General Assembly (GA)

The present note examines development challenges in rural areas and presents policy recommendations to promote inclusive and sustainable rural development. The note summarizes the main findings of the World Social Report 2021: Reconsidering Rural Development.

The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 74/124. In the report, in view of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Secretary General addresses the impact of the crisis on families and elaborates on family oriented policies to mitigate its effects on households. He also focuses on parenting and parenting education as a tool to enhance children’s well-being and resilience in times of crisis and prevent violence against children. Lastly, he addresses the modalities for the preparations for the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, in 2024.

In the report, the Secretary-General emphasizes the need to strengthen international cooperation with regard to social development, focusing in particular on the significant increase and/or more efficient utilization of the resources allocated to social development, in order to achieve the goals set forth at the World Summit for Social Development. He also examines the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis on social development and underscores the importance of preserving levels of social spending to better support national policies and strategies for better recovery and to enable Member States to get back on track in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He further presents the outcomes of the fifty – eighth session of the Commission for…

In the report, the Secretary-General reviews the progress made, including by the United Nations system, in implementing the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027), examines gaps and challenges in that regard, and the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The report concludes with a set of recommendations.

The report is focused on recent family policy trends, mainly in the areas of gender-sensitive social protection, work-family balance, gender equality and family homelessness. Good practices in family policymaking by Governments, United Nations entities and civil society are also highlighted.

The report underscores the need to strengthen international cooperation for social development, with particular attention to universal and equitable access to education and health care, and to advance progress in the achievement of the objectives set forth at the World Summit for Social Development and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report identifies existing gaps and challenges and outlines strategies to align international cooperation to support national policies and strategies to accelerate progress. The outcomes of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission for Social Development are also highlighted in the report, which concludes with policy recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

The focus of the present note is the effects of major global trends – specifically technological innovation, climate change, urbanization and international migration – on inequality. The examination provided, including the policy recommendations on how to manage these trends equitably, encompasses the main findings of the forthcoming World Social Report.

The report is focused on reducing inequalities through the empowerment of all and the promotion of social, economic and political inclusion, social protection, inclusive and lifelong learning and other measures for advancing social integration. Highlighted in the report are good practices in inclusive policy-making at the national and international levels.

The report reviews progress made in eradicating poverty, including the response of the United Nations system to the theme of the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027). The report also contains recommendations on ways to make the Third Decade effective, in support of poverty eradication-related internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report contains an examination of the current state of rural poverty and the gaps and challenges to eradicating it, especially in developing countries, as well as recommendations for overcoming the numerous gaps and challenges.