The Commission for Social Development got off to a good start on Monday morning February 5 in Conference Room 4 at the United Nations in New York. It was preceded on Sunday morning by an orientation session hosted by the NGO Committee for Social Development. A full recording of the session is available – Winifred Doherty at marker 59.38 approx

The days have been filled with a rich tapestry of views and recommendations as presented by the many experts, UN Official and Civil Society. The Civil Society Declaration was presented on the opening morning. Webcast UNTV  Opening of the 62nd Session of the Commission The Chair of the Commission was H.E. Ms. Ruchira Kamboj from India. The list of dignitaries included the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Dennis Frances.

There is consensus all around that social development is at the heart of this commission’s work and acknowledgment that the world is off track experiencing a tsunami of crises – increased poverty, inequality, mass migration, and climate change disasters which are predicted to increase and multiple conflicts. The world is not on track to achieve the SDGs in 2030.

Good Shepherd joined with UNANIMA in an oral statement to the Commission delivered on Monday, February 12. “The representative of UNANIMA International, also speaking for several other organizations, called for a new approach that tackles not just the individual injustices of extreme poverty but also the broader systems that promote and profit from the unequal status quo in the Global North and the Global South.  Highlighting her organization’s experience on the front lines, working with the world’s most socially excluded people, she said its research at the grassroots level shows that women and children experiencing extreme poverty are often marginalized further through social and cultural prejudice.  A more nuanced understanding of their experiences in these contexts is necessary to inform effective policymaking and foster equitable social development.  Homelessness and displacement should not be seen as personal failings but rather as the structural failures they are, she stressed.  Social justice for all requires a paradigm shift that decommodifies people, places, and the planet, she said. (From UN Meeting Coverage and Press Releases) See UN Webcast marker 1:30:29

The Resolution on the priority theme was adopted on Wednesday, February 14th available in 6 languages of the UN. The resolution that received the most attention is titled “Promoting care and support systems for social development” (document E/CN.5/2024/L.5).  This resolution supports the creation of enabling environments for promoting care and support systems for social development. It urges us all to recognize and redistribute care work among individuals, as well as families, communities, the private sector and States, and to contribute to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

Throughout the Commission, the NGO Community had advocated for a Second World Summit on Social Development on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the first summit held in Copenhagen in 1995. On Tuesday, February 6th the NGO Committee for Social Development hosted a high-level event to review the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration.  View Here Video starts about marker 30

High-Level Event Reviewing Implementation of the Copenhagen – Summary can be read here.

A new publication from the NGO Committee for Social Development Bridging Vision to Action: from the Copenhagan Declaration of 1995 to the Sustainable Development Goals.

On Monday February 26 the General Assembly adopted a Resolution – UN to Hold “Second World Summit for Social Development” in 2025 | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) which give the go ahead but the process can only begin after co-facilitatos have been appointed to guide the process and modalities for the Summit have been approved. You can read a copy of the doucment HERE also in Spanish and French.