representatives of India and Switzerland and the observers for Cuba, Ireland (on
behalf of the European Union) and Egypt, the Commission decided to take note of
the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the methods of work of the
Commission for Social Development (E/CN.5/2004/2) as well as the views
expressed by delegations on the review of its methods of work and to continue
consideration of the subject at its next session (see chap. I, sect. E, decision 42/101).

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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 14th meetings, from 4 to 6, 9 to 13 and 20 February
2004. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on preparation for and observance of the
tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family (2004) (E/CN.5/2004/3);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the views of Governments on the
proposals contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur on Disability
(E/CN.5/2002/4), especially on the suggested supplement to the Standard Rules on
the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (E/CN.5/2004/4);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on improving public sector effectiveness
(E/CN.5/2004/5);
(d) Note by the Secretariat on modalities for the review and appraisal of the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (E/CN.5/2004/6);
(e) Statement submitted by Franciscans International and International
Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres, non-governmental
organizations in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
and Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Dominican
Leadership Conference, Elizabeth Seton Federation, International Association of
Charities, International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation,
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Sisters of Notre
Dame de Namur and Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries, non-governmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2004/NGO/1);
(f) Statement submitted by International Movement ATD Fourth World, a
non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2004/NGO/2);
(g) Statement submitted by International Federation on Ageing, a nongovernmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council; American Psychological Association, Anglican Consultative
Council, The Center for Migration Studies of New York, Child Welfare League of
America, International Federation for Home Economics, International Federation of
Social Workers, International Kolping Society, International Union of Psychological
Science and World Federation of the Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, nongovernmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council; and Gray Panthers, a non-governmental organization on the roster
(E/CN.5/2004/NGO/3);
(h) Statement submitted by Elizabeth Seton Federation, International
Association of Charities and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, non-governmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2004/NGO/4);

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(i) Statement submitted by Pax Romana, a non-governmental organization in
special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2004/NGO/5);
(j) Statement submitted by the International Federation of Social Workers, a
non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2004/NGO/6);
(k) Statement submitted by Congregations of St. Joseph and Franciscans
International, non-governmental organizations in general consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council; and Dominican Leadership Conference, Elizabeth
Seton Federation, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Sisters of Notre Dame de
Namur and Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries, non-governmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(E/CN.5/2004/NGO/7);
(l) Statement submitted by Congregations of St. Joseph, Franciscans
International and World Association of Girls Guides and Girl Scouts, nongovernmental
organizations in general consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council; and Child Welfare League of America, Elizabeth Seton Federation,
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation and
Lutheran World Federation, non-governmental organizations in special consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council (E/CN.5/2004/NGO/8);
(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.5/2004/NGO/9);
(n) Statement submitted by Soroptimist International, a non-governmental
organization in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
and European Union of Women, Foundation for the Rights of the Family,
International Confederation of Christian Family Movements, International Council
of Psychologists, International Council on Alcohol and Addictions, International
Kolping Society and Pax Romana (International Catholic Movement for Intellectual
and Cultural Affairs and International Movement of Catholic Students), nongovernmental
organizations in special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council (E/CN.5/2004/NGO/10).
2. At the 2nd meeting, on 4 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 under items sub-items 3 (a) and 3 (b).
3. At the same meeting, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social
Affairs addressed the Commission.
Action taken by the Commission on agenda item 3
Implementation of the social objectives of the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development
4. At the 12th meeting, on 12 February, the observer for Qatar, 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

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objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development” (E/CN.5/2004/L.8),
which read:
“The Economic and Social Council,
“Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held in
Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, 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,
“Recalling also General Assembly resolution 56/218 of 21 December
2001, by which the Assembly established the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole
of the General Assembly for the Final Review and Appraisal of the
Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of
Africa in the 1990s to conduct, during the fifty-seventh session of the
Assembly, the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda and related
initiatives on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General on the
independent high-level quality evaluation, as well as on the basis of proposals
by the Secretary-General on the modalities of the future engagement of the
United Nations with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and its
resolution 56/508 of 27 June 2002,
“Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September
2000 and the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development of 20 September 2002 and General Assembly resolution 57/7 of
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,
“Welcoming the endorsement of the decision of the Secretary-General by
the General Assembly in its resolution 57/300, by which it established the
Office of the Special Adviser on Africa with the responsibilities of
coordinating the United Nations support for Africa, guiding reporting on
Africa and the coordination of global advocacy in support of the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development,
“Recalling also 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 effectively fulfil its
mandate,
“Welcoming the adoption of the chapter entitled ‘Sustainable
development for Africa’ in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development,
“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,

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“Bearing in mind the reports of the Secretary-General of 20 June 1995
and 12 June 2001 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,
“Noting the outcome of the Third Tokyo International Conference on
African Development (TICAD III), and welcoming in this regard the adoption
of the TICAD Tenth Anniversary Declaration, in which the commitment of the
international community in its support of the New Partnership was declared,
“Underlining 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 also the urgent need to continue to assist African countries
in their efforts to diversify their economies as well as enhance capacitybuilding
and promote regional cooperation, and in this context note the
outcome of the 4th Pan African Conference of Ministers of Public Service,
held in Stellenbosch, South Africa from 4 to 7 May 2003,
“Recognizing further 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 Development 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’;
“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 Development as a socioeconomic
programme of the African Union that embodies the vision and
commitment of all African Governments and peoples;

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“7. Welcomes also the Maputo Declaration on the integration of the
secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development in the African
Union secretariat;
“8. Welcomes further the commitment of African countries 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, 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;
“9. 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;
“10. 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;
“11. Emphasizes also the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development to eradicate poverty in Africa and to place African countries,
both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and
development and thus facilitating Africa’s participation in the globalization
process;
“12. Underlines the need for effective partnership and cooperation
between Governments and the relevant actors of civil society, including nongovernmental
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 Development 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;
“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 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 in
assisting Member States to achieve the development objectives and targets of

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the United Nations Millennium Declaration 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, 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;
“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
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 of General Assembly
resolution 57/7 of 20 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 Partnership in his report on the priority theme ‘National and
international cooperation for social development’ to the Commission of Social
Development at its forty-first session 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,

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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 to actively 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. Recommends the Commission for Social Development continue to
give prominence to the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development in its future priority themes;
“29. Decides to bring the present resolution to the attention of the
General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session during its consideration of the
agenda item entitled ‘New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in
implementation and international support’.”
5. At its 14th meeting, on 13 February, the Commission was informed that the
draft resolution contained no programme budget implications.
6. At the same meeting, 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 revisions to the draft resolution, which were circulated in an
informal paper.
7. Also at the 14th meeting, the Commission recommended draft resolution
E/CN.5/2004/L.8, as revised, for adoption by the Economic and Social Council (see
chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution III).
Priority theme: improving public sector effectiveness (agenda
item 3 (a))
8. At its 2nd, 4th and 5th meetings, on 4 and 5 February, the Commission held a
general discussion on agenda item 3 (a).
9. At the 2nd meeting, on 4 February, statements were made by the
representatives of Zambia, Argentina and Peru and the observers for Ireland (on
behalf of the European Union as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia and Turkey), Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the Group of 77), Israel, Cuba and Chile.
10. At the same meeting, statements were made by the observers for the following
non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social
Council: Franciscans International, International Movement ATD Fourth World,

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International Federation of Social Workers and International Council on Social
Welfare.
11. At the 4th meeting, on 5 February, statements were made by the
representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Korea, China,
Jamaica, Switzerland, Guatemala, Indonesia, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, El
Salvador and South Africa, as well as the observers for the Philippines and Mali.
12. At the same meeting, the representative of the World Bank made a statement.
13. Also at the 4th meeting, the observer for the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies made a statement.
14. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Joint United Nations Programme
on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(UNAIDS).
15. At the 5th meeting, on 5 February, statements were made by the
representatives of India, Senegal, the Russian Federation, the United States of
America, the United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, the Sudan, Ghana and
Nigeria, as well as the observers for Thailand and Azerbaijan.
16. At the same meeting, the representative of the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific made a statement.
17. Also at the 5th meeting, the observer for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
made a statement.
18. At the same meeting, the representative of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) made a statement.
19. Also at the same meeting, statements were made by the observers for the
following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; Triglav
Circle; and International Council of Psychologists (also on behalf of the American
Psychological Association).
20. At its 3rd meeting, on 4 February, the Commission held a panel discussion
under the sub-item, followed by an inter-active dialogue with the panellists.
Presentations were made by Mary Jo Bane, Professor of Public Policy and
Management, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, United States of
America; Peter Humphreys, Director of Research, Irish National Institute of Public
Administration; and Uma Devi Sambasivan, Professor, Centre for Women’s and
Gender Studies, University of Bergen, Norway.
21. A summary of the panel discussion by the Chairperson is contained in annex I
to the present report.

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Action taken by the Commission on agenda item 3 (a)
Draft agreed conclusions on improving public sector effectiveness
22. At the 7th meeting, on 6 February, the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission,
Ivana Grollová (Czech Republic), introduced the draft agreed conclusions on the
priority theme, which was circulated in an informal paper.
23. At its resumed 14th meeting, on 20 February, the Commission had before it a
revised paper (E/CN.5/2004/L.9) containing the draft agreed conclusions submitted
by the Vice-Chairperson, Ivana Grollová (Czech Republic), on the basis of informal
consultations.
24. Statements on the text were made by the representatives of Senegal, China, the
Sudan and the Russian Federation and the observers for Cuba, Mali and Qatar.
25. At the same meeting, following a response by the Secretary, the Commission
adopted the draft agreed conclusions (E/CN.5/2004/L.9) (see chap. I, sect. C).
26. The observer for Egypt made a statement.
Report of the Secretary-General on improving pubic sector
effectiveness
27. At its resumed 14th meeting, on 20 February, on the proposal of the
Chairperson, the Commission decided to take note of the report of the Secretary-
General on improving public sector effectiveness (E/CN.5/2004/5) (see chap. I,
sect. E, decision 42/102).
Review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of
action pertaining to the situation of social groups (agenda
item 3 (b))
28. At its 6th, 7th and 8th meetings, on 6 and 9 February, the Commission held a
general discussion on agenda item 3 (b).
29. At the 6th meeting, on 6 February, statements were made by the
representatives of Zambia, China, Mexico, Bangladesh, Japan, the Central African
Republic, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and the Russian Federation as well as the observers
for Ireland (on behalf of the European Union as well as Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro,
Slovakia, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey),
Algeria and Venezuela.
30. At the same meeting, the observer for the Holy See made a statement.
31. Also at the 6th meeting, the representative of the International Labour
Organization (ILO) made a statement.
32. At the same meeting, statements were made by the observers for World Blind
Union and Inclusion International (International League of Societies for Persons

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with Mental Handicaps), non-governmental organizations in consultative status with
the Economic and Social Council.
33. At the 7th meeting, on 6 February, the Commission heard presentations on
technical cooperation activities by the representatives of the Division for Social
Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well
as a statement by the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development.
34. Also at the 7th meeting, the representative of Jamaica made a statement under
the general discussion on sub-item 3 (b).
35. At the same meeting, statements were made by the observers for the following
non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social
Council: International Council on Alcohol and Addictions; Child Welfare League of
America; World Federation of the Deaf (WFD); Rehabilitation International;
Disabled People’s International; and David M. Kennedy Center for International
Studies.
36. At the 8th meeting, on 9 February, statements were made by the
representatives of the Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Viet Nam, Belarus, Ghana,
Argentina and Pakistan, and the observers for Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon and
Thailand.
37. At the same meeting, statements were made by the observers for the following
non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social
Council: HelpAge International; New Humanity; World Family Organization; and
International Federation on Ageing.
38. At its 9th meeting, on 9 February, the Commission held a panel discussion,
followed by an inter-active dialogue with the panellists, on modalities for the review
and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002 (agenda
item 3 (b) (iii)). Presentations were made by Ms. Heather Ricketts, Lecturer,
Department of Sociology and Social Works, University of the West Indies, Jamaica;
Ms. Amanda Heslop, Research Manager, HelpAge International, London, United
Kingdom; and Mr. Dia Aboubacar, Inspector General, Ministry of Planning,
Conakry, Guinea.
39. A summary of the panel discussion by the Chairperson is contained in annex II
to the present report.
Action taken by the Commission on agenda item 3 (b)
Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of
the Family and beyond
40. At the 10th meeting, on 10 February, the representative of Benin introduced a
draft resolution entitled “Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International
Year of the Family and beyond” (E/CN.5/2004/L.3). Subsequently, Nigeria and
Zambia joined in sponsoring the draft resolution, which read:
“The General Assembly,
“Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 45/133 of 14
December 1990, 46/92 of 16 December 1991, 47/237 of 20 September 1993,

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50/142 of 21 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999, 56/113 of 19
December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002 and 58/15 of 3 December 2003
concerning the proclamation, preparations for and observance of the
International Year of the Family,
“Recalling also that major United Nations instruments on human rights
and social policy, as well as relevant global plans and programmes of action,
call for the widest possible protection and assistance to be accorded to the
family,
“Noting that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the world
conferences of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide
policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies
and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to
development,
“Recognizing that the preparations for and observance of the tenth
anniversary of the International Year of the Family provided a useful
opportunity for drawing further attention to the objectives of the Year for
increasing cooperation on family issues at all levels,
“Also recognizing the commendable efforts made by Governments at the
local and national levels in carrying out specific programmes concerning the
family,
“Convinced that equality between women and men and respect for the
human rights of all family members is essential to family well-being and to
society at large, and noting the importance of reconciliation of work and
family life,
“Aware that families are affected by social and economic changes,
manifested as observable worldwide trends, and that the causes and
consequences of those trends concerning families have to be identified and
analysed,
“Noting with concern the devastating effects of human immunodeficiency
virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic on family
life, and urging the international community to address family-related concerns
within the framework of the commitments undertaken, as agreed in the
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly
at its twenty-sixth special session in June 2001,
“Recognizing the important role of non-governmental organizations, at
both the local and national levels, working in the interest of families,
“Aware that there is a need for inter-agency cooperation in the field of
families to generate greater awareness of family issues among the governing
bodies of the United Nations system,
“Recalling that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family will be celebrated during the fifty-ninth session of the General
Assembly,
“1. Decides that the follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family will be an integral part of the agenda and the

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multiyear programme of work of the Commission on Social Development until
2006;
“2. Urges Governments to continue to take sustained actions at all
levels concerning family issues, including studies and research, to promote the
role of families in development and to develop concrete measures and
approaches to address national priorities to deal with family issues;
“3. Invites Governments to continue their actions to build familyfriendly
societies, inter alia, by promoting the rights of individual family
members, in particular gender equality and the rights of the child;
“4. Emphasizes that the active participation and involvement of nongovernmental
organizations as partners should be encouraged, in order to
benefit from their experience and grass-roots links to promote local and
national participation and action;
“5. Calls upon research and academic institutions to continue to play a
valuable role in the family-policy process at all levels, particularly in
improving knowledge and information on families;
“6. Recommends that all relevant actors, including Governments,
research and academic institutions and civil society, contribute to developing
strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening the economic and
sustainable livelihood of families;
“7. Urges that more inter-agency cooperation and a wide range of
activities be undertaken by the United Nations system in the area of the family;
“8. Notes with appreciation the study entitled ‘Major trends affecting
families worldwide’, which provides a framework for the future activities of
the programme on the family of the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs of the Secretariat;
“9. Encourages the regional commissions to promote further the
exchange of experience at the subregional and regional levels and to encourage
coordination of efforts among regional intergovernmental organizations, for
example by establishing or strengthening regional-level working groups and
structures for coordination purposes, by providing support for nongovernmental
efforts, as well as by providing technical assistance, including
advisory services, to Governments;
“10. Ensures that the programme on the family shall continue its lead
entity role, in cooperation with Governments, the United Nations system and
civil society, in strengthening national capacities through the implementation
of the mandated objectives of the International Year of the Family, entailing,
inter alia, the provision of technical assistance to national coordination
mechanisms, diagnostic studies, exchanges of expertise and experiences on
salient family issues, research and data collection, information dissemination
and policy and programme coordination within and outside the United Nations
system;
“11. Requests the Secretary-General to:
“(a) Give appropriate consideration to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family by preparing the observance of the

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International Day of Families on 15 May 2004 and by taking appropriate steps
to promote the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of
the Family;
“(b) Initiate a research agenda on family concerns, including balancing
work and familial responsibilities, fatherhood, changes in the family and
society, the family as a source of cohesion, families as income-generating
enterprises, analysis of family legislations, and family as caregiver;
“(c) Continue to utilize the United Nations Trust Fund to support
national actions and projects that directly promote the objectives of the
International Year in the developing countries, especially in the least
developed countries, and build national capacities for long-term familyoriented
policies, including support for research, data collection, information
exchange and experience sharing between countries on family issues;
“(d) Incorporate a capacity-building component in the programme on the
family to provide advisory services, to assist Governments in integrating
family-related programmes into national development strategies and
facilitating the implementation and evaluation of national family-related
policies and programmes within the framework of the objectives of the
International Year;
“(e) Integrate a report on the implementation of the present resolution in
the report on the implementation of resolution 58/15 at the fifty-ninth session
of the General Assembly.”
41. At its 14th meeting, on 13 February, the Commission was informed that the
draft resolution contained no programme budget implications.
42. At the same meeting, the representative of Benin introduced revisions to the
draft resolution, which were circulated in an informal paper.
43. Burkina Faso,1 the Central African Republic, China, Côte d’Ivoire,1 Ghana, the
Republic of Korea, Senegal and Thailand1 joined in sponsoring the draft resolution,
as revised.
44. The representative of the United States of America proposed an amendment to
the text, which was accepted by the representative of Benin on behalf of the
sponsors.
45. Also at the 14th meeting, following a statement by the observer for Ireland (on
behalf of the European Union), the Commission recommended draft resolution
E/CN.5/2004/L.3, as revised and amended, to the Economic and Social Council for
adoption by the General Assembly (see chap. I, sect. A).
46. The representative of Benin made a statement.
__________________
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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Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote
and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities
47. At the 12th meeting, on 12 February, the representative of Mexico, on behalf
of Argentina, Brazil,1 Chile,1 China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, New
Zealand,1 Nicaragua,1 Peru, Romania and Tunisia,1 introduced a draft resolution
entitled “Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities” (subsequently issued in
E/CN.5/2004/L.5), which read:
“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 to 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 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 2003/12 of 21
July 2003 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, by which the Assembly decided that the Ad Hoc Committee will start
the negotiations on a draft convention at its third session,
“Welcoming the important contributions made so far to the Ad Hoc
Committee by all stakeholders,
“Welcoming also the progress made in the Working Group established by
the Ad Hoc Committee in preparing a draft text which would be the basis for
negotiations on a draft convention in the Ad Hoc Committee, taking into
account all contributions,
“Encouraging Member States and observers to participate actively in the
Ad Hoc Committee in order to present to the General Assembly, as a matter of
priority, a draft text of a convention,
“Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with
disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
“Taking note with satisfaction of the positive steps taken by Governments
in order to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities,
“Encouraged by the increased support of the international community for
the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities under a comprehensive and integral approach,
“1. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to
contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft international convention by,

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inter alia, providing its views regarding the social development perspective,
bearing in mind the 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;
“2. Welcomes the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on Disability
of the Commission to the process of negotiation of a draft convention and
requests the Special Rapporteur further to contribute and participate in the
work of the Ad Hoc Committee, bearing in mind the experience in the
monitoring of the Standard Rules and in collaboration with the Secretariat by,
inter alia, providing her views on the elements to be considered in the
convention and promoting awareness about the process among Governments
and civil society;
“3. 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 organization of experts meetings and the provision of
information on issues related to the international convention, including
national and international experiences and norms and standards on disabilities,
as appropriate;
“4. Underlines the importance of strengthening the 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
jointly to support the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
“5. Invites bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system,
including the funds and programmes, particularly those working in the fields
of social and economic development and human rights, within their respective
mandates, to continue to provide suggestions about elements for a convention;
“6. Also invites non-governmental organizations, national disability and
human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter
to continue to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee suggestions and
possible elements to be included in proposals for a convention;
“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 process of elaboration of an international
convention in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 56/510 of 23
July 2002 and 57/229 of 18 December 2002, and requests the Secretary-
General to disseminate widely to non-governmental organizations all available
information on accreditation procedures, modalities and supportive measures
for their participation in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
“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 the least developed countries, in the
work of the Ad Hoc Committee;

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“9. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility with
reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation at the
United Nations for all persons with disabilities in accordance with General
Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
“10. Requests the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur to report
to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session on the
implementation of the present resolution.”
48. At its 14th meeting, on 13 February, the Commission was informed that the
draft resolution contained no programme budget implications.
49. At the same meeting, the representative of Mexico introduced revisions to the
draft resolution, which were circulated in an informal paper:
50. Burkina Faso,2 Cameroon,2 Côte d’Ivoire,2 Cuba,2 the Dominican Republic,
Egypt,2 El Salvador, Haiti,2 Israel,2 Jordan,2 Namibia,2 the Republic of Korea,
Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand,2 Uruguay,2 Venezuela2 and Zambia
joined in sponsoring the draft resolution, as revised.
51. Also at the 14th meeting, the Commission recommended draft resolution
E/CN.5/2004/L.5, as revised, for adoption by the Economic and Social Council (see
chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution I).
Action taken by the Commission
Further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities, and protection of the human rights
of persons with disabilities
52. At its 13th meeting, on 13 February, the Commission had before it a draft
resolution entitled “Further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities, and protection of the human rights of persons with
disabilities” (E/CN.5/2004/L.6), which was submitted by the Chairperson on the
basis of informal consultations. The draft resolution read:
“The Economic and Social Council,
“Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations and reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights
instruments,
“Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 37/52 of 3 December
1982, by which it 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, and 56/115 of 19 December 2001,
“Recalling further General Assembly resolutions 56/168 of 19 December
2001, by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights
__________________
2 In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the
Economic and Social Council.

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and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, 57/229 of 18 December 2002, in
which it sought views on proposals for a convention, and 58/246 of 26
November 2003, by which it decided that the Ad Hoc Committee will start the
negotiations on a draft convention at its third session,
“Recalling its resolution 2002/26 of 24 July 2002 on further promotion of
the equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities and
protection of their human rights and Commission on Human Rights resolution
2003/49 of 23 April 2003 on the human rights of persons with disabilities, and
other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social
Council and its functional commissions,
“1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the views of
Governments on the proposals contained in the report of the former Special
Rapporteur on Disability, especially on the suggested supplement to the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities, as well as the views expressed during the forty-second session of
the Commission for Social Development;
“2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the
Commission for Social Development undertaken in accordance with section IV
of the Standard Rules;
“3. Recommends to the General Assembly that it consider, at its fiftyninth
session, the suggested supplement to the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities contained in the
report of the Secretary-General, with a view to adopting a supplement to the
Standard Rules;
“4. Invites the Special Rapporteur on Disability to contribute to the
consideration of the suggested supplement by providing her views on possible
elements reflecting new developments and requests the Secretary-General to
make her views available to all Member States and observer States;
“5. Requests the Special Rapporteur, assisted by the Secretariat and in
consultation with the panel of experts, to prepare a report on the result of the
monitoring on the implementation of the Standard Rules, for submission to the
Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session;
“6. Encourages Governments, as well as 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.”
53. At the same meeting, the Commission was informed that the draft resolution
contained no programme budget implications.
54. Also at the 13th meeting, the representative of Switzerland, on behalf of the
Chairperson, introduced revisions to the draft resolution, which were circulated in
an informal paper.
55. At the same meeting, following a statement by the representative of Senegal,
the Commission recommended draft resolution E/CN.5/2004/L.6, as revised, for

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adoption by the Economic and Social Council (see chap. I, sect. B, draft
resolution II).
Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002
56. At its 13th meeting, on 13 February, the Commission had before it a draft
resolution entitled “Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002” (E/CN.5/2004/L.7), submitted by the
Vice-Chairperson, Carlos Enrique García González (El Salvador), on the basis of
informal consultations.
57. The Commission was advised that the draft resolution contained no programme
budget implications.
58. At the same meeting, following a statement by the Vice-Chairperson,
Mr. García González (El Salvador), the Commission adopted draft resolution
E/CN.5/2004/L.7 (see chap. I, sect. E, resolution 42/1).
Emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting
social development: international migration and migrants from
social perspective (agenda item 3 (c))
59. At the 10th meeting, on 10 February, the Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development made an introductory statement under sub-item 3 (c).
60. At the same meeting, the Commission heard a presentation on the outcome of
the Third International Forum for Social Development by the Coordinator of the
Forum.
61. Also at the 10th meeting, the Commission held a panel discussion under subitem
3 (c), followed by an inter-active dialogue with the panellists. Presentations
were made by Mr. Gerónimo Gutiérrez, Vice-Minister for North America of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, and Mr. Jan O. Karlsson, Co-Chair of the
Global Commission on International Migration.
62. A summary of the panel discussion by the Chairperson is contained in annex
III to the present report.

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Chapter IV
Programme questions and other matters
1. The Commission considered item 4 of its agenda at its 11th meeting, on 11
February 2004. It had before it a note by the Secretary-General on a proposed
strategic framework for the biennium 2006-2007 (E/CN.5/2004/7).
2. At the 11th meeting, on 11 February, the Director of the Division for Social
Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs made an
introductory statement.
3. Statements were made by the representative of the United States of America
and the observers for Cuba and Ireland (on behalf of the European Union), as well
as by the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, who
responded to questions raised.
Action taken by the Commission
4. At its 11th meeting, on 11 February, the Commission agreed to transmit its
proposed biennial programme plan, as contained in document E/CN.5/2004/7, to the
Committee for Programme and Coordination for its consideration, together with
comments made by delegations during the discussion.

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Chapter V
Provisional agenda for the forty-third session of
the Commission
1. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at its resumed 14th meeting,
on 20 February 2004. It had before it the draft provisional agenda and
documentation for the forty-third session of the Commission (E/CN.5/2004/L.2),
which was introduced and revised by the Director of the Division for Social Policy
and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
2. At the same meeting, the observer for Qatar made a statement on behalf of the
States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and
China.
3. Also at the resumed 14th meeting, the representative of the Sudan raised a
question, to which the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development
responded.
4. At the same meeting, the Commission approved the provisional agenda and
documentation for its forty-third session (see chap. I, sect. D).

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Chapter VI Adoption of the report of the Commission on its fortysecond
session
1. At the resumed 14th meeting, on 20 February 2004, the Vice-Chairperson of
the Commission with rapporteurial responsibilities, Carlos Enrique García González
(El Salvador), introduced the draft report of the Commission on its forty-second
session (E/CN.5/2004/L.4).
2. The Commission adopted the draft report and entrusted the Rapporteur with its
completion.

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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-second session at
United Nations Headquarters on 21 February 2003 and from 4 to 13 and 20 February
2004. The Commission held 14 meetings (1st to 14th).
B. Attendance
2. The session was attended by representatives of 45 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.5/2004/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 the Commission, immediately following
the closure of a regular session, 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 21 February 2003:
Chairperson:
Jean-Jacques Elmiger (Switzerland)
Vice-Chairpersons:
Darmansjah Djumala (Indonesia)
Ivana Grollová (Czech Republic)
4. At its 2nd meeting, on 4 February 2004, the Commission was advised that Mr.
Djumala had resigned as Vice-Chairperson.
5. Accordingly, the Commission proceeded to elect the following three members
by acclamation as Vice-Chairpersons, thus completing the election of the Bureau for
the forty-second session:
Prayono Atiyanto (Indonesia)
Carlos Enrique García González (El Salvador)
Mwelwa C. Musambachime (Zambia)
6. Also at its 2nd meeting, the Commission designated Carlos Enrique García
González (El Salvador) Vice-Chairman with rapporteurial responsibilities.

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D. Agenda and organization of work
7. At its 2nd meeting, on 4 February, the Commission adopted its provisional
agenda, as contained in document E/CN.5/2004/1/Rev.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: improving public sector effectiveness;
(b) Review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action
pertaining to the situation of social groups:
(i) Tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family;
(ii) Equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities;
(iii) Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002;
(c) Emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting
social development: international migration and migrants from a
social perspective.
4. Programme questions.
5. Provisional agenda for the forty-third session of the Commission.
6. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its forty-second session.
8. At the same meeting, the Commission approved the organization of work of
the session, as contained in document E/CN.5/2004/L.1/Rev.1.
E. Documentation
9. The list of documents before the Commission at its forty-second session is
contained in annex IV to the present report.

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Annex I
Chairperson’s summary of the panel discussion on the
priority theme “Improving public sector effectiveness”
At its 2nd meeting on 4 February 2004, the Commission for Social
Development held a panel discussion on its priority theme, “Improving public sector
effectiveness”. The Chairperson of the Commission, Jean-Jacques Elmiger
(Switzerland), acted as moderator. The members of the panel were Ms. Mary Jo
Bane, Professor of Public Policy and Management, Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University (United States of America), Mr. Peter Humphreys, Director of
Research, Irish National Institute of Public Administration (Ireland), and Ms. Uma
Devi Sambasivan, Professor, Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies, University of
Bergen, Norway (India).
Approaches to public sector reform
By and large, three approaches to public sector reform can be applied in
diverse settings. These include: traditional good government reform; marketoriented
reform; and industrial performance and workplace transformation.
Traditional good government reform primarily focuses on methods for
ensuring accountability and transparency. These methods include civil service
reform measures, such as merit hiring, promotion and pay, as well as financial and
budgeting reforms, such as honest collection and reporting of revenues and
expenses. These are basic and necessary foundations for further reforms and apply
even in cases where services have been privatized. Flexibility needs to be
incorporated into traditional reform measures in order not to stifle innovation.
Market-oriented reform seeks to privatize and contract out public services,
introduce competition into government operations and use performance contracts
between the policy-making and operational functions within government. While this
approach implies that the private sector is always more efficient, effective and
transparent than government, this is often not the case. Furthermore, certain
services, especially national defence, are more appropriately provided by the public
sector.
The third approach, industrial performance and workplace transformation,
emphasizes the importance of worker motivation, dedication and responsiveness,
especially in services such as education, health care and police work. This approach
recognizes that public workers are motivated by service and challenge as well as by
money and stresses autonomy, trust and communication with workers.
Which approach (or approaches) a Government follows depends on an
assessment of the problems to be addressed, the resources available and the strength
of existing accountability measures, although the foundations of good governance
must be in place.

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Privatization and the effectiveness of the public sector: social
protection versus efficiency?
Historically, the public sector was set up to provide social protection. Thus, its
effectiveness should be measured by its ability to extend social protection to the
marginalized sections of the society rather than just in terms of efficiency. It is
argued that a transformation, to redistribute power and wealth in favour of the
disadvantaged, as well as good governance and managerial practices are needed in
order to improve the effectiveness of the public sector.
Very often, a narrow efficiency criterion is used to justify privatization of the
public sector, which has taken various forms, including the introduction of private
sector management and business practices to the public sector, service/function
outsourcing and divestment or even sale of public enterprises.
Furthermore, the impact of privatization on all stakeholders, including public
sector workers, should be taken into account as well. In the light of studies in Africa
and Latin America, a cautious approach should be taken with regard to privatization
to safeguard against reduced access by poor people and to avoid widening the gap
between the rich and the poor.
In the privatization process, there has been a tendency for Governments to pass
on unprofitable units to workers’ cooperatives. However, it is questionable if the
transformation of unprofitable entities into workers’ cooperatives born out of
privatization in the public sector empowers workers. As it is often the case, capital
equity in workers’ cooperatives is remunerated at a lower interest rate, resulting in
under-capitalization, which, in turn, makes it difficult to obtain loans for growth.
Turning unprofitable operations into workers’ cooperatives also dooms them to a
position of making up for the social fallout from privatization and traps them in a
market segment that the private sector is unwilling to enter. As a result, workers’
cooperatives are destined to remain on the margins of society, even if they are
successful, as it is the case in some European countries.
Given these reservations about the prospect of workers’ cooperatives
empowering workers and providing needed social protection, it is suggested that
studies should be undertaken to explore possible avenues for workers’ cooperatives
to function as vehicles for social protection. Experience in some countries has
shown that workers’ cooperatives have not been successful. One of the main
problems is how to achieve protection for workers in the current environment of free
trade. The State should try to make public sector entities work before turning them
into cooperatives. Furthermore, special treatment and tariff protection for products
of worker cooperatives should be negotiated under the World Trade Organization
(WTO).
Critical success factors of public sector reform
Critical success factors in public service reform are: strong motivation from
and leadership at the top of public agencies; involvement of the public; respect for
the workers who actually deliver the services; optimal use of managerial and
information tools; focus on excellence of service; and a partnership approach.

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The success of the public sector cannot be judged or measured in the same way
as that of the private sector. Measurement of the effectiveness of the public sector
has to be related to the specific work of each public sector organization, against their
specific established benchmarks. Another set of benchmarks, on citizen’s
satisfaction with the services provided, can be measured, for example, through
surveys. Other good measures of effectiveness are whether services reach the
poorest of society and whether citizens’ feedback is taken into account.
Civil service reform
An indispensable element of an effective civil service is the quality of civil
servants and their participation in reform efforts.
Employee reward systems have encountered difficulties in some countries. For
example, in an effort to combat corruption, one country attempted to raise the
salaries of public servants to 80 per cent of the market rate. A resultant problem was
that the salaries of the political directorate were tied to the salaries of general civil
servants, so an increase in civil service pay also meant an increase in the salary of
these high-level posts, turning it into a political issue.
In another country, performance-related pay was considered in the 1990s, but
was not enacted due to resistance from the unions and staff representatives (partners
in the reform process), who argued that it was difficult to introduce an equitable
performance-related pay system. Instead a performance review system was adopted.
However, pay is only one form of reward and recognition for civil servants. They
are also motivated by the drive to provide excellent services to citizens.
Trade unions
Experiences in public sector reform have highlighted the need for new ways to
foster social dialogue between trade unions and governments. Labour unions often
face a dilemma when privatization takes place: they have to choose between tacit
support for measures weakening workers’ rights and the alternative of closure and
job losses.
Through social dialogue, resistance to reform could be reduced by taking into
account reform’s impact on workers, including job security and workers’ rights
during privatization.
Some countries have encountered problems when trying to reform the public
sector. Public sector trade unions have reacted negatively when confronted with
reform, leading to worker retrenchment. Other countries have had mixed
experiences. Some unions have not wanted to get involved in the reform process,
while others (especially teachers and health-care workers’ unions) have been
successfully involved in negotiations, largely driven by their commitment to deliver
the best services to the community.
In many developing countries, large numbers of workers have been driven into
the informal sector where there is no organized representation. This phenomenon
has made trade unions more defensive in protecting jobs in the civil service and
obtaining wage increases for their members. In this regard, a struggle between these
two groups as the wage gap widens and frustrations mount in the unorganized sector

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is a potential problem. Another related risk is unrest originating from the
unorganized sector, where behaviour is difficult to predict. This situation further
underscores the importance of finding new forms of social dialogue among all
stakeholders in order to avoid disruptions to the delivery of social services and
setbacks in social development.
Resources
It has been argued that the constraints faced by developing countries are less of
a resource problem and more one of capacity-building. However, since different
countries have different resources, including natural resources, it is important to
make a distinction between capacity and utilization of resources in general. On the
other hand, some resources must be made available to the public sector if it is to
function well. It is necessary both to have the resources and make effective use of
them, but there is no rule about what the right size of the public sector should be.
The optimal size of the public sector and civil service depends on each individual
country and its level of development.
The experience and lessons from the modernization of the public
service in Ireland
Since 1994, the major objectives of the modernization of the Irish public
service have been to: provide excellent service to the public; contribute to national
development; and make efficient and effective use of resources. Based on these
three goals, the approach of the reform process thus far has been to: increase quality
customer service and provide excellent service to both Government and the public;
bring about openness, transparency and accountability through regulatory reform
and reform of business environments; and undertake internal systems reform in the
areas of human resources, information systems and financial management.
After putting the legislative building blocks in place, in 1997 Ireland instituted
its Quality Customer Service Initiative. The Initiative, which includes Customer
Action Plans and Service Standards Charters, provides guiding principles for public
service modernization and reform, such as the publishing and display of the
standards of the Initiative outlining the nature and quality of services that external
customers can expect. Other principles include diversity, equality, physical access,
information, timeliness and courtesy, a complaints and appeals system, customer
consultation and evaluation, choice of payment systems, services provided through
more than one spoken language, better coordination of service delivery and the
recognition that staff are also internal customers. Trade unions in Ireland played an
instrumental role in creating a training body geared towards helping civil servants
cope with the new requirements of their jobs introduced as a result of reform efforts.

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Annex II
Chairperson’s summary of the panel discussion on the
review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing, 2002
At its 8th meeting, on 9 February 2004, the Commission held a panel
discussion on the review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing, 2002. The panellists included: Heather Ricketts, Lecturer, Department of
Sociology and Social Work, University of the West Indies, Jamaica; Amanda
Heslop, Research Manager, HelpAge International, London; and Aboubacar Dia,
Inspector General, Ministry of Planning, Republic of Guinea.
The objective of the panel discussion was to illustrate for the Commission
some pertinent approaches to policy formulation, implementation and monitoring,
focusing on participatory methodologies that involve a diversity of stakeholders.
Social assessment methodologies
Social assessment methodologies promote full participation of all stakeholders,
including government employees, representatives of non-governmental
organizations, academics and graduate students. The process of carrying out such an
assessment was described, emphasizing not only the participation of different
stakeholders, but also the validation of findings by them. It was also described how
the findings of an assessment gave the Government crucial and sometimes new
information that influenced the design of policy interventions. The findings will be
used to strengthen the design of the Jamaican Survey of Living Conditions in 2004.
The limitations of participatory social assessment were raised, such as the
difficulties in assuring the availability of stakeholders and in getting homogenous
groups for focus group discussions; the lack of punctuality of some stakeholders in
attending meetings; and, sometimes, the difficulty of ensuring the participation of
specific segments of the population. However, social assessment reinforced the
value of triangulation, the importance of gathering information directly from
primary stakeholders and those most affected by an issue; the ability of discovering
emerging issues quickly; and the importance of giving regular feedback to
stakeholders and making the necessary adjustments to policies and programmes
quickly.
Bottom-up approach
The benefits of a “bottom-up approach”, which promotes inclusion, diversity,
and the bringing together of older people and secondary stakeholders were
described. An older citizen’s monitoring project is being implemented in
Bangladesh, Bolivia, Jamaica, Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania to
support older people and their organizations in monitoring the implementation of the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. The process is engaging older
people with relevant agencies, supporting local and national advocacy with and by
older people, developing locally relevant indicators and benchmarks, and promoting
dialogue with local and international development agencies.

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In Bangladesh, older people are studying the health and nutrition service
package and old age allowance. In Bolivia, they are looking at free medical
insurance for older persons within the national Law of Rights and Privileges. In
Jamaica, older persons are looking at the National Health Fund and the Government
Pension Scheme. In Kenya, they are looking at the delivery of health services for
older persons, and in the United Republic of Tanzania, older persons are studying
the health sector reform programme (access to free health services) and the local
government reform programme (budget allocation and development plans). Many
civil society organizations view the type of participatory assessment it is
undertaking with older persons as an example of the type of bottom-up approach to
providing information that Member States could utilize in assessing the priorities of
older persons and the first-hand realities of policy effectiveness.
It was stressed that it is not necessary to develop new structures to carry out
participatory assessments with older persons, but rather, to utilize and strengthen
existing structures where older people live. It is also helpful to create alliances with
other active groups of civil society.
The participatory process and poverty reduction strategy papers
The participatory process leading up to and culminating in the drafting of the
World Bank’s poverty reduction strategy paper for Guinea in 2002 was discussed at
length.
Prior experience in attempting to introduce a consultative process into policy
making had been limited to obtaining the validation of documents already drafted by
consultants during the elaboration of a national programme on human development
(1995-1997) and the formulation of an assistance strategy of the World Bank for
Guinea in 1997, which involved surveying population groups on their priorities for
sectoral intervention by the Government and development partners. The rationale for
the Government’s desire to carry out a participatory poverty reduction strategy paper
process was to improve the quality of decision-making, to give renewed impulse to
the development dynamic, to design a strategy relevant to the issues that are
important to the population, in particular the poor, and to improve efficiency.
The process began before the drafting of the poverty reduction strategy paper
with direct consultations to ascertain the population’s perceptions of poverty and
invite their proposals for reducing poverty. This was followed by the creation of
thematic groups that would form the basis of the poverty reduction strategy paper
strategy. Results of these consultations were presented to the public at regional
meetings and the drafting of the interim poverty reduction strategy paper began. The
draft was circulated for comments to a wide variety of stakeholders prior to
finalization. During these presentations, issues raised by marginalized groups that
had not yet been taken into account in the drafting were added. The participatory
methodology employed illustrates how successful participation involves a
continuous cycle of consultation with stakeholders to solicit views, provide
feedback and make any necessary changes to documents to reflect the views and
feedback provided.

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Annex III
Chairperson’s summary of the panel discussion on
international migration and migrants from a
social perspective
At its 10th meeting on 10 February, under item 3 (c) of its agenda, “Emerging
issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting social development”, the
Commission for Social Development held a panel discussion on “International
migration and migrants from a social perspective”. The Chairperson of the
Commission, Jean-Jacques Elmiger (Switzerland), acted as moderator. The members
of the panel were Mr. Gerónimo Gutiérrez (Vice-Minister for North America at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico) and Mr. Jan O. Karlsson (Co-Chair of the
Global Commission on International Migration).
International migration is a complex phenomenon with demographic,
economic, legal and social facets. It has a North-South dimension, although not
uniquely, since the movements of people across the world are increasingly
diversified. It has a strong regional dimension, notably when regions have embarked
into processes of cooperation and integration. A prominent example is the European
Union. In addition, international migration is an inherent and critical aspect of the
current process of interdependence and globalization.
It was generally agreed that international cooperation in this domain ought to
be reinforced. For some, as a matter of urgency; for others, in a very gradual
manner; for all, by building on existing forms of cooperation, notably the various
regional processes. The main objectives of this strengthened international
cooperation would be to better manage migratory movements, to protect
international migrants and, as part of the process of cooperation, to progressively
envisage to establish a normative framework acceptable to all countries concerned.
The notion of shared responsibility was evoked.
Means to these objectives include a change in the overall negative perception
that currently marks migration in parts of the world, a great effort at communication
on the positive role of migrants — notably their economic contribution to host
countries. Regarding the countries of origin of the migrants and the benefits they
derive from the emigration of their citizens, the question of remittances was
discussed. While these remittances are important from an economic and
development viewpoint, it was recalled that they are part of personal income and
that the main issue for bilateral and international cooperation is to ensure that they
can be easily and cheaply transferred by the immigrants themselves. The question of
brain drain was also mentioned. Some developing countries are losing people
essential to their development, for instance in the health sectors, without the ability
to compete to retain such personnel. Not all developing countries benefit in return
from “brain gain”.
In addition to improving communication and disseminating accurate facts, an
equally great effort is needed to produce reliable information, data and concepts
adjusted to the changing realities of international migration. Moreover, the active
involvement of Governments and other national and international, public and private
actors of the development process is required in the various aspects of strengthened
cooperation on migratory issues. As international migration is still primarily the

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result of income and resources differences and imbalances between countries and
regions, the effects of international economic, trade and financial trends and policies
on employment and income opportunities in countries of emigration should be
carefully assessed. All forms of international cooperation are linked. Strengthened
and effective international cooperation on migration and the situation of migrants
will depend on the quality and coherence of related national policies.
It was also generally agreed that a social perspective on international migration
and the situation of migrants was a legitimate and useful facet of a more active
international cooperation. This social perspective ought to be focused on the
perceptions of the issue, the well-being of the migrants and the effects of migration
on the social fabric of the countries concerned. A clear and secure legal status, a
decent job yielding a sufficient income and access to social services and social
benefits are key elements of the well-being and personal security of immigrants.
Their social protection is essential to their integration. The protection and
enhancement of their rights remain fundamental and should not be seen in terms of
the costs involved, but rather in terms of the building of a peaceful and harmonious
world community. Exploitation, discrimination, xenophobia and racism towards
immigrants are scourges that will be eliminated by forceful and coherent policies at
all levels. The situation of women and children, often victims of exploitation and
abuse, was emphasized as requiring determined forms of cooperation.
An important aspect of international cooperation on migration from a social
perspective would be the establishment or strengthening of precise and efficient
mechanisms and processes for a dialogue, exchange of information and knowledge
and exchange of experiences between Governments, involving the other actors
concerned. These exchanges would take into account the needs and prospects of the
members of the international community and would integrate elements such as the
evolution of technologies, demographic trends, questions of security and the various
gaps, inequalities and forms of poverty that ought to be eliminated. The involvement
of migrants themselves and of organizations of civil society and the private sector in
such processes was emphasized.
The Commission was apprised of the launching of the Global Commission on
International Migration, co-chaired by Jan Karlsson and Mamphela Ramphele.

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Annex IV
List of documents before the Commission at its fortysecond
session
Document symbol Agenda item Title or description
E/CN.5/2004/1 2 Provisional annotated agenda
E/CN.5/2004/1/Rev.1 2 Revised provisional annotated agenda
E/CN.5/2004/2 2 Report of the Secretary-General on the review of methods of work of
the Commission for Social Development
E/CN.5/2004/3 3 (b) (i) Report of the Secretary-General on preparation for and observance of
the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family (2004)
E/CN.5/2004/4 3 (b) (ii) Report of the Secretary-General on the views of Governments on the
proposals contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur on
Disability (E/CN.5/2002/4), especially on the suggested supplement to
the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons
with Disabilities
E/CN.5/2004/5 3 (a) Report of the Secretary-General on improving public sector
effectiveness
E/CN.5/2004/6 3 (b) (iv) Note by the Secretariat on modalities for the review and appraisal of
the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing
E/CN.5/2004/7 4 Note by the Secretary-General on a proposed strategic framework for
the biennium 2006-2007
E/CN.5/2004/L.1 2 Note by the Secretariat on the organization of work of the session
E/CN.5/2004/L.1/Rev.1 2 Note by the Secretariat on the revised organization of work of the
session
E/CN.5/2004/L.2 5 Provisional agenda for the forty-third session of the Commission
E/CN.5/2004/L.3 3 (b) (i) Draft resolution entitled “Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family and beyond”
E/CN.5/2004/L.4 6 Draft report of the Commission on its forty-second session
E/CN.5/2004/L.5 3 (b) (ii) Draft resolution entitled “Comprehensive and integral international
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons
with disabilities”
E/CN.5/2004/L.6 3 (b) (ii) Draft resolution entitled “Further promotion of equalization of
opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities, and protection
of the human rights of persons with disabilities”
E/CN.5/2004/L.7 3 (b) (iii) Draft resolution entitled “Modalities for the review and appraisal of
the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002”

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Document symbol Agenda item Title or description
E/CN.5/2004/L.8 3 Draft resolution entitled “Implementation of the social objectives of
the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”
E/CN.5/2004/L.9 3 (a) Draft agreed conclusions submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the
Commission, Ivana Grollová (Czech Republic), on the basis of
informal consultations
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/1 3 (a) Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/2 3 (b) (i) Statement submitted by a non-governmental organization in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/3 3 (b) (i) Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/4 3 (b) (ii) Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/5 3 (a) Statement submitted by a non-governmental organization in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/6 3 (a) Statement submitted by a non-governmental organization in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/7 3 (a) Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/8 3 (a) Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/9 3 (b) (i) Statement submitted by a non-governmental organization in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
E/CN.5/2004/NGO/10 3 (b) (i) Statement submitted by non-governmental organizations in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
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