The last day of the Commission for Social Development

Friday February 12, was the last day of the 54th Session of the Commission for Social Development.  The remaining NGO’s wishing to make oral statements were heard including our statement Text ‘Inequality Matters’

Oral Statment C Soc D

Webcast of the morning session of the Commission   See marker 16.00   Continue with the webcast for insight into the difficulty of having consensus on the resolution on ‘Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’.  

Her the is the resolution on Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world E/CN.5/2016/L.3

 

Photos for today February 3, 2016

Photographs with NGO friends from Afria and Asia before the NGO morning briefing prior to the opening of the Commission for Social Development.  Read Good Shepherd Statement to the Commission published in the UN Journal today Statement No 58

See the video on Commission for Social Development   Good practice is evidence based and data driven!  People must remain the center of global, national and local efforts

#MaishaCSoCD  Maisha – a new life outside the mines is one such good practice.

A New Resource – Handbook

A new resource, a hand book for implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights has been published.  Since I came to the GSIJP Office in 2008 you in the networks have been engaged in collecting information for the then Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights – Magdalena Sepuleveda (2008 – 2014) The Handbook has been published by ATD 4th World and Franciscan International and is available in French, English and Spanish

The book is in four parts:  Part 1 – The basics;  Part 2 – Key principles for engaging with people living in poverty; Part 3 – Empowering people in extreme poverty to claim their rights; Part 4 – Monitoring and ensuring accountability.

This handbook will be very helpful to you in your various ministries with people living in poverty.  It is a human rights perspective and suggests actions that can be taken with local government and other sectors of society to ensure that rights are respected and protected.  The focus is on the barriers that prevent people living in poverty from enjoying many fundamental rights such as the right to food and nutrition, housing, work, heath and education.  These are the subject matter of the new Sustainable Development Goals that came into force throughout the world on January 1, 2016

There you’ll also find links to the introductory video with subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and German HERE

Pilot implementations/trainings are being explored in 6 countries, tentatively: Benin, Kenya, India, Philippines, Argentina, Bolivia.  If you want to be part of these implementations/training let me know.

Chapter logo30th Congregational Chapter Direction Statement “In response to the most pressing needs of today such as poverty … we commit ourselves, on unit, regional and congregational levels, to: Develop clear strategic plans integrating spirituality and justice and peace with the best ministry practices.  This includes holding ourselves accountable to monitor and evaluate the results.   See Part 4 Monitoring and ensuring accountability.  This Handbook is an excellent resource, making human rights work for people living in extreme poverty, bringing about structural and systemic change.

Making Human Rights Work

English, Spanish, French

downloadGoal 2E_SDG_Icons-03   E_SDG_Icons-05

E_SDG_Icons-08   E_SDG_Icons-04

I am Rising: Michelle Bachelet’s Message for the One Billion Rising campaign

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet stands up for the fundamental human right of every woman and girl to live a life free from fear and violence, as part of the One Billion Rising campaign sponsored by Eve Ensler’s V-day organization. On 14 February 2013, join her and one billion women and men around the world, who will rise up, walk out, dance and demand an end to this violence.

 

Across the world, social movements, organizations, schools and offices are preparing to take to the streets on Valentine’s Day, Thursday 14 February, to dance for a gender justice revolution: One Billion Rising!
The Campaign recognizes the gravity of persistent violence against women in the home, schools, workplaces and public spheres, women and men are mobilizing to call for an end to rape, and end to the normality of violence against women.
Violence against women is a key issue which prevents the realization of gender justice. It is estimated that one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.
Paul Quintos, Campaign Manager, said: “Violence against women has enormous social, economic, physical and psychological impacts on all of society – affecting both men and women. Equitable and sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the causes and effects of violence against women.”
“Gender justice is critical to poverty reduction and development. There must be substantive social change to challenge patriarchy. Our social and political systems must be reformed by strong government commitments to create a more equitable and just society for all.” The Campaign for People’s Goals for Sustainable Development supports One Billion Rising and calls for effective and substantive legal and political action to address violence against women and children in all spheres of life, and enacted by all people.
The Campaign for People’s Goals calls for governments to:
  • Recognize gender justice as a key objective to achieve development
  • Ensure there is effective legislation, and enforcement of legislation on rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women.
  • Ensure there are widespread social education and programs through schools, workplaces and public centers to change patriarchal attitudes and negative social and cultural practices.

Empowering People for Social Change

Giving the poorest and most vulnerable the voice and tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty is key to bolstering efforts towards meeting global development goals, according to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on promoting people’s empowerment, the theme for the fifty-first session of the Commission on Social Development, taking place at United Nations Headquarters from 6 to 15 February, and for its Civil Society Forum tomorrow.   Read more …

Promoting empowerment of people will be at the core when the Commission for Social Development convenes for its 51st session. “Empowering individuals and social groups requires a comprehensive set of policies and institutions. From education and health care to economic and social policy, activities that seek to empower people are expected to increase opportunities and improve people’s quality of life”, said Ms. Larysa Belskaya, Vice-Chair of the Commission’s Bureau.   Read more…

 

UN Commission for Social Development February 6 – 15, 2013

 

 “Promoting empowerment of people in achieving    poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all.”  Read more here …

Responses to Consultation on Participation in Decision Making

Participation

Executive Summary – Responses to consultation on Participation

The compiled responses have been submitted to the office of Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona, (Chile), Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.  There were 35 responses from Good Shepherd. The Special Rapporteur will use this information to inform her annual report of June 2013.  If you wish to see the document it is on the UN website page  under NGO Sub-Committee for Social Development.

I had the document translated into Spanish Consulta con ONG   and French  La consultation de l’ONG  Thank you for contributing to this important work.

The content of this consultation will be shared on Wednesday March 6, 2013 at a side event on the opening day of the Commission for Social Development:  Grass Root Voices do have Choices

New – UN Social Development Network – updates

A New Under Secretary General in UN DESA – http://unsdn.org/

Only a week into her new role, DESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, met with DESA News.   “With fast changing global events, magnified by recurring crises, the UN has a unique role to play in nurturing stronger multilateral framework, based on cooperation, innovative solutions and solidarity to safeguard our planet,” she said.

Read more Shamshad Akhtar was appointed by the UN Secretary

New – United Nations Social Development Network

Want to be up to date on Social Development issues – Empowerment, Poverty Eradication – follow here – http://unsdn.org  Make this a favourite.    Read about people’s empowerment and development model from Bangladesh. http://unsdn.org/?p=1136&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+unsdn+%28UNSDN%29

Promoting Social Integration – Voices from the Grassroots

  Read the response to a survey results conducted among 180 civil society groups from 60 countries on the Implementation of the Resolution Promoting Social Integration.  Good Shepherd has its voice in this survey survey-report-2011   The report of the Secretary General on Social Protection can be accessed here http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=E/CN.5/2011/2