---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 09:56:19 GMT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: UN report on social development UN report on social development In his report to the 36th session of the UN's Commission for Social Development to be held in New York on 10th-20th February, the Secretary-General proposes incentives for voluntary action. The report on promoting social integration and participation of all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons (document E/CN.5/1998/2) recommends several elements for fostering participation and social dialogue. They include the use of formal democratic systems and instruments for dialogues and exchanges; enabling civil society to make its full contribution to the promotion of peoples' various goals; guaranteeing fair and accessible judicial systems to reduce the likelihood of decisions that are arbitrary, corrupt and biased; identifying mechanisms to allow all people to participate in the process of designing economic policies; the responsibility of governments to secure for all legal residents a means of subsistence and social services; and also governments' responsibility to provide information and the capacity to produce and understand information, as education is the most powerful way to break the vicious circle of poverty and exclusion. The Secretary-General's report addresses the need to increase broad social solidarity with vulnerable persons and groups. In that regard, suggested policy responses include the development of "incentives for empathy", including tax incentives and allowing employees time off for voluntary activities. Institutions that focus on caring for others should be regularly audited to ensure that their focus lay on serving their clients rather than their institutional needs. Social inclusion and protection of the vulnerable can also be facilitated by networking between vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups, as well as between States. The Secretary-General emphasises that social development must be approached through the combined efforts of civil society organisations, local and national governments, and the private sector. Such interdependence should be both within and between societies. Local and community-based groups should be active in designing, planning and monitoring activities to benefit the community. Government decisions should be made in partnership with business and civil society organisations. Synergy on the regional level can lead to capacity building, as well as enhanced bargaining power for better terms in external transactions. The report of the workshop on participation and social justice covers various factors related to the development of an inclusive and just society. It states that social integration is often hindered by weaknesses in the democratic system, and all stakeholders should see themselves as part of the political process. On the matter of access to income and social services, the report says that citizens should participate in decision-making processes at the plant, industry, country and supra- national levels. It calls for a rethinking of the idea that the provision of social services should be linked to economic activity and employment, in light of the fact that traditional employment-based social security systems are being challenged. Welfare should be provided by a mix of State, non-governmental, private and informal entities. Wealthier groups should be included in such services to secure loyalty and respond to the fact that targeted services are "recipes for social exclusion". Two expert-workshops provided input to the Secretary-General's report. They addressed participation and social justice (document E/CN.5/1998/4) and social protection and reducing vulnerability (document E/CN.5/1998/5), respectively. Source: (C) 1998 M2 Communications Ltd, 10/02/98
