General Assembly (GA)

As part of the preparations for and observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the report is focused on the impact of climate change on the well-being of families, highlighting challenges relating to food and water scarcity, worsening physical and mental health, increased intrafamilial violence and child marriage.

As part of the preparations for the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the report focuses on analysis of demographic trends and their impact on families and family-oriented policies. With regard to fertility decisions and maternal mortality reduction, the Secretary-General recommends provision of quality education, ensuring access to reproductive health services and family planning and investment in health-care facilities in remote areas. In terms of work-family balance, the Secretary-General suggests investing in flexible working arrangements, parental leave and high quality and affordable childcare.

With regard to ageing, recommendations are offered on social security and pensions, family-based care systems for older persons and institutional…

The report provides a review of the progress made and the gaps and challenges in implementing the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027), in the context of a series of severe and mutually reinforcing crises: the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the food and energy crises, rising inflation and climate change. Policies for an inclusive and sustainable recovery are discussed and recommendations put forward for consideration by the Assembly.

The report provides a review of the progress, gaps and challenges in inclusive social development policies and programmes to address homelessness, given the socioeconomic impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The specific challenges faced by disadvantaged groups are discussed. The report shows that, while knowledge of and policies on homelessness are improving, substantial efforts are still needed. Notwithstanding homelessness concerns in developed and developing economies, the report serves to highlight global contrasts, along with the convergence of issues and strategies.   In the report, the Secretary-General proposes possible indicators for social protection and access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing in the aftermath of COVID-19. 

As part of the preparations for the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the Secretary-General focuses on the analysis of urbanization and migration trends and their impacts on families and family-oriented policies. He furthermore describes the current state of preparations for the observance of the anniversary at all levels.

In the present report, the Secretary-General stresses the need to regain lost ground and strengthen national actions and international cooperation to achieve the goals and objectives of the World Summit for Social Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He reviews the progress made since 1995, examines the current state of play and highlights global challenges to social development. In this context, the Secretary-General calls upon Member States to commit to bold and transformative actions to revive progress and outlines policies and programmes to address the rise in extreme poverty and food insecurity, the lack of access to quality education and energy and the shortage of employment and decent work around the world. He also presents the outcomes of the sixty-first…

The report includes an analysis of the role of social inclusion and social integration in combating multidimensional poverty with a focus on specific groups, in particular children, women, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons, migrants and Indigenous Peoples. The report concludes with key recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

Population ageing signals humankind’s extraordinary collective success in improving living conditions for billions of people around the world. The present note examines the economic and social implications of the process of population ageing and presents policy recommendations to manage this global trend equitably. The note presents the main findings of the World Social Report 2023: Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World.

At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its seventy-seventh session the item entitled: “Social development: “(a) Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly; “(b) Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, persons with disabilities and the family; “(c) Literacy for life: shaping future agendas” and to allocate it to the Third Committee.

In the present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 76/134, the Secretary-General emphasizes the need for decisive national actions and international cooperation to eradicate poverty and achieve the goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He examines the multifaceted impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine on social development and underscores the importance of strengthening global solidarity and multilateral cooperation.

The Secretary-General calls for the further strengthening long-term social policies to enhance people’s capacities for and resilience to future crises, as well as for preserving social spending to support such national policies and…

The present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 76/218, provides a review of the progress made and the gaps and challenges in implementing the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027), including the socioeconomic impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the responses thereto. Policies for an inclusive and sustainable recovery from these crises are discussed and recommendations made.

The present report, which is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/153, contains information on the preparations for the observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2024 and an analysis of the impact of new technologies on families. The report is also focused on the potential of digital technologies to help to enable the achievement of work-family balance and on the role of such technologies in promoting and facilitating parenting education.