51st Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD51)

At its fifty-first regular session, held from 6 to 15 February 2013, which was the review year of the biennial cycle, the Commission for Social Development considered the priority theme, “Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all”. The Commission also reviewed relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups and the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

The opening of the Commission was addressed by, inter alia, the President of the Economic and Social Council and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. During its two-week session, the Commission convened four high-level panel discussions on: (a) the priority theme; (b) the emerging issues: the social dimension in the global development agenda beyond 2015; (c) the report of the Secretary-General on the Second Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing; and (d) the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth: United Nations system coordination and collaboration related to youth.

In connection with its review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups, the Special Rapporteur on disability presented his report at the Commission. In reviewing its methods of work, the Commission was briefed by the President of the Economic and Social Council and the co-facilitators on the review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 61/16 on “Strengthening of the Economic and Social Council” and held a general discussion.

The Commission adopted five draft resolutions, entitled “Preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family”, “Policies and programmes involving youth”, “Mainstreaming disability in the development agenda: towards 2015 and beyond”, “Second review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002” and “Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”, four of which were recommended for adoption to the Economic and Social Council and one of which was brought to its attention.

Final Report on the fifty-first session:
English | Français | Español | Русский | عربي | 汉语

• Current Membership
• Provisional annotated agenda: English | Français | Español | Русский | عربي | 汉语
• Proposed organization of work (matrix)
• Chair’s Summaries on the:
  • Priority theme “Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all”
  • Emerging Issues “The social dimension in the global development agenda beyond 2015”
  • Review of methods of work of the Commission
• Documents
• Resolutions
• Panel Discussions
• Statements
• Expert Group Meeting on People’s Empowerment
• List of Side Events
• Civil Society Forum on “Civil society: Promoting empowerment of people to achieve the goals of social development”
• NGOs Written Statements
• Press Releases
• Outreach Materials
• Empowering people for social change by DESA News
• Archived Webcasts

Members of the Bureau