Date: 03/02/2005
Source: Ministry of Social Development
Title: Z Skweyiya: Significance of 43rd Session of UN Commission for Social Development
Media Statement by Dr Zola Skweyiya, on the Significance 43rd Session of the United Nations to be chaired by SA
3 February 2005
The purpose of this briefing is to inform you about the historic 43rd Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission for Social Development that the government delegation led by myself, will be attending next week from the 9 - 18 February 2005 in New York.
The main objective of the 43rd Session will be to provide a platform for the ten-year review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Social Development of 1995 and the five-year review in 2000, which were held in Copenhagen and Geneva respectively.
Some of the commitments made at the World Summit on Social Development included:
* The creation of economic, political, social, cultural and legal environments at the national, regional and global levels that enable people to achieve social development,
* Eradicating absolute poverty by 2015,
* Reducing poverty by half by 2015,
* Supporting full employment as a basic policy goal, and
* Promoting social integration based on the enhancement and protection of all human rights especially those of women, people with disabilities, youth and all other disadvantaged groups,
The fact that the timing of 43rd Session coincides with our celebrations of ten years of democracy and the beginning of the second decade of our freedom, presents the country an opportunity to share its experiences with the world. We have made great strides in putting in place policies and programs to reduce poverty and vulnerability, provide social protection, ensure social integration and cohesion, and build a socially just society.
We have a Constitution that entrenches the socio-economic rights of our people, especially children. In order to give effect to the constitution, the government has prioritised poverty eradication and has put in place appropriate policies, strategies and programmes that promote the rights and address the needs of the most vulnerable and poorest people in our society - especially people with disabilities, older persons and most importantly children.
Currently, the government provides social assistance to more than 9 million beneficiaries spending almost R60 billion per annum. This constitutes the biggest poverty alleviation programme of government. In addition, the government has put in place other measures such as the Expanded Public Works Programmes, the Integrated Rural and Urban Development Programme, the Food Emergency Scheme and the School Nutrition Programmes. All of these programmes and the provision of basic services (the social wage) are aimed at reducing poverty and social exclusion.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we will further indicate at the session of the UN Commission for Social Development that central to the government's programmes has been and continues to be the creation of an enabling environment and the provision of opportunities for self-reliant individuals and communities to engage in sustainable livelihoods. It is within that context that the government is moving towards the development of a comprehensive social security.
The delegation will also utilise the 43rd Session to articulate the challenges facing the continent such as poverty and underdevelopment as well promote the objectives of NEPAD and the African Union. To this end, the delegation will not only engage with the 40 member states of UN Commission for Social Development but also participate in panel discussions, round tables, bilateral meetings with various countries and institutions including civil society formations.
Our primary purpose is to put the social and economic development of Africa high on the global agenda. The media have a role to play in this endeavour and we will keep the SA public informed of the outcomes of the review of the implementation of the commitments made at the World Summit on Social Development.
Thank You
Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi
Cell: 082 904 3395
Issued by: Ministry of Social Development
3 February 2005
Source: Ministry of Social Development
Title: Z Skweyiya: Significance of 43rd Session of UN Commission for Social Development
Media Statement by Dr Zola Skweyiya, on the Significance 43rd Session of the United Nations to be chaired by SA
3 February 2005
The purpose of this briefing is to inform you about the historic 43rd Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission for Social Development that the government delegation led by myself, will be attending next week from the 9 - 18 February 2005 in New York.
The main objective of the 43rd Session will be to provide a platform for the ten-year review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Social Development of 1995 and the five-year review in 2000, which were held in Copenhagen and Geneva respectively.
Some of the commitments made at the World Summit on Social Development included:
* The creation of economic, political, social, cultural and legal environments at the national, regional and global levels that enable people to achieve social development,
* Eradicating absolute poverty by 2015,
* Reducing poverty by half by 2015,
* Supporting full employment as a basic policy goal, and
* Promoting social integration based on the enhancement and protection of all human rights especially those of women, people with disabilities, youth and all other disadvantaged groups,
The fact that the timing of 43rd Session coincides with our celebrations of ten years of democracy and the beginning of the second decade of our freedom, presents the country an opportunity to share its experiences with the world. We have made great strides in putting in place policies and programs to reduce poverty and vulnerability, provide social protection, ensure social integration and cohesion, and build a socially just society.
We have a Constitution that entrenches the socio-economic rights of our people, especially children. In order to give effect to the constitution, the government has prioritised poverty eradication and has put in place appropriate policies, strategies and programmes that promote the rights and address the needs of the most vulnerable and poorest people in our society - especially people with disabilities, older persons and most importantly children.
Currently, the government provides social assistance to more than 9 million beneficiaries spending almost R60 billion per annum. This constitutes the biggest poverty alleviation programme of government. In addition, the government has put in place other measures such as the Expanded Public Works Programmes, the Integrated Rural and Urban Development Programme, the Food Emergency Scheme and the School Nutrition Programmes. All of these programmes and the provision of basic services (the social wage) are aimed at reducing poverty and social exclusion.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we will further indicate at the session of the UN Commission for Social Development that central to the government's programmes has been and continues to be the creation of an enabling environment and the provision of opportunities for self-reliant individuals and communities to engage in sustainable livelihoods. It is within that context that the government is moving towards the development of a comprehensive social security.
The delegation will also utilise the 43rd Session to articulate the challenges facing the continent such as poverty and underdevelopment as well promote the objectives of NEPAD and the African Union. To this end, the delegation will not only engage with the 40 member states of UN Commission for Social Development but also participate in panel discussions, round tables, bilateral meetings with various countries and institutions including civil society formations.
Our primary purpose is to put the social and economic development of Africa high on the global agenda. The media have a role to play in this endeavour and we will keep the SA public informed of the outcomes of the review of the implementation of the commitments made at the World Summit on Social Development.
Thank You
Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi
Cell: 082 904 3395
Issued by: Ministry of Social Development
3 February 2005
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