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Commission for Social Development
The
Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing requested the
Commission on Social Development to integrate the different dimensions of population ageing in its
work, and to give priority to consider MIPAA implementation and follow-up. Thus,
the Commission is the key UN body in charge of the follow-up to
MIPAA.
The Commission was established in 1946 as the Social Commission and was later renamed Social Development Commission in order to clarify its role as a preparatory body of ECOSOC in the whole range of social development policy. It is composed of 46 members elected by ECOSOC and meets once a year in New York, usually in February. Like other functional commissions, it is open to participation by accredited NGOs.
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
Links
Forty-sixth session (February 2008)
World: Draft resolution submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission, Ms. Zhang Dan (China), on the basis of informal consultations First Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002 (February 2008)
At the end of the 2008 Commission for Social Development and following informal consultations and many compromises, Member States finally agreed on a draft First review and appraisal of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. The resolution calls upon governments to “participate effectively in the implementation of MIPAA” and to “continue their efforts to mainstream the concerns of older persons into their policy agenda.” Governments are also invited to organize inclusive consultations with relevant stakeholders and social development partners as they develop and carry out their aging policies.
United Nations Press
Release: Entering Second Week, Social Development Commission Debates Entrenched Challenges of Discrimination, Unemployment, Affecting Broad Segments of Population Globally (February 11, 2008)
The Commission on Social Development addressed, along with representatives from Governments, non-governmental organizations and civil society, the challenges faced by various social groups (elderly, youth and disabled) in the employment sector. Much of the day’s discussion centered on the achievements since -- and obstacles to -- implementing the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Here is the summary of the day published by the United Nations.
Gallery: Reception during the Commission for Social Development (February 7, 2008)
Global Action on Aging, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and HelpAge International organized a reception during the Forty-sixth session of the Commission for Social Development. UN staff, NGO representatives and mission delegates gathered to celebrate the actions of older people to support the 2nd Review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
World:
How the International Disability Caucus worked during negotiations for a UN
Human Rights Convention on Disability, by Maria Veronica Reina (February 6,
2008)
Global Action on Aging organized a February 6, 2008, panel at the
Commission for Social Development focusing on strategies that governments
and NGOS used to win approval of a Human Rights Convention on Disability
during 2007. A principal speaker was Maria Veronica Reina, a key figure in
the International Disability Caucus. This Caucus spoke with one voice
representing NGOs to the governmental Ad Hoc Committee on Disability as it
negotiated the historic UN Human Rights Convention on Disability. Here is
Maria Veronica’s account of the NGO process during the UN debate
Global
Action on Aging Side Event: "What can Ageing Advocates Learn from the Disability Convention Process?"
(February 6, 2008)
GAA, along with Friedrich Ebert Foundation, organized a Side Event Session entitled, “What can Aging Advocates learn from the Disability Convention Process.” The Feb. 6 session attracted both young and old, able and disabled persons of all ages. Speakers explored the processes, such as NGO self-organizing, their participation and negotiation. They also described the politics involved among governments in coming to an agreement and the current impact of the Disability Rights Convention on blind citizens living in poor countries.
Forty-fifth session (February 2007)
5 Year Review of
the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (February 7-16, 2007)
Beginning with its forty-fifth session (February 2007), the Commission enters into a “two-year policy and review cycle.” For the 5 year evaluation of the Madrid Plan, this means that the 2007 session only initiates the review. Therefore, aging advocates must wait until 2008 for for most factual government reports. It is possible that UN organizations and NGO’s may offer recommendations to the Commission during the 2007 session which could positively influence policy implementation in 2008.
Aging Watch follows major aging-related events during Commission meetings and will report on any adopted resolutions.
Modalities
for the First Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing, 2002 – Draft Resolution by the Commission
(E/CN.5/2007/L.4) (February 13, 2007)
Focusing on the actual Madrid
Plan review session in 2008, this draft resolution encourages governments to
step up efforts to facilitate MIPAA implementation if they have not done so.
The resolution further calls on greater cooperation between all stakeholders
and invites “interested Governments to offer support and assistance,
including voluntary financial contributions, to support national and
regional review and appraisal activities.”
Major
Developments in the Area of Ageing since the Second World Assembly on Ageing
– Report of the Secretary General (November 21, 2006)
Highlighting major developments in the field of aging since UN Member States
adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002, this
report addresses several issues. The Secretary General mentions the
“sustainability of social protection systems, older workers’
participation in the labour market, approaches to adjusting the health and
care services.” In regards to social protection, the report presents the
current reform efforts in rich countries as positive, emphasizing that no
large-scale cut back or dismantling of public programs has yet occurred. The
report also highlights the use of social pensions in an increasing number of
poor countries as an effective tool to fight poverty among older persons and
their families. The report cites arguments against the notion that social
protection is unaffordable for poor countries.
In addition, the report mentions the growing movement for the
establishment of social protection programs in key donor countries.
Forty-fourth session (February
2006)
In
its forty-fourth session, the Commission for Social Development focused on
the "Review
of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty." During
the session's second week, the Commission reviewed
United Nations plans and programs of action on the situation of social
groups, including the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
Modalities for the First Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing - Resolution by the Commission (February 14, 2006)
At the end of its 2006 session, the UN's Commission for Social Development decided how it would review and evaluate the accomplishments of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, known as MIPPA. The Commission will begin its global review of each country's actions as well as international institutions in 2007 and conclude its work in 2008. The Commission relies on the cooperation of the UN Member States, the UN System, such as the Regional Economic and Social Commissions and other parties to obtain information about how governments implemented MIPAA. The Commission gives recommendations on the review and appraisal of MIPAA and invites "interested Governments" to support and give financial assistance in their regions. Lack of sufficient funding remains the biggest obstacle for comprehensive regional review and appraisal of
MIPAA.
Global
Action on Aging's Two Day Roundtable on Older Persons in the 2004 Tsunami
(February 13-14, 2006)
As part of the Commission's follow up
on the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), Global Action
on Aging along with partners HelpAge International and the Friedrich Ebert
Foundation, and the support of Department for Economic and Social Affairs
organized a two day roundtable on " Older Persons in the 2004
Tsunami." In Section 8, the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing specifically addresses
protecting older persons in emergency situations. The Roundtable concluded
with a set of recommendations to strengthen MIPPA on the protection of older
persons in emergency situations.
Review of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)
Report of the Secretary-General (December 12, 2005)
In
his report to the Social Development Commission, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan reviews and
evaluates the commitment and strategies for poverty eradication on national
and international levels. He also assesses how well the UN and its
Member
States
coordinated their activities.
He highlights the obstacles and challenges for all parties involved.
The report mentions older persons specifically in the context of HIV/AIDS
and calls for stronger social protection programs to support their needs.
Modalities for the Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing
Report of the Secretary-General (November 11, 2005)
In
its forty-second session, the Commission for Social Development decided to
carry out the review and appraisal of the 2002 Madrid Plan of Action (MIPAA)
every five years. This report evaluates progress made on the national,
regional and international levels and provides procedural suggestions to the
Commission for the five year review of MIPAA in 2007.
Forty-third session (February
2005)
The session was devoted to the 10-year review and appraisal of the decisions adopted at the Copenhagen World Social Summit. Without focusing specifically on older persons, the
declaration
adopted by the Commission stated that governments recommit to fostering just and safe societies based on promotion and protection of all human rights, as well as equality and participation of all, "including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons."
A parallel document adopted by the NGO Forum stresses that "human rights apply equally and indivisibly to all people across the life course" and that "discrimination against persons of any age or condition is unacceptable."
At the session, Global Action on Aging held a parallel event entitled
"Mainstreaming Older Persons' Issues: How Can NGO's Help?" Please
see the material on the Side Event below.
Global Action on Aging Side Event
Photos
Mainstreaming
Older Persons'
Issues: How Can NGO's Help? (February 14, 2005)
At the 43rd session of the Commission for Social Development, Global Action
on Aging organized a Side- Event. GAA asked speakers to point out "open
doors" in the ECOSOC functional
commissions where NGO's could bring the concerns and resources of
older persons. This leaflet lists Panelists and their topics.
NGO
Report on an Effective Mainstreaming Model with the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (February 14, 2005)
Nancy Lewis of the NGO Commission on the Status of Women's Sub-Committee
on Older Women (SCOW), vividly reported on how SCOW brought older women's
issues to the Expert Panel serving on the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Her experience and approach demonstrates a successful NGO lobby effort. See
Ms. Lewis talking points.
Integrating
Older Persons in the UN Human Rights Program (February 14, 2005)
Laura Reanda, Coordinator for UN Projects, at the International Human Rights
Education Group discussed the necessity to bring older persons onto the UN
human rights agenda. What would happen if the UN would handle elder abuse not as a social problem, but as a human rights violation? Reanda
argues that "addressing the issue in a human rights perspective
not only raises the level of seriousness with which the problem is
addressed, but also immediately brings into view issues of responsibility
and accountability under the existing normative frameworks."
Mainstreaming the Concerns of
Older Persons into the Social Development Agenda (February 14, 2005)
In his presentation Robert Venne, Social Affairs Officer
at the UN Department on Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), outlines DESA's
strategy on mainstreaming aging. He also gives background to previous UN
mainstreaming efforts, suggestions for "successful mainstreaming"
and examples of "good mainstreaming practices." For his extensive
position paper with the same title, please click here.
Mainstreaming Aging: Key
Operational Challenges (February 14, 2005)
Dr. Ann Pawliczko, Senior Technical Advisor, UN Population Fund (UNFPA),
comments on challenges to mainstreaming aging, such as the integration of
older persons issues into the development agenda, and delineates UNFPA's
response. She concludes that governments, local communities, NGOs and the
international community have to work jointly to "respond to the
demographic changes ahead."
Forty-second
session (February
2004)
The Commission continued its debate on modalities for R&A, based on a further
report by the Secretariat that suggested an approach for review at the national, regional and international levels.
At the session, a resolution 42/1
[p.16-17] the Commission decided to carry out the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action every five years (i.e., the first review will take place in 2007). It also requested the
Secretary-General to propose guidelines for the R&A process taking into account the views of governments, civil society and the private sector, and to make proposals for a specific theme emanating from the Plan of Action for the first cycle.
At the session, Global Action on Aging held a parallel event entitled "Protecting
Older Persons in Armed Conflict."
Forty-first
session (February 2003)
The
Madrid International Plan of Action
on Ageing, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, requested the
Commission to integrate the different dimensions of population ageing in its
work, and to give priority to a consideration of the modalities for review
and appraisal (R&A) of implementation.
At its 41st session - the first held after the Madrid
conference - the Commission discussed a report
prepared by the Secretariat which contains a number of recommendations for
future action by the Commission on this issue. The report pays particular
attention to the need to integrate population ageing throughout the UN
system, and proposes that R&A take the form of a "bottom-up"
approach involving participation by all relevant actors, governmental and
non-governmental.
The
Commission
recommended a draft resolution
[draft
resolution IV, p.10] for adoption by ECOSOC on the proposed modalities for
R&A, including the mainstreaming of ageing issues at all levels and a
fully participatory process throughout.
Links
Commission
for Social Development
The Commission's website provides general information and a link to the
current as well as previous sessions.
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