|
|
|
Introduction
| Objective | Issues |
Process | Arrangements by the
Government of Switzerland | Participation
I. INTRODUCTION
The World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen in
March 1995, was part of a series of global conferences convened by the United Nations, with the objective of enriching the
international agenda and to raise awareness on the major issues and concerns of the time, through cooperation of Member States
and participation of other actors in the development process. Three core issues were addressed: eradication of poverty, promotion of
full employment, and fostering of social integration. 117 Heads of State and government supported by ministers representing another
69 countries adopted the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action. The 10 commitments,
embodied in the Declaration, signalled the emergence of a collective determination to treat social development as one of the
highest priorities of national and international policies, and to place the human person at the centre of development.
The General Assembly of the United Nations decided in 1995, on
the recommendation of the Summit, to hold a Special Session in the year 2000 for a review and appraisal of the implementation of
the outcome of the Summit and to decide on further initiatives to strengthen the effectiveness of implementation. The Assembly also
later accepted the invitation of the Government of Switzerland to hold the Special Session at the United Nations Office in Geneva
from 26-30 June 2000.
BACK TO TOP
II. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION
The objectives of the Special Session will be to reaffirm the
Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action; to identify progress made and constraints encountered; and to recommend
concrete actions and initiatives to further efforts towards full and effective implementation of the agreements reached at the Summit.
In assessing what has taken place since Copenhagen, the Special Session will attempt to clarify, inter alia, current trends in poverty
and inequity, including the apparent growing gap between rich and poor, both within and among nations; and to understand the
relationship between changes in living conditions and the process of globalization. The Special Session will also examine current
forms of international cooperation and the role of international institutions in promoting social progress. This diagnosis should
lead to new initiatives for developing concrete measures and policies to further implement the commitments made in
Copenhagen in 1995.
BACK TO TOP
III. THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PROCESS
1. The Commission for Social Development The Commission for Social Development, a functional commission
of the Economic and Social Council, has been entrusted with the primary responsibility for the follow-up to the Summit for follow-up
and review of the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action. To this end, its membership was increased from 32 to
46; it now meets annually instead of biennially; and its multi-year programme of work for the period 1996-2000 included priority
themes addressed by the Summit: eradication of poverty, promotion of full employment; social integration; and social services
for all. For its next session (8-17 February 2000), the Commission will have as its priority theme the review of the implementation of
the outcome of the Summit, and will devote its time to review and appraisal of national implementation of the Copenhagen
Declaration, and to identification of obstacles.This meeting will receive a report from the Secretary-General based on national
reports submitted since mid 1999. These national reports are important, comprehensive reviews of progress made by countries in
implementing the Copenhagen commitments. Click here for more information on the Commission.
2.The Preparatory Committee for the Special Session
In setting out the preparatory process for the Special Session, the
General Assembly established in 1997 a Preparatory Committee open to the participation of all States Members of the United
Nations and members of the specialized agencies. The Committee held its organizational session in May 1998 and its first substantive
session in May 1999.
It initiated discussions on preliminary assessment of the implementation of the ten commitments and on further initiatives. It
adopted a decision on the role of the United Nations system, inviting all relevant organs and specialized agencies of the UN
system and other concerned organizations to elaborate and submit review reports and proposals for further action and initiatives. A total
of 24 reports are expected to be submitted to the Secretariat by the end of December 1999 for public distribution during January 2000.
The Committee also decided on further procedure and preparations for the Special Session, including the convening of
inter-sessional, open-ended, informal consultations in August/September 1999 and
February 2000, in order to further the process. Modalities for accreditation of non-governmental organizations at the Special
Session were also decided.
On recommendation by the Committee, the General Assembly decided at its fifty-fourth session that the title of the Special
Session would be "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world";
arrangements regarding participation of non-governmental organizations in the Special Session was also decided upon.
The Preparatory Committee will hold its second and last substantive session from 3-14 April 2000. It will continue its
consideration of the draft outcome of the Special Session, and decide on the organization of work of the Session.
3. The General Assembly
Since the Summit, the Assembly conducts an annual review of
progress made on the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments. The item, considered at plenary meetings, brings
together government representatives for an exchange of views on the various aspects of social development and report on
implementation of the Summit outcome and trends in social development. Many interesting reports on national policies and
constraints have been presented.
BACK TO TOP
IV. ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED AND PROPOSED OUTCOME
At this stage, the document, which is under negotiation in the
Preparatory Committee and which will become the outcome of the Special Session, contains three parts:
1.Political declaration reaffirming the Copenhagen agreements
2.Review and assessment of implementation
3.Further initiatives
In the part on further initiatives, among the issues under discussion
in the Preparatory Committee are:
* The impact of globalization on social development
* Increasing market access for the exports of developing countries and countries with economies in transition
* Obstacles facing development in Africa and the least developed countries
* The social consequences of financial crises
* Additional strategies, policies and programmes for poverty eradication at the national and international levels
* Global and national strategy for generating work for all
* Extending social protection coverage and improving management of social protection schemes
* The social responsibilities of business
* The role of civil society in the planning and provision of social services
* Affirmative action aimed at gender equality
* Means to promote social integration in post-conflict situations
* Achieving the goals of education for all and universal access to basic health services
* Means for implementing a strategy for reducing the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome infection rate in young people
* Assessment of progress made in the integration of social development goals into structural adjustment programmes
* Proposals for additional and innovative sources of resources for social development
BACK TO TOP
V. ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
SWITZERLAND
The Government of Switzerland has been working closely with the
United Nations Secretariat in ensuring that facilities and
arrangements for the Special Session at the Palais des Nations are well in place by June 2000.
In parallel to the intergovernmental event, the Swiss Government is
also organizing the Geneva 2000 Forum: "Geneva 2000: The next step in social development", which will provide a platform for
exchange and sharing of experiences through special events such as panel discussions, exhibitions, workshops etc. organized by
non-governmental organizations, and other interested actors in the development process. The Forum is expected to attract not only
representatives from NGOs, but also parliamentarians, industry and business groups, trade unions, academics, citizen interest groups
and professional organizations, as well as governments and intergovernmental organizations. One of the key events of the
Forum will be the Geneva Symposium which will bring together the main actors of the development process.
BACK TO TOP
VI. PARTICIPATION AT THE SPECIAL SESSION
The General Assembly has stressed the importance of the Special
Session and the need for strong, sustained 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, and invites Governments to extend support to the
preparatory process and to participate in the Special Session at the highest political level possible.
With regard to participation by non-governmental organizations at
the Special Session, while NGOs may make statements in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the Special Session, the General
Assembly also decided that, given the availability of time, a limited number of NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council may also make statements in the debate in the Plenary of the Special Session. The President of the Assembly is
requested to present the list of selected non-governmental organizations to the Member States in a timely manner for
approval, and to ensure that such selection is made on an equal and transparent basis, taking into account the geographical
representation and diversity of non-governmental organizations.
NGOs can apply for registration for both the Special Session of the
General Assembly and the Geneva 2000 Forum
**********************
Back
to Top
© 1998-2000 Arab World
Books |