Concluding its fifty-first session today, the Commission for Social Development approved five draft resolutions for adoption by the Economic and Social Council, covering a range of issues pivotal to the promotion of societies rooted in respect for the dignity of every individual, from youth and disability, to ageing and African development.

The Commission’s approval of the texts capped two weeks of negotiations, panel discussions and general debate under the priority theme “Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all”.  Representatives of Governments and civil society advocates from around the world described efforts to stimulate job creation, combat poverty and create inclusive societies, with a view to informing the Commission’s policy session next year, and more broadly, the global development agenda beyond 2015.

We have just concluded eight intense and fruitful days of work,” Commission Chair Sewa Lamsal Adhikari (Nepal) declared in concluding remarks, noting that delegates had affirmed the essential role of Governments in creating an enabling environment to empower people, by providing the necessary tools and capacity-building opportunities.  Decent work was also vital to promoting empowerment, reducing poverty and enhancing social inclusion, she added.

The Commission had laid the foundation for the fifty-second session, she continued, saying the 47-member body would produce a policy outcome on the priority theme.  After recapping the work accomplished, she thanked delegates for their “flexibility and resolve”, exercised in a spirit of cooperation, which had facilitated the consensus approval of all the textsunder consideration.  She also thanked the facilitators for their “extreme patience” in guiding consultations.

Several of the texts approved today highlighted the critical importance of empowering people and of their participation in advancing social development.