Mr. Chairman, the Secretary-General's report, and the two expert workshops on which it is based, provide an excellent overview of the challenges we face. The task before us now is to move beyond theoretical discussion to a discussion of practical measures we, as a Commission, can take to promote and support this important work. Maybe we can start by asking what the Commission is doing that contributes to ensuring participation of people around the world in the political and economic policies that affect them, and the accountability of governments to their citizens. The answers to these questions may determine the effectiveness of this Commission. Let us recognize at the outset that the Commission for Social Development can play an important role, but is not alone in this work.
Social development requires action by member states, at the national and local level.
It requires the broad support of civil society and the full participation of regional and multilateral organizations. So the role of the Commission is not so much in implementing social development programs, but in monitoring the follow up to the Copenhagen Declaration. However, many of us have expressed frustration that we seem unable to move beyond restating the Copenhagen principles to a more robust response. Let me suggest that the Commission's role should be to assure the mainstreaming of social development objectives at the local, national and international levels. We want to encourage governments, the private sector, civil society and the United Nations system to consider the impact of their actions on social integration and social development.