The Vincentian Family at the U.N. is participating in the 54th Session of the Commission on Social Development, February 3 – 12, 2016.

The 54th Session of the Commission on Social Development is the first major meeting that is taking place at the UN since the adoption of the Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which states:

“We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan.”

The NGO Committee on Social Development is dedicated to raising awareness and holding discussions on social development issues – Aging, Civil Society, Cooperatives, Disability, Employment and Decent Work, Indigenous Peoples, Poverty Eradication, Social Integration and Inclusion and Youth – taken by the U.N. system and in particular by the Commission on Social Development. The committee holds a Civil Society Forum and other capacity-building and outreach events during the session of the Commission.

This year it is jointly hosted by The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the NGO Committee on Social Development and the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation on February 1 –2, 2016. The Civil Society Forum provides an opportunity for the Vincentian Family NGOs and for NGOs worldwide to learn about each other’s work, to prepare for the commission, including work on position papers and interventions.

The Civil Society Declaration is available for download in English, Spanish and French.