CSocD63: Recommended Events
The following is a curated list of side and parallel events, coinciding with 63rd session of the Commission on Social Development (CSocD63), that are recommended by JCoR and our Religious community at the United Nations in New York. Please check back as this page will continue to be updated as CSocD63 approaches.
JCoR’s CSocD63 Welcome Gathering for Delegates of Religious NGOs
10 February 2025, 8:00AM-9:30AM (New York time)
Virtual event (held via Zoom)
Sponsors: Justice Coalition of Religious
Description: JCoR is offering an online welcome gathering for CSocD63. This event will be held for delegates of Religious NGOs who intend to participate in some part of 63rd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD63). The gathering will provide an opportunity to meet other delegates, to pray and reflect on hopes and intentions for engagement with the CSocD process, and to ask questions about how to participate and follow online.
*Interpretation will be provided in English, French, and Spanish
Register via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/t30VW2hvT2GIP485mjRIvA#/registration
No Time to Waste: The urgent need to build inclusive social protection for children in vulnerable situations. The role of early childhood education and care
11 February 2025, 1:15PM-2:30PM (New York time)
Virtual event (held via Zoom)
Sponsors: UNANIMA International, World Organization for Early Childhood Education
Description: The goal of the event is to demonstrate that in a world where 1 billion children live in multidimensional poverty and millions are trapped in humanitarian settings inclusive social protection is a key policy lever for reducing inequality and promoting inclusive socio-economic growth also in times of crises. The panelists, from different approaches, will highlight how the world is ill-prepared to address long-term impacts on social development arising from shocks, stressing the need for a focus on prevention, preparedness and resilience-building with a particular attention to children. It will be underlined how shock-responsive social protection and preventative measures can counter the stressors in children’s lives, in particular the youngest ones, disproportionately affected by the increase of multiple global crisis. Cases studies will demonstrate how humanitarian cash and voucher assistance programs can help vulnerable and marginalized communities, in particular children, recover from shocks more quickly and effectively. The event will also offer to policy makers recommendations on the implementation of inclusive social protection, demonstrating both immediate and longer-term returns for children, their families and the entire society.
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
Register via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l4MAj8MBQmGM81Bp1D_g1w#/registration
Building Social Resilience and Solidarity: Community-led approaches to addressing global crises
11 February 2025, 4:45PM-6:00PM (New York time)
In-person (UNHQ Conference Room 9) and virtual event (via UN WebTV)
Sponsors: International Presentation Association, NGO Committee for Social Development, Baháʼí International Community, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Sikh Human Rights Group, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Soroptimist International
Description: Social solidarity often leads to the establishment of universal social protection systems, ensuring the provision of basic needs and reducing poverty and inequalities. If they are well funded, they cushion the impact of adversities during crises. Simultaneously, social resilience equips societies to adapt to and recover from socio-economic challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. Resilient communities actively engage diverse stakeholders in the development process, fostering grassroots ownership and driving sustainable progress, as envisioned in the Copenhagen Declaration. This event will examine several initiatives in detail and discuss the possibility of extending similar practices in other cultural and religious settings
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
Click here to watch a recording of this event
Centering the Right to Adequate Housing Ahead of the World Summit for Social Development
12 February 2025, 10:00AM-11:15AM (New York time)
Virtual event (held via Zoom)
Sponsors: UNANIMA International, and Habitat International Coalition
Description: We are today witnessing a global housing crisis, marked by a scenario of an overall worsening of affordability conditions1, increasing financialization and speculation of housing, evictions and direct and indirect displacement. As such, the number of people without proper housing or living in inadequate conditions is currently projected at 1.6 billion with the possibility of mounting to 3 billion by 20302. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly during the beginning of the emergency response, the urgency of protecting the right to adequate housing for all, contributed to raising awareness about the importance of such a right, opening-up space for policies that guarantee it, including temporary moratoria on evictions. However, as the years passed, not only the situation regarding housing rights seems to be worsening, but also its centrality in public debate seems to have shifted as well. This can be seen both in national scenarios and in multilateral discussions. Housing played a prominent role within the idea of a “renewed social contract” alluded in the UN Secretary General’s “Our Common Agenda”, but has been absent in the initial drafts of the final declarations both of the 2023 SDG Summit and 2024 Summit of the Future and, once included, largely reflect a narrow vision on the thematic, not grounded on the full understanding of adequate housing as a Human Right. Event objectives: Placing the Right to Adequate Housing as a central topic to be addressed during the World Summit for Social Development; Taking-stock of how housing has been and is currently present in multilateral agendas, making the case for a stronger, diverse and more nuanced vision of approaches towards the realization of the Right to Adequate Housing; Promote an exchange between different actors on diverse approaches and examples of
policies and initiatives for facing the current housing crisis, focusing particularly on measures that are less represented and that depart on an over-reliance on construction of new housing units by market-based actors.
policies and initiatives for facing the current housing crisis, focusing particularly on measures that are less represented and that depart on an over-reliance on construction of new housing units by market-based actors.
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
Register via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LnQfs2CzQ5KQwyI0J3K0Tw#/registration
Centering Homelessness in the Light of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Achieving Agenda 2030
13 February 2025, 10:00AM-11:15AM (New York time)
In-person event (UNHQ, Conference Room E)
Sponsors: NGO Working Group to End Homelessness, DePaul University, and the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness
Description: This event will draw connections between homelessness, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Copenhagen Declaration, and the forthcoming World Social Summit. The panel discussion will provide an opportunity for Member States, UN agencies, persons experiencing homelessness, and civil society representatives to speak on the “most visible form of extreme poverty” which is homelessness and identify how we can achieve a social just future in which every person experiences the dignity and human right of a safe, habitable, affordable, secure home as part of the 2030 Agenda. The event will primarily discuss:
– The place of homelessness on the agenda of the 2nd World Social Summit
– Inclusive social policies and strategies to ensure adequate and affordable housing and land rights to address homelessness
– Interagency collaboration and stakeholders’ participation to end homelessness
– The intersection between migration, internal displacement, conflict and homelessness.
– The place of homelessness on the agenda of the 2nd World Social Summit
– Inclusive social policies and strategies to ensure adequate and affordable housing and land rights to address homelessness
– Interagency collaboration and stakeholders’ participation to end homelessness
– The intersection between migration, internal displacement, conflict and homelessness.
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
Concept note: View the concept note in English
Building a Collective Future: Grassroots voices on Emerging Priorities for the Second World Social Summit
13 February 2025, 1:15PM-2:30PM (New York time)
In-person event (Baháʼí International Community, 866 United Nations Plaza, New York)
Sponsors: NGO Committee for Social Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations, VIVAT International, Company of the Daughters of Charity, Congregations of St. Joseph, ATD Fourth World, International Presentation Association, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Life Project 4 Youth, and the International Association of Schools of Social Work
Description: This side event will highlight grassroots realities, including emerging issues which have surfaced since the Copenhagen Declaration. In addition, resilient solutions will be shared from local communities and individuals facing and/or addressing social challenges. By showcasing these grassroots voices, we aim to bring attention to what is needed to shape a more inclusive and equitable world. Featuring grassroots voices from around the world and experts who will then discuss these insights, we will explore key concerns and ideas to design global strategies and guide the Second World Social Summit toward impactful decisions. This event is an opportunity to connect local knowledge with global action, ensuring that the upcoming Summit reflects the needs and ideas of the people most affected by social inequalities.
Flyer: Click on the following link to access the flyer in English
Concept note: Click on the following link to access the concept note in English
Register to attend (in-person or virtual): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcTFb3foEjeBzNpbOufQNluS7amjXszXtfgi1dfdpA3aeIRw/viewform