CSocD 1998

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Commission for Social Development 35th session, 10-20 February 1998

Summary

At its thirty-sixth session, the Commission for Social Development considered two topics under its restructured agenda and multi-year programme of work, namely the priority theme "Promoting social integration and participation of all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons"; and review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups.

With regard to the priority theme, the Commission adopted a resolution in which it took note of the report of the Secretary-General on the subject and decided to adopt agreed conclusions on promoting social integration and participation of all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons, and to transmit them to the Economic and Social Council for the Council's consideration at its substantive session of 1998 and appropriate follow-up action, as well as to the Preparatory Committee for the special session of the General Assembly in 2000 for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development, including the Committee's organizational session (19-22 May 1998) and to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs acting in the capacity of the preparatory body for the June 1998 special session of the Assembly devoted to the fight against the illicit production, sale, demand, traffic and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and related activities, at its second session from 16 to 20 March 1998.

The agreed conclusions contain recommendations for action at local, national, regional and international levels in the areas of promoting social integration through responsive government, full participation in society, non-discrimination, tolerance, equality and social justice; enhancing social protection, reducing vulnerability and enhancing employment opportunities for groups with specific needs; and violence, crime and the problem of illicit drugs and substance abuse as factors of social disintegration.

In connection with its review of plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups, the Commission considered the report of the Secretary-General on the options for the future review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and decided to consider these matters further at its thirty-seventh session on the basis of additional information.

The Commission also recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of a draft decision by which the Council would expand the mandate of the ad hoc informal open-ended support group to assist the Commission for Social Development in the preparations for the International Year of Older Persons and change the name of the support group to the Consultative Group for the International Year of Older Persons, keeping the informal and open-ended nature of the Group.

The Commission heard special presentations by national representatives on follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development. It held two panel meetings with invited experts and two dialogues with non-governmental organizations on the priority theme. There was also an exchange of views with the Executive Director, Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the United Nations Secretariat.

Finally, the Commission recommended that the Economic and Social Council approve the provisional agenda and documentation for its thirty-eighth session in 1999.

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