13 February 2019: The 57th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD57) recognized inequality as a “defining issue of our time,” with delegates stressing that fiscal, wage and social policies can contribute significantly to reducing inequality. CSocD57 forwarded three draft resolutions to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for adoption.
CSocD57 convened at UN Headquarters in New York, US, from 11-21 February 2019. The Commission addressed the priority theme, ‘Addressing Inequalities and Challenges to Social Inclusion Through Fiscal, Wage and Social Protection Policies.’ CSocD57 focused on two emerging issues: empowerment of people affected by natural and human-made disasters to reduce inequality; and addressing the differential impact on persons with disabilities, older persons and youth. CSocD57 featured a number of panel discussions and dialogues, including ones on natural disasters and inequality, and a Ministerial Forum on Social Protection.
In opening statements, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted three key areas for action: increasing public investment in critical sectors, including aligning financial and economic policies with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; addressing wage growth and wage inequality; and strengthening social protection. ECOSOC Vice President, Valentin Rybakov, on behalf of the ECOSOC President, observed that the world is currently “moving in the wrong direction” on inequality, stressing that “it is not possible to achieve social cohesion” under current conditions. He urged the Commission to advise ECOSOC on necessary actions needed to move towards shared wealth and equality as well as to ensure the success of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and the HLPF Summit. The UNGA Vice President described the HLPF Summit as an opportunity to review overall progress on the 2030 Agenda, raise political momentum at the highest level and mobilize further action to realize the Goals, stressing that the world has a “unique opportunity to get back on track with implementation.” He urged CSocD57 to provide a “powerful contribution” to the HLPF and the HLPF Summit “with concrete policy advice and key messages on the social pillar of sustainable development,” particularly on how to leverage fiscal, wage and social protection policies.
The more we update and align our work with the 2030 Agenda, the more relevant our work will be.
On inequalities, the Commission forwarded a draft resolution titled, ‘Addressing Inequalities and Challenges to Social Inclusion Through Fiscal, Wage and Social Protection Policies’ (E/CN.5/2019/L.6). The resolution emphasizes that the benefits of social growth should be inclusive and distributed more equitably to avoid deepening inequality and close gaps. In the resolution, ECOSOC would encourage governments to expand social protection to cover all throughout their life cycle; promote affordable and equitable access to basic services; use sound public spending policies to facilitate universal health care (UHC); promote labor policies to provide decent work for all and a fair share of productivity for workers; and tackle social exclusion and discrimination. The resolution further calls for ensuring that women’s employment and earnings contribute to curbing inequality and promoting equal pay for work of equal value.
On youth, the Commission forwarded a draft resolution titled, ‘Policies and Programmes Involving Youth’ (E/CN.5/2019/L.3). The resolution calls for promoting the full participation of young people and their organization in decision making at all levels, including in implementing the 2030 Agenda, and underscores the linkages between youth unemployment and inequality. The resolution further calls for: redoubling efforts towards quality education and ensuring that learning helps to develop skills for the future of work and comprises sustainable development education, civic education and conflict prevention; and strengthening evidence-based national policies and programmes for young people, including through generating and using more robust disaggregated data on young people.
On Africa, the Commission approved a draft resolution titled, ‘Social Dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)’ (E/CN.5/2019/L.4). The resolution stresses the importance of promoting integrated and coordinated implementation, monitoring and reporting of the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063 through joint programmes and activities. During discussion on the resolution, Romania, on behalf of the EU, and Mexico encouraged the Group of 77 (G-77) to reduce the text length and eliminate duplications and redundancies with other initiatives, including the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) annual resolution on NEPAD.
On organization of work, the Commission approved a draft resolution titled, ‘Future Organization and Methods of Work of the Commission for Social Development’ (E/CN.5/2019/L.5). In the resolution, ECOSOC would agree that the priority theme for the 58th session of the Commission will be ‘Affordable Housing and Social Protection System for All to Address Homelessness.’ The resolution further decides to promote the Commission’s efficiency by “biennializing” its resolutions with the aim of strengthening resolutions on the annual priority theme and eliminating duplication and overlap.
In closing statements, Mexico advocated for adding the 2030 Agenda’s criteria of leaving no one behind in the Commission’s work. He welcomed references to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the Commissions’ resolutions, saying, “the more we update and align our work with the 2030 Agenda, the more relevant our work will be.” Djibouti reminded delegates that the Commission’s work does not stop with the session’s conclusion. He said the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will also focus on social protection for its annual theme in 2019.
Following CSocD57’s conclusion, the Commission opened the first meeting of its 58th session. [UN Meeting Coverage of CSocD57 Closing] [UN Meeting Coverage of 19 February] [UN Meeting Coverage of 14 February] [UN Meeting Coverage of 13 February] [UN Meeting Coverage of 12 February] [CSocD57 Website] [Policies and Programmes Involving Youth] [Addressing Inequalities and Challenges to Social Inclusion Through Fiscal, Wage and Social Protection Policies] [UNDP Statement]