UNDESA-DSPD, from 8 August to 5 September 2012, conducted a global online survey to gather inputs for consideration by the 51st session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD), which took place from 6 to 15 February 2013.

The survey enabled the public worldwide to respond to a set of questions that were related to the priority theme of CSocD on "Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all”.

The responses collected and selected from the first question "Empowerment: What does it mean to you?" was published in a separate booklet.

The ten questions were the following: 

1. When you hear the term "empowerment" what does it mean to you?
2. How would empowering people help achieve poverty eradication?
3. How would empowering people improve social integration, especially of people living in poverty, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples?
4. How could empowering people help achieve full employment and decent work?
5. What do you consider would be main barriers to the economic, social and political empowerment of people and social groups including people living in poverty, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous people?
6. Do you have any examples of successful empowerment of people, including specific social groups? Please indicate them.
7. What policies do you consider would further promote social, economic, political and legalempowerment of people, including social groups?
8. Do you consider that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), especially theInternet has an impact on empowerment? Can you give some examples?
9. How is empowerment related to inequality in societies?
10. Please provide any additional comments.

Click here to download the full survey.