The priority theme for the 2015-2016 review and policy cycle will be “Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world.”

On 3 February 2015, a day prior to the opening of the session, a Civil Society Forum is convened at UN Headquarters. The Forum is hosted jointly by UNDESA-DSPD, the NGO Committee for Social Development and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

REPORT

On Feb. 3rd, 2015, our Youth Advisory Council Leader Kimberly Huggins attended the 53^rd Session of Commission for Social Development (CSocD53) that commenced with the Civil Society Perspectives on Re-Centering Social Development in a Sustainable World. Here is her report:

“Inequalities and poverty as it stands are entrenched and growing and it is the aim of the Civil Society to rigorously contest it. Our fellow brethren should not have to live in a world where they are deprived of basic and essential means of survival such as health, education, nutrition, safety and the right to use their voices for advocacy and to be heard.

– the civil society, as global and local leaders within our communities, have our eyes and ears to the ground;
– the civil society can help shape the world by mobilizing countries, communities and vulnerable populations to work together on shared goals. Through this synergy, we can and will be on track to meet the post-2015 goals;
– the civil society can help people to be empowered to change their lives; we can enact improvement through genuine and holistic intentions.

But, the question remains. How can we in turn ensure that our efforts and their voices are effectively heard and implemented? The answer is simply, accountability. The civil society must work with and hold governments, policymakers and stakeholders accountable to their jobs of ensuring that social development is on the forefront.

Notably, our President/Founder Ariel Rojas indicated that in addition to items mentioned above, the UN and the civil society need to abandon a backseat approach and redirect their action if they want to meet the goals of the post-2015 development agenda. Instead of trying to engage marginalized voices through civil society entities and community-based organizations, it is a more productive course of action for the UN to actively go out into various marginalized communities, so that the UN as well as civil society entities can gain a better understanding of their lived experiences and not only advocate for them, but to elevate their voices.”

“The year of 2015 should be the year of global action.” – Ban-ki Moon, UN Secretary-General, Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development: From Copenhagen to the Post-2015 Development Agenda.