Welcome to the United Nations
Accra, Ghana 17- 19 November 2009
Final Report of the Meeting (PDF)
The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare of the Government of Ghana is organizing an Expert Group Meeting on “Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration: Lessons learned from existing policies and practices” from 17 – 19 November 2009, in Accra, Ghana, as part of the preparations for the 48th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD), which is scheduled to take place in New York from 3 to 12 February 2010.
The meeting is convened in the context of ECOSOC resolution 2008/19 in which the Economic and Social Council decided that the priority theme for the 2009-2010 review and policy cycle of the Commission should be “Social integration”, taking into account its relationship with poverty eradication and full employment and decent work for all. The outcomes of the meeting will be important inputs to the work of the Commission, in particular contributing to policy-oriented sessions geared towards promoting social integration.
Background Documents
Creating an Inclusive Society: Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration by DESA
Inclusive Planning for Social Integration: A Short Note by Syed Zahir Sadeque, Interregional Adviser, DSPD-DESA
African Common Position on Social Integration by the African Union
Social Policy Framework for Africa by the African Union
General Assembly Second Committee: Presentation by Mr. Antonio Claret Campos Filho, Special Advisor to the Minister of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger, Brazil
General Assembly Second Committee: Presentation by Mr. Michael Cichon, Director, Social Security Department, International Labour Organization
Chairperson’s Summary: 47th Session of the Commission for Social Development
47th Session of the Commission for Social Development
Report of the Expert Group Meeting on Promoting Social Integration, 8-10 July 2008, Helsinki, Finland
Final Report of the Expert Group Meeting on Creating an Inclusive Society: Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration, 10 – 13 September 2007 in Paris
Working Definitions
Social Integration
The Social Summit approached social integration in terms of goals, principles, and process. The goal of social integration is to create “a more stable, safe and just society for all”, in which every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play. Such an inclusive society must be based on the principles of embracing – not coercing or forcing – diversity and using participatory processes that involve all stakeholders in the decision-making that affects their lives.
In this E-dialougue, we use "Social Integration" as a dynamic and principled process in which societies engage in order to further human development. Successful social integration processes encourage “coming together” while respecting differences, and consciously and explicitly putting great value on maintaining diversity. Social integration represents the attempt not to make people adjust to society, but rather to ensure that society is accepting of all people.
To view the section on Social Integration from the Copenhagen Declaration, click here.
Social Inclusion
Social inclusion is the process by which efforts are made to ensure equal opportunities - that everyone, regardless of their background, can achieve their full potential in life. Such efforts include policies and actions that promote equal access to (public) services as well as enable citizen’s participation in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Social cohesion
Social cohesion is a related concept that parallels that of social integration in many respects. A socially cohesive society is one where all groups have a sense of belonging, participation, inclusion, recognition and legitimacy. Such societies are not necessarily demographically homogenous. Rather, by respecting diversity, they harness the potential residing in their societal diversity (in terms of ideas, opinions, skills, etc.). Therefore, they are less prone to slip into destructive patterns of tension and conflict when different interests collide.
Working Papers
National Mechanisms and the Mainstreaming of Social Inclusion in Sectoral Policies and Poverty Reduction Strategies: The Case of Barbados by Hamilton Lashley, Advisor to the Government of Barbados on Social Policy Member of Parliament
Inclusive Planning as a Tool for Social Integration: Case studies from Asia and the Pacific by Donovan Storey, The University of Queensland, Australia
Building Capacity to Promote Social Integration and Social Inclusion in the Western Balkans by Dr. Paul Stubbs, Sociologist/Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Croatia
Poverty, Growth and Economic Inclusion in Nepal by Shiva Sharma
Policies and Practices of Promoting Social Inclusion in Brazil by Andréa Borges David
The African Common Position on Social Integration and the Social Policy Framework for Africa by Sadequa Rahim, Policy Officer, Social Welfare Division, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Review of policies, strategies and practices geared at more equitable distribution, social protection, policies to promote civic participation, pro-poor policies, including conditional cash transfers, social floor, lessons from their strengths and weaknesses by Katja Hujo, UNRISD, Geneva
Challenges and Opportunities Towards Social Integration and Inclusion: The Tanzania Experience by Dora Semkwiji, Assistant Research Fellow, Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)
Sharing lessons on poverty reduction and development schemes for ethnic minorities in Vietnam by Ha Viet Quan
Lessons learned from Policies to address Caste based Exclusion in India by Annie Namala
Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration: Lessons learned from existing policies and practices by Essam Ali
Statements
Opening remarks by Mr. Jean-Pierre Gonnot, Acting Director, Division for Social Policy and Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Development (UNDESA)
Welcome Address by Hon. Stephen Amoanor Kwao, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Ghana at the Opening Ceremony of the Expert Group Meeting
Building Capacity to Promote Social Integration and Social Inclusion in the Western Balkans by Dr. Paul Stubbs The Institute of Economics, Zagreb
Programme 135 - Sharing Lessons on Poverty Reduction and Development Schemes for Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam by Ha Viet Quan Deputy Director, P.135 Coordination Office Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of Vietnam
Constant Crisis Perceptions of vulnerability and social protection in the Kyrgyz Republic by HelpAge International
Socio-Economic Challenges and Policies to promote Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean by Simone CecchiniSocial Development DivisionEconomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) United Nations
Inclusive Planning as a Tool for Social Integration: Asia & the Pacific by Donovan Storey, University of Queensland, Australia
Existing Policies And Practices Conducive To Social Integration: Targetd Vs Mainstreaming Approaches To Address The Needs And Concerns Of Social Groups (Older Persons In Ghana) by Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey, Executive Director, HelpAge Ghana
Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration: Lessons from India on CBD by Annie Namala, Centre for Social Equity & Inclusion, New Delhi, India
Poverty, Growth and Economic Inclusion in Nepal by Shiva Sharma
Building Capacity to Promote Social Integration and Inclusion in Tanzania
Translating social integration/inclusion policies into practice: Social participation in the implementation and social control of public policies - Brazil by M. Andrea Borges David