Mercy Global Concern - 2003

Social Development & Partnership

The 41st Session of the Commission on Social Development, which came together for discussions at the United Nations February 11-21, 2003, focused on the social development of programmes geared to the advancement of people throughout the world and how it can be implemented within countries. If this advancement within each country is to become a reality, it must first involve key players within national and international organizations as well as the private sector. This social development hinges on the following factors:

• The creation of new jobs

• The practice of principles of equity within the labour market

• The employment that includes representatives of marginalized groups, such as youth, women, and the disabled

• The stability of the family unit

• The empowerment of women

• An enlightened leadership and sustainable development.

Social development is by its very nature multi-faceted. The nation as the primary social unit must be involved in any effort of this nature. In addition, whether this is achieved through a process that is largely the product of a democratic system, nevertheless, as a fundamental requirement there must be present respect for natural human rights among those who participate in these programs along with the shoring up and development of free markets that fundamental social development requires in all countries.

Although lip service is extended in principle to countries in the developing world, very often there is a failure to allow a normal freedom of development peculiar to each of the participating countries without at the same time imposing the models of the first and second world countries without the free agreement of those involved in this partnership. As a result developing countries are discouraged from determining their own needs and how these needs are to be addressed.

The second important component that is too often overlooked is the principle of the reciprocity of learning between the participating countries. It is vital that the countries of the developed world recognize and acknowledge the needs as well as the priorities of developing countries so that there can be a realistic partnership in the search for just and workable solutions. The approach in this mutual search among developed and developing countries must give priority of attention to the latter and not to the former, to developing countries and not developed countries.

Success in any social endeavour of this nature does not succeed without the involvement of the private sector in partnership with Governmental agencies. However, in order that the private sector become involved, it must see clearly in advance the potential for a realistic return of its investment. To achieve this practical goal there must be in place an arena and a climate that are calculated to encourage incentive(s) to create and establish new industries. In addition there must also be devices set in place to encourage the private sector to move into socio-economically weaker areas to support employment opportunities where they will do the most good. This is a practical way of meeting the challenge of poorer sections beneath the poverty line. As important as this goal is, it will always present difficulties of implementation inasmuch as many of the developing countries are becoming increasingly marginalized against the background of globalization. International organizations need to recall resolutions taken at the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, 1995, [to address profound social problems, especially poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion] and also at the UN Millennium, 2000, [elimination of poverty; to have by 2015 the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day, and those who suffer from hunger...].

Finally, one must not forget the importance of the family, which is 'the basic unit of society.' The platform for this statement is situated in the argument that the family is the fundamental cell, "the place where individuals learn to become citizens; it is the primary entity where we learn values as love, respect, trust and solidarity." Each country is called upon to create "a world fit for children ... where children are able to acquire the better foundation for their future lives," as stated by Mexico. I could not agree more with this statement that says that by "strengthening the family we will revert social damage, spend less money in institutional policies, count on more resources to impulse the development, reinforce communities, and contribute the society's progress."

By Shirley Chung RSM