Commission on Social Development

At the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD), held in March 1995 in Copenhagen, Governments reached a new consensus on the need to put people at the centre of development. The Social Summit was the largest gathering ever of world leaders at that time. It pledged to make the conquest of poverty, the goal of full employment and the fostering of social integration overriding objectives of development. Five years on, they reconvened in Geneva in June 2000, to review what has been achieved, and to commit themselves to new initiatives.

The Copenhagen Declaration the ten commitments, and the Programme of Action.
Other offical documents of WSSD
Link to the 370 statements made by governments, NGOs and intergovernmental bodies at the WSSD

The Commission for Social Development is a functional commission of the Economic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. It consists of 46 members elected by ECOSOC.

Click here to link to the the NGO Committee on Social Development

Since the convening of the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the Commission has been the key UN body in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. As a result of the Summit, the mandate of the Commission was reviewed and its membership expanded from 31 to 46 members in 1996. It meets once a year in New York, usually in February. Each year since 1995, the Commission has taken up key social development themes as part of its follow-up to the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit.

1996: Strategies and actions for the eradication of poverty; Review of the functioning of the Commission; Special session, 21-31 May 1996
1997: Productive employment and sustainable livelihoods; 35th session, 25 February- 6 March 1997
1998: Promoting social integration and participation of all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons; 36th session, 10-20 February 1998
1999: Social services for all; Initiation of the overall review of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit; 37th session, 9¡19 February 1999
2000: Contribution of the Commission to the overall review of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit; 38th session, 8-17 February 2000
2001: Social protection and vulnerability in a globalizing world; Role of volunteerism in promoting social development; 39th session, 13-23 February 2001

The 40th session of the Commission for Social Development will be held in New York, 12-22 February 2002. The thematic focus will be Integration of social and economic policy

Click here for the provisional agenda.

The Commission for Social Development serves as the Preparatory Commission for the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing