Chair, Excellencies, Members of the Bureau of the Commission for Social Development, Distinguished delegates,
It is a great pleasure and honour to address you here at the closing of the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development.
Congratulations to you all, for the successful deliberations this session.
I take particular note of the resolution just adopted on the priority theme of “Affordable housing and social protection systems for all to address homelessness”.
This is the very first resolution by a UN intergovernmental body on the issue of homelessness, which cuts across several of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It will undoubtedly contribute to the upcoming Economic and Social Council session, and the HLPF this July, as we focus on accelerating action, and transformative pathways, to realise the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.
Distinguished delegates,
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development.
I congratulate the Commission for its continued follow-up to the Summit while aligning its work with that of the Council and the HLPF since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda.
As a subsidiary body of ECOSOC, this Commission has regularly advised the Council on all issues related to social policy and social development.
The Commission is also the main forum for promoting a coherent and integrated approach to social policy and social development programmes within the United Nations system.
This is vital as we enter the decade of action for the SDGs, which aims to ensure that all people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or status of disability, benefit from development.
Given your mandate to promote inclusive social development, especially on actions regarding poverty, inequality, employment, family, and issues related to youth, older persons and persons with disabilities it is clear the role of this Commission has become even more important.
Its work in supporting Member States in their implementation of the social dimensions of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, in an integrated manner, is also well noted.
I wish the Commission continued success in these endeavours.
Dear colleagues,
This session showed how the Commission can address multi-faceted issues from a focused and technical perspective, with representation from capitals.
This is a good and concrete, example of what the Commission can deliver.
This year, the General Assembly is reviewing how to further strengthen ECOSOC’s own work, and that of its functional commissions.
One of the objectives of this review is to promote greater harmonization and coordination of the agendas and work programmes among functional commissions and with ECOSOC.
I encourage you, the Member States, to use your experience during this session to actively participate in this review and share your constructive suggestions.
Thank you.