The Fiftieth Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) will take place from 1 to 10 February 2012 at the United Nations North Lawn Building (NLB) in New York. The Priority Theme of the session is “Poverty Eradication”.

In addition to the priority theme, the session will include review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups such as: disabled persons, youth, ageing, and the family.

Beginning with the forty-fifth session, the Commission has organized its work according to a cycle of two sessions dealing with one single priority theme. The first year is a review session, while the second year is a policy session resulting in a set of resolutions or decisions.

Participation of NGOs at the Session.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. Article 40 of the Convention stipulates that “The States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties in order to consider any matter with regard to the implementation of the present Convention.” The theme and meetings of the fourth session are decided the Bureau of the Conference.

The Fourth session of the Conference of States Parties will take place from 7 to 9 September 2011 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Civil Society participation

The Second Session of the Open-ended Working Group on strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons will be convened from 1 to 4 August 2011 in Conference Room 2 at the United Nations North Lawn Building (NLB) in New York.

Participations of NGOs at the Session.

As part of the International Year of Youth, the General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on youth on 25 and 26 July 2011. The high-level meeting will have as its overarching theme “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”.

The high-level meeting will comprise two consecutive informal interactive round tables on 25 July 2011 and two plenary meetings on 26 July 2011. The round tables will be chaired by Member States at the invitation of the President of the General Assembly and will address the following themes:

1. Round table 1: Strengthening international cooperation regarding youth and enhancing dialogue, mutual understanding and active youth participation as indispensable elements towards achieving social integration, full employment and the eradication of poverty;
   
2. Round table 2: Challenges to youth development and opportunities for poverty eradication, employment and sustainable development.

Participation of NGOs