Mission Statement

The Social Integration Branch is part of the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). Social integration is one of the three priority areas for action identified at the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995. Together with the other priority areas of poverty eradication and the promotion of full employment and decent work, social integration is recognized as an overriding objective of social and economic development.

In Commitment 4 of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, heads of State and Government committed to:

"promoting social integration by fostering societies that are stable, safe and just and that are based on the promotion and protection of all human rights, as well as on non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for diversity, equality of opportunity, solidarity, security, and participation of all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and persons"

The basic aim of social integration, as stated in the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, is to create a “society for all”, in which every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play.

Achieving an inclusive “society for all” is a goal with broad societal appeal as it aims to provide equality of opportunity for all, irrespective of race, sex, class, age, ethnicity, cultural background, political affiliation or religious beliefs. The Social Integration Branch is committed to advancing this goal through its attention to social groups such as youth and older persons, as well as the family, and the promotion of participatory dialogue to secure peaceful, just and cohesive societies. International instruments, including the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the World Programme of Action for Youth, provide the foundation upon which policy measures with respect to the social groups are formed.

The broad objective of the Branch is to develop practical strategies to promote social integration through an inclusive and participatory process. This include: clarifying the meaning of social policy in a contemporary world, including the interconnection of inclusion, participation and justice in building socially integrated societies, exploring essential elements necessary to create an inclusive society; clarifying methodology of analysis of social inclusion; and exploring possible approaches to measure the inclusiveness of societies; and clarify the interconnection of the concept behind social integration with peace-building and conflict sensitive development. 

The work of the Branch is guided by the recognition of the dignity of each person, not only as an ethical norm and moral imperative, but also as a legal principle. To this end, the Branch conducts research, organizes meetings and facilitates the intergovernmental process in support of programmes, policies and activities which promote social justice,  empowerment and participation as a means for promoting effective and equitable engagement of all members of society.

Our Work includes:

Ageing

Family

Peacebuilding and Social Inclusion

Youth

The United Nations Programme on Ageing is the focal point within the United Nations system on matters related to ageing. As the focal point, its primary action is to facilitate and promote the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, including designing guidelines for policy development and implementation; advocating means to mainstream ageing issues into development agendas; engaging in dialogue with civil society and the private sector; and information exchange.

The United Nations Programme on the Family is the focal point within the United Nations system on matters related to family. As focal point, its primary actions and activities are to:

provide substantive servicing in the areas of family and family policy to United Nations intergovernmental bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council;

promote the realization of the objectives of the International Year of the Family;

promote the integration of a family perspective into policy-making at the national, regional and international levels;

exchange expertise and experiences, disseminate information and support networking on family issues;

support family research and diagnostic studies;

encourage and support coordination on family policies and programmes within national governments and within the United Nations system;

provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to developing country Governments, at their request, in the area of the family; and

liaise and dialogue with Governments, civil society and the private sector on family issues.

The United Nations Programme on Youth is the focal point within the United Nations system on matters relating to youth issues is the Programme on Youth, in the Division for Social Policy and Development, United Nations Department of Economic and social Affairs. It has been set up to: enhance awareness of the global situation of youth and increase recognition of the rights and aspirations of youth; promote national youth policies, national youth coordinating mechanisms and national youth programmes of action as integral parts of social and economic development, in cooperation with both governmental and non-governmental organizations; and strengthen the participation of youth in decision-making processes at all levels in order to increase their impact on national development and international cooperation.