54th Session of the Commission for Social Development

The Commission for Social Development concluded its fifty-fourth session (CSocD54), approving three draft resolutions for adoption by the Economic and Social Council with one on Africa’s development, traditionally endorsed by consensus, requiring a rare vote to address the United States’ concerns over language around trade issues, and more generally, “the right to development”.

In closing remarks, Commission Chair Ion Jinga (Romania) said the Commission had taken stock of achievements and challenges in countries, regions and around the world in reducing poverty and inequality and creating jobs. “Poverty continues to be the greatest global challenge of our time,” he said, stressing that millions of workers continued to fall behind and too many people lacked access to education, gender equality and climate change mitigation services. He had been impressed with the resolve to strengthen the Commission in the follow-up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To create momentum, he said, the session had called for integrated economic and social policies, devised with the engagement of a broad range of stakeholders to give life to a shared vision. With that, he thanked participants for their spirit of cohesion and solidarity.

The CSocD54 took place at UN Headquarters in New York from 3 to 12 February 2016 under the priority theme “Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world”. This year was devoted to the policy segment of the cycle. The CSocD54 was an important one, as it was the first session after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Read more..

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• Summary  of High-level panel discussion on the priority theme: Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world
• Summary of Panel Discussion on Emerging Issues: Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: moving from commitments to results for achieving social development
• Summary of Multi-stakeholder panel discussion: Implementation of the Post-2015 development agenda in light of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

UN Secretary-General's Remarks to the CSocD54

• Adoption of the report of the Commission on its fifty-fourth session – Draft report – Organization of the session
• Documents
• Resolutions
• Statements via PaperSmart Portal
• Current Membership
• Provisional annotated agenda
  English | Français | Español | Русский | عربي | 汉语
• Proposed organization of work
• List of Participants
  English | Français | Español | Русский | عربي | 汉语
• List of Side Events
• Informal briefing presentation
• Panel Discussions
• 2016 Civil Society Participation Evaluation
• Civil Society Forum on  “Inequalities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, 1-2 February 2016
  • Civil Society Declaration English | French | Spanish
  • Photos of the Forum
• NGO Participation
• NGO Written Statements
• Archived Webcasts
• Photos of CSocD54

News

• This must be 'year of traction' to propel 2030 development Agenda, says UN chief - UN News Centre
• Social inclusion central to 2030 Agenda, UN Social Development Commission hears as new session opens - UN News Centre
• Putting people at the center of the new development agenda - UNDESA Voice

Press Releases: 

• Poverty Remains World’s Biggest Challenge, Social Development Commission Chair Says as Session Concludes with Approval of 3 Texts, Election of New Vice-Chairs, 12 Feb 2016
• Ending Poverty by 2030 Depends on Social Development Commission’s Policy Guidance, Secretary-General Says as Body’s General Debate Continues, 8 Feb 2016
• Urging Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in 2030 Agenda-Based Policies, Speakers Hail Historic Gains at Social Development Commission Discussion, 5 Feb 2016
• Widening Inequality Stymies Efforts to Achieve Inclusive Progress, Speakers Tell Social Development Commission during General Debate on Bolstering Results, 4 Feb 2016
• Despite ‘Enormous’ Gains since Copenhagen Declaration, Inclusive Progress Must Reach Millions More, Delegates Tell Social Development Commission, 3 Feb 2016

Members of the Bureau