The 59th session of the Commission for Social Development will take place from 8 to 17 February 2021 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The theme of the Commission Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all could not be timelier, as digital technologies have become a ubiquitous and key tool in navigating COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery efforts.

UNDESA's Division for Inclusive Social Development will organize an online webinar on "Economic security as mega-challenge: policy and civil society pathways to change" on 20 January 2021 from 10 am to 11 am with Mr. Anthony Painter.

Mr. Painter will present current research and policy work from the RoyalSociety of Arts (RSA) on economic security, including its links with Covid-19, automation, labour markets and a more comprehensive social contract.

In preparation for the 2021 session, the Permanent Forum will conduct informal virtual dialogues with Indigenous Peoples and Member State representatives.

For more information on the regional dialogue on Asia, please click here.

Photo credit: flickr.com/Ad Gillis

In preparation for the 2021 session, the Permanent Forum will conduct informal virtual dialogues with Indigenous Peoples and Member State representatives.

For more information on the regional dialogue on the Pacific, please click here.

Photo credit: flickr.com/steve

On 16 December 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote the resolution on “Rights of indigenous peoples” (document A/75/475).

Among other issues, the resolution includes:

The World Youth Report (WYR) is a flagship publication of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD). The Report addresses youth development issues around the world.

“These rights touch on every aspect of life: the right to go to school, to live in one’s community, to access health care, to start a family, to engage in political participation, to be able to play sport, to travel – and to have decent work,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a 

In the run-up to the 11th session of the GA open-ended Working Group in 2021, the International Federation on Ageing, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Argentina and Portugal, and in collaboration with DESA and OHCHR, organized a virtual town hall with Chair-elect H.E. Ms. María del Carmen Squeff and H.E. Mr. Francisco Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal, serving as Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the Working Group, to place a spotlight on advancing the human rights of older persons in conversation with experts. The event took place on 11 December 2020 from 8:00 am to 9:30 am.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is annually observed on 3 December to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.

This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be commemorated on 4 December 2020 in conjunction with the 13th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon its 20th ratification.