Since the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the Commission for Social Development has been the key UN body in charge of the follow up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.
The NGO Committee on Social Development is dedicated to raising awareness and holding discussions on social development issues taken up by the UN System and in particular by the UN Commission for Social Development. The committee holds a Civil Society Forum and other capacity-building and outreach events on the occasion of the Commission.
Civil Society Forum
The Civil Society Forum is hosted jointly by UNDESA-DSPD, the NGO Committee on Social Development and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). The Forum is a time for NGOs worldwide to learn about each others’ work, to prepare for the Commission, including by work on position papers and interventions.
Csocd63 and Civil Society Forum 2025
The 2025 Commission on Social Development (CSocD63) will act as the jumping-off board to the 2025 WSS, with the priority theme: “Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Each year, the NGO CSocD organizes the Civil Society Forum during the Commission for Social Development to amplify civil society’s advocacy efforts and grassroots perspectives on the Priority Theme. The Civil Society Forum is planned by the NGO Committee for Social Development in joint sponsorship with UN-DESA Division for Social Policy and Development and Friedrich Ebert-Stiftung (FES). Its structure changes yearly to reflect the Priority Theme and considerations of evolving modalities. It also consistently features a pre-session orientation, networking opportunities, panel discussions, and participation from grassroots representatives, civil society advocates, Bureau members, and UN DESA officials.