The UN Commission on Social Development has elected Dr ZST Skweyiya to chair its session for the coming year as it reviews the implementation of the 1995 Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development.

The UN Commission for Social Development, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has primary responsibility for assessing the extent to which members countries create a political, social, cultural and legal environment that enables people to achieve social development. The election of Dr ZST Skweyiya, the Minister for Welfare, Population and Development places South Africa in a unique position to shape the global agenda on programmes to eradicate poverty, promote full employment and improve access to primary health care and education.

The Africa Group in the Commission honoured our country by its endorsement of South Africa as the chair for the year 2000. At its first session for this year which begins on 8th February 2000 in New York, the 46-member UN Commission on Social Development will begin a comprehensive appraisal of the progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development. The session will review the activities and accomplishment of the recently concluded International Year of Older Persons and the report from the Special Rapporteur on Disability.

National and international policy responses to the 1995 World Summit for Social Development have been uneven, with little progress in some key areas and regress evident in others. Achieving the goals agreed at the summit requires better co-ordination between governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

South Africa participates in the Commission as a member of the Group of 77 and China countries, and as chair of the Commission will report to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Social Development which will be held in June 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Issued by: Dr ZST Skweyiya
Minister for Welfare, Population and Development
Media enquiries: Professor Viviene Taylor, Special Advisor to the Minister, Cell. 083 273 8430

Temba Masilela, Office of the Minister, Welfare, Population and Development, Cell. 082-886-8710