Inclusive Social Development DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages. Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages. There is also ... read more

Noting that it was “a rare treat” to see so many young faces at the UN, to launch the new “Youth2030” strategy, UN chief António Guterres highlighted a list of challenges “the largest young generation in history” faces today. He noted that “globalization, new technologies, displacement, shrinking civic space, changing ... read more

Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the new President of the General Assembly at the first meeting commencing the 73rd session of the General Assembly on 18 September, committed herself and her good office to “making the United Nations relevant to all people”, and in this regard, she outlined ... read more

On this 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations International Day for Older Persons (UNIDOP) celebrates the importance of this Declaration, and reaffirms the commitment to promoting the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by older persons. Growing older ... read more

On this 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations International Day for Older Persons (UNIDOP) celebrates the importance of this Declaration, and reaffirms the commitment to promoting the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by older persons. Growing older ... read more

The commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty will take place on 17 October 2018 at UN Headquarters in New York under the theme: “Coming together with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal respect for human rights and dignity”. This year marks the 70th ... read more

The eleventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 12 to 14 June 2018. Six meetings were held at the eleventh session of the Conference. On 12 June, the 1st ... read more

The report of the Secretary-General (GA 73rd session) on the “Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing”, focuses on the cross-cutting issues involved in the provision of long-term care for older persons, while also considering the needs of paid and unpaid care providers, many ... read more

Cooperatives have been contributing to sustainable development and social inclusion, and have accumulated tremendous experience in this regard. At the same time, economies are still trying to recover from the global financial crisis, which has compounded previous difficulties in achieving economic growth and development as well as increasing the difficulties ... read more

Since 1952, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has prepared the Report on the World Social Situation—with varying periodicity—as the United Nations flagship publication on social development issues. In 2017, the General Assembly encouraged the Secretary-General to “include best practices in the reduction of inequalities within and ... read more