Arrangements for Participation of NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC (pdf).
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.
In conjunction with the fiftieth session, a Civil Society Forum would be organized. It will take place on 31 January 2012, one day before the opening of the session. The outcome of the Forum, which is presented in the format of a declaration, will be read during the first meeting of the session. Information on the Civil Society Forum will be made available through webpage of the NGO Committee for Social Development: http://www.ngosocdev.net.
Since the holding of the World Summit for Social Development, DSPD has established a more proactive approach and a solid tradition in involving civil society organizations and actors in the different aspects of its substantive work as well as in the work of the Commission. Sessions of the Commission are open to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with ECOSOC. NGOs in general and special consultative status may submit written statements to be circulated and also make oral presentations during the general debate at the Commission on specific agenda items.
DSPD is the main provider of substantive servicing to the Commission. This means that most of the reports before the Commission are prepared by DSPD. In addition, DSPD advises the Bureau of the Commission, as well as Member States, on organizational and substantive issues relating to sessions of the Commission.
Through its Civil Society and Outreach Unit, the Division provides NGOs with information relating to the Commission. The Unit reviews written statements submitted by NGOs before their publication as official documents of the Commission. It receives requests made by NGOs for oral presentations and coordinates with the Secretary of the Commission the sequence of those oral presentations. Upon requests by NGO Committees and Caucuses, the Unit conducts briefings aimed at improving the involvement of NGOs in the work of the Commission.
This page is aimed at facilitating participation of NGOs at the Commission. It includes: