February 2009: The 47th session of the Commission for Social Development met from 4-13 February 2009, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.

Delegates incorporated issues surrounding the global financial crisis, compounded by the challenges of increasing poverty, the food crisis, armed conflict and climate change, into their debate of “Social Integration,” which is the priority theme for the 2009-2010 review and policy cycle. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Sylvie Lucas (Luxembourg) noted that the Commission for Social Development has the role of guiding international efforts to fight exclusion and promote socially inclusive policies to place people at the centre of development, which could prevent conflict, encourage dialogue and manage coexistence and natural-resource exploitation.

The Commission endorsed four draft resolutions on the “Social Dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development” (E/CN.5/2009/L.3); “Policies and Programmes involving Youth” (E/CN.5/2009/L.4); “Promoting full employment and decent work for all” (E/CN.5/2009/L.5); and the “First review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002” (E/CN.5/2009/L.6). The draft resolutions are expected to be considered by ECOSOC, in accordance with resolution 2006/18, to discuss the core themes of the World Summit for Social Development, at its next substantive session in Geneva, in July 2009.
Link to further information
47th session of the CSD website