57th Session of the Commission for Social Development

Since the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the Commission for Social Development has been the key United Nations body in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.

Originally known as the Social Commission but renamed in 1966, CSocD was established by ECOSOC. Its purpose was to advise ECOSOC on social policies of a general character and, in particular, on all matters in the social field not covered by the specialized inter-governmental agencies. Since 2006, the Commission has taken up key social development themes as part of its follow up to the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit.

The fifty-seventh session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD57) will take place from 11 to 21 February 2019, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.  The Commission is the advisory body responsible for the social development pillar of global development. 

The priority theme for the 2019 session is addressing inequalities and challenges to social inclusion through fiscal, wage and social protection policies

• Review of relevant UN plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups:
• Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
• World Programme of Action for Youth
• Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002. The plan has the following priority areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments
• Family issues, policies, and programmes