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You are here >   Commission for Social Development > Sessions > 2015 > Panel Discussions
High-Level Panel Discussion on the Priority Theme
High-level panel discussion on the priority theme
 
"Rethinking and Strengthening Social Development in the Contemporary World"
 
New York, 4 February 2015
Conference Room 4, 3pm-6pm
 
The high-level panel discussion in the review year of the two-year cycle should provide an opportunity for members of the Commission for Social Development and other key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, to engage in a substantive dialogue on progress made towards the internationally-agreed social development goals –including poverty eradication, full employment and decent work for all, and social integration- as well as new trends and challenges to social development.
 
In taking stock of what has worked (and what has not worked) to promote social development, the dialogue should inform national and international policy debates, including debates on the implementation and monitoring of the post-2015 global development agenda and the forthcoming sustainable development goals.
 
The main objectives of the high-level panel discussion are:

(1) Consider progress made towards social development, identifying the impact of major economic, social, political and environmental trends on such progress;
(2) Discuss concrete policies and strategies that have been effective in promoting social development;
(3) Identify concrete opportunities for the Commission for Social Development to help strengthen social development, including through the implementation and monitoring of the post-2015 development agenda.
 
Concept Note
 
List of Panellists
 
20th anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development
Panel discussion on Social Development:
From Copenhagen to the post-2015 development agenda
​
Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Copenhagen
Declaration and Programme of Action
 
New York, 5 February 2015
Conference Room 4, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
 
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, the Commission for Social Development will host a roundtable entitled, “Social Development: From Copenhagen to the post-2015 development agenda.” 
 
The roundtable will be preceded by statements of reflection from key UN officials, representatives of Member States and other members of the international community. A keynote address will cap the statements of reflection and will set the tone of the discussion, outlining the impact of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action in development efforts to date, noting the challenges that remain and reflecting on the opportunities available for embedding the unrealised goals and objectives of Copenhagen into the post-2015 development agenda.
 
The roundtable will take the form of an open and interactive moderated dialogue led by a group of expert discussants. In a first round of moderated discussion, the moderator will introduce the discussants and each will have the opportunity to respond to the key issues raised in the keynote address and give a few reflections on social development 20 years after Copenhagen.  After initial reflections, the moderator will pose a series of questions to the Commission focused on identifying the current contributions of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action to the development process, the challenges to and gaps in the implementation of the commitments made, and effective strategies for building on the lessons learned in implementing the commitments of Copenhagen, for furthering social development beyond 2015.
 
Concept Note
 
List of Panellists
 
Panel Discussion on the Emerging Issues
Panel discussion on emerging issues
 
 “Contributions of Social Development to the Transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals” 
 
New York, 6 February 2015
Conference Room 4, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
 
The main objective of the panel discussion is to discuss, drawing on the background note as well as insights of experts, how social development can contribute to achieve socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development.  
 
In specific, the panel aims to:
 
1) identify specific areas in which social policies and development have demonstrated to be effective and/or have a potential in promoting sustainable development in a more integrated manner;
 
2) discuss how social policies and development can help effectively addressing the inter-linkages between economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development; 
 
3) build knowledge on innovative approaches and strategies, good practices and lessons learned at the national, regional and international levels in these areas, in order to support national efforts in transitioning from MDGs to SDGs. 
 
Concept Note
 
List of Panellists
 
Presentations:
 
Mr. Gabriel Rivera Conde y Castañeda, Head of Strategic Projects Unit of the Office of the Presidency and President of the Specialized Technical Committee of the Information System of the Millennium Development Goals of Mexico.
 
Mr. Georg Fischer, Director for Analysis, Evaluation, External Relations in the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission.