About the Commission on Social Development

The focus of this year's Commission for Social Development is social integration. Social integration is a multifaceted concept and some controversy exists as to whether a more apt appellation would be social inclusion or social cohesion. In a general sense, social integration is about creating societies that are based on principles of justice and equality, and ensuring that human rights of all people are respected. United Nations Secretary-General stated in his report entitled 'Promoting Social Integration' that social integration can also be understood as "the capacity of people to live together with full respect for the dignity of each individual, the common good, pluralism and diversity, non-violence and solidarity, as well as their ability to participate in social, cultural, economic and political life". Thus, the discourse on social integration is naturally one where the Bahá'í International Community— inspired by the Bahá'í  principles of unity in diversity, the nobility of the human being, the inherent oneness of humanity, and the interconnectedness of individuals and their environment— has a lot to say.

To place this year's commission in context, the Commission for Social Development is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. After the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995, the mandate of the Commission was reviewed, and since then it has served as the key UN agency responsible for the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. The Commission currently consists of 46 member-states elected by ECOSOC, and meets once a year at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. It functions according to two-year action-oriented work cycles, with each policy year being followed by a review year. This year's commission is a review year; therefore, the focus is on the priority theme as well as a reflection on the plans and programmes that have been and will be implemented for specific social groups.

The Commission began with discussion on the priority theme of social integration, and specifically, review of United Nations plans and programmes pertaining to the situation of social groups. The plans and programmes reviewed include World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons; World Programme of Action for Youth; Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002; and family issues, policies and programmes.

The highlight of the day for me was a seminar that was conducted as a Side Event during one of the breaks of the formal session. It was entitled 'Social Inclusion: Contributions from Education and Partnerships' and was facilitated by Dr Dorothy Ettling from Women's Global Connection. The workshop focused on the role of education and grassroots capacity building for social development, drawing on African case studies. It identified the significance of sharing stories, experiences, wisdom and spirituality amongst women as part of the process of building a just and sustainable society for all.