Social exclusion is connected to all forms of inequality. It affects people’s well-being and deprives them of opportunities and civil representation, which can ultimately push powerless groups into the margins of society. “High and worsening inequality is becoming the defining issue of our time,” said UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin at a recent meeting of the General Assembly’s Third Committee. “According to some estimates, the richest one percent of the global population owned 82 percent of stock of wealth in 2017, while the poorest half saw no increase in their wealth.”
“However, rising inequality is not inevitable,” Mr. Liu continued, referencing the important work of the Commission for Social Development and the fact that the priority theme of the Commission’s 57th session will be “Addressing Inequalities and Challenges to Social Inclusion through Fiscal, Wage and Social Protection Policies.”
Taking place at UN Headquarters in New York from 11 to 21 February, the event will feature four high-level panel discussions, general debates, as well as over 45 side events. Organizations accredited to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Member States and UN Agencies will come together to build on the outcomes of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly and the past Commission.
In addition to the main theme, the Commission will look closer at the emerging issue of the “Empowerment of people affected by natural and human-made disasters to reduce inequality: Addressing the differential impact on persons with disabilities, older persons and youth.”
There are also two newly added panel discussions – a ministerial forum on social protection and an interactive dialogue on the priority theme – which will allow for an in-depth consultation on topics of interest to the Commission.
The side events will cover a broad range of related issues, such as accountability mechanisms, family policies, youth entrepreneurship and national initiatives in various regions, including Africa, Latin America and Europe. In addition, the NGO Committee on Social Development will host a Civil Society Forum on 15 February to forge partnership among stakeholders.
“The role of this Commission is of crucial importance to providing substantive, engaging, technical and expert advice with concrete and action-oriented policy recommendations to ECOSOC and Member States,” remarked Ms. Sama Salem Poules, Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the Commission’s 57th Session. “Without inclusive social development, there will be no achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of UN DESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development, further stressed that fiscal, wage and social protection policies must be sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society, such as persons with disabilities, older persons and youth, who are affected by natural and human-made disasters.
The multi-stakeholder panels at this year’s Commission will reaffirm the commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by addressing the systemic causes associated with social exclusion and exchanging their views on equitable and inclusive social development.