VZCZCXYZ0023
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0154/01 0581443
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271443Z FEB 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1393
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2538
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000154 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ELAB TBIO SOCI UN
SUBJECT: UN COMMISSION ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2007 SESSION 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The Commission on Social Development held its 
45th session from February 7 to 16, 2007.  Deputy Permanent 
Representative of Iran, Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi chaired the 
session, whose main theme was "Full Employment and Decent 
Work for All."  Discussions and panels included macroeconomic 
policy, good practices, youth and UN programs.  The 
Commission considered resolutions on Youth, NEPAD, and the 
Madrid Plan of Action for Ageing and a Supplement on the 
World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). 
 
¶2. (U) The Commission, in its new biennial program of work, 
devoted this year's session to a policy review.  Next year 
the Commission will negotiate an Outcome Document to set the 
policy direction for the next biennium.  The main document 
that emerged from this year's session, the Supplement to the 
WPAY, contained controversial elements relating to 
globalization, migration and HIV/AIDS.  End Summary. 
 
Keynote Speaker Stresses Full Employment 
 
¶3. (U) On February 7, South African Department of Labour 
representative Les Kettledas delivered the keynote address 
for the first meeting of the 45th session on the Commission 
on Social Development: "Full Employment and Decent Work for 
All."  Kettledas reaffirmed the pillars of employment 
established at Copenhagen: recognition of basic rights, 
employment, social protection and dialogue.  He argued that 
the liberalization and deregulation that he asserted would 
accompany globalization might negatively affect the 
achievement of decent work for all.  He contended that 
inappropriate skills, inadequate information technology and 
limited investment also constrain workers from obtaining 
decent work.  Kettledas concluded that economic and social 
development policies must be complementary and insisted that 
involving multiple multilateral organizations can accelerate 
progress. 
 
Commission Discusses Importance of Macroeconomic Policy to 
Full Employment 
 
¶4. (U) On February 7, the Commission held a panel discussion 
on "Macroeconomic Policy for Full Employment."  The mediator, 
UN Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs 
Jose Antonio Ocampo, explained that economists view 
macroeconomics as concerning fiscal and monetary policy and 
exchange rates while the general population interprets the 
term to encompass liberalization and market forces. 
Panelists stressed the importance of keeping inflation low 
and exchange rates stable in order to reduce unemployment. 
One argued that increasing public sector jobs is not a 
sustainable solution, even in oil rich countries.  They 
suggested integrating social and economic policy.  USDel 
stressed the facilitating role governments should play in 
creating conditions conducive to job creation and reinforced 
the central role of the private sector in creating 
employment. 
 
¶5. (U) The general discussion on the macroeconomics of full 
employment and decent work for all began on February 8. 
Multiple countries stressed the importance of integrating 
international and national policies, providing social 
protection and reducing agricultural barriers.  Delegates 
argued that achieving full employment enhances both human 
dignity and human security.  Pakistan and Egypt noted that 
youth unemployment could lead to extremism.  China 
acknowledged the huge challenges they face as a developing 
country with the largest population in the world and 
emphasized their strategy will include social security, 
training, and giving policy and tax incentives to small and 
medium sized enterprises.  The US outlined rule of law, 
health, education and economic freedom as the criteria 
necessary to expand employment; the US also stressed the 
importance of including youth and ageing in employment 
efforts. 
 
Panel Considers Good Practices for Full Employment 
 
¶6. (U) On February 9, the Commission held a panel discussion 
entitled "Good Practices for Promoting Full Employment and 
Decent Work for All."  Participants mentioned the importance 
of creating conditions conducive for the private sector to 
grow and suggested support for small and medium enterprises 
in particular.  Others emphasized education and the 
importance of encouraging companies to join the formal sector 
to further encourage growth.  The US intervened by asking 
panelists about empowerment and transfer programs that enable 
the poor to work their way out of poverty. 
 
Commission Directs Attention to Youth 
 
¶7. (U) The Commission convened a panel February 8 on Labor 
Mobility, Youth and Families.  Panelists stressed the need to 
 
improve documentation of international migration and increase 
educational assistance to developing countries experiencing 
'brain drain.'  The discussion raised concerns about the 
negative effects of labor mobility on families and 
communities.  While liberalization of migration promises to 
increase wealth and opportunity, it presents challenges and 
threats because such advantages are not necessarily 
distributed evenly. 
 
¶8. (U) The Commission held a panel discussion February 12 on 
the soon-to-be-released World Youth Report.  Despite steady 
economic growth throughout the world over the last 15 years, 
unemployment has risen among youth (defined by the UN as ages 
15 to 24).  Speakers emphasized the importance of actively 
involving youth in the political participation process, 
improving education, and specifically addressing the 
opportunity disparities among the poor, rural inhabitants and 
females.  Despite the advent of many social development 
indicators throughout the past few decades, researchers 
struggle to address youth development because little data is 
available specifically for youth.  The World Youth Report 
will be available on the UN website in May 2007. 
 
¶9. (U) February 13 concluded with a discussion of emerging 
issues, primarily youth employment.  The broad concern was 
that youth unemployment has increased over the last ten 
years; this development is increasingly problematic as youth 
employment is vital to social development.  Effectively 
harnessing the potential of youth mobility, ensuring a 
balance between work and family, and maintaining some degree 
of social integration are some of the persisting challenges. 
Strategies to improve employment include more focused 
training and regional integration policies and programs. 
 
Plenary Examines United Nations Programs 
 
¶10. (U) On February 13, the Commission concluded the general 
discussion on a review of United Nations Programs.  Many 
countries mentioned the progress and disappointments with the 
Millennium Development Goals.  Other participants commented 
on the importance of the Madrid International Plan of Action 
for Ageing.  A substantial number of countries emphasized the 
need to follow up on the World Program of Action for Youth. 
Certain UN agencies reported on the need for regional 
cooperation or programs and the exigency of finding a dynamic 
synergy between research and policy. 
 
Delegations Negotiate the WPAY Supplement 
 
¶11. (U) After a flurry of last minute negotiations and with 
formal reservations stated by the G77, EU and USG, the 
Commission adopted the Supplement to the World Programme of 
Action for Youth.  The Supplement was created in response to 
the General Assembly's request for attention to certain 
issues not adequately addressed in the WPAY, such as 
globalization, information and communications technology, 
armed conflict, migration, HIV/AIDS and intergenerational 
issues.  In response to rushed negotiations, unacceptable 
language on globalization and the secretariat's inability to 
produce an accurate written document, the USDel reserved the 
right to re-open any and all portions of the text when it 
proceeds to ECOSOC and the GA for subsequent adoption. 
 
Commission Adopts Three Resolutions 
 
¶12. (U) The Commission adopted the draft resolution 
(E/CN.5/2007/L.3) on the "Social dimensions of the New 
Partnership for Africa's Development" (NEPAD) sponsored by 
Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77.  The resolution was 
amended according to USG suggestion to state that poverty 
reduction should be pursued through the promotion of economic 
development, democracy and good governance. 
 
¶13. (U) Accompanied by little fanfare or disagreement the 
Commission adopted a draft resolution (E/CN.5/2007/L.4) 
regarding the review and appraisal of the Madrid 
International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002).  The 
resolution reaffirmed the MIPAA, encouraged member states to 
formulate ageing-specific policies and requested that ECOSOC 
strengthen regional and global collaboration. 
 
¶14. (U) The Commission adopted a procedural draft resolution 
(E/CN.5/2007/L.5) on youth, sponsored by Portugal and 
Senegal.  While the documents mainly recognized the WPAY and 
the World Youth Report, it also urged and requested the 
Secretary General to further coordinate interagency efforts 
 
SIPDIS 
for youth development and asked the Statistical Commission to 
develop appropriate indicators of youth development. 
 
¶15. (U) Comment:  Many observers note that the Commission for 
Social Development is somewhat dysfunctional, without a 
tangible mandate and lacking substantial involvement from 
 
member states.  The most significant contribution of the 45th 
Commission should have been the supplement on the World 
Programme of Action for Youth, but the result was 
disappointing.  The inability of the G77 to clearly define 
its positions and priorities led to long delays in the 
negotiating process.  That is not a new phenomenon.  This 
Supplement is a bit unbalanced and will need to be improved 
at a later date.  The process of dealing with such drafts 
within blocs before coming to the general membership of the 
Commission creates serious logistical and timing difficulties 
for approaching negotiations in a systematic, efficient or 
timely manner. 
WOLFF