I. Introduction

The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is organizing an Expert Group Meeting on “Dialogue in the Social Integration Process: Building peaceful social relations – by, for and with People” at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 21 – 23 November 2005.

The meeting aims to discuss and demonstrate the analytical and operational relevance of the concept of “Social Integration” for peace-building and conflict transformation and, further, to explore, through case studies and a strategic framework, how participatory dialogue can facilitate the social integration processes.

Approximately twenty researchers and/or practitioners who are working on people-centred peace-building or dialogue related initiatives will be invited to participate, together with representatives of United Nations Departments and agencies.

The meeting is part of continuing efforts at UNDESA to clarify the interconnection of people-centred development with peace-building. The meeting’s deliberations will be published as a contribution to the global debate, policy dialogue, and evolution of practical strategies for social integration, to

II. Background

The World Summit for Social Development was held at Copenhagen in 1995 to forge agreement on social challenges and responses to them. The Social Summit, which was the largest gathering ever of world leaders at that time, reached a new consensus on the need to put people at the centre of development. It identified social integration as one of the three overriding objectives of development, together with poverty eradication and employment creation.

Member States made commitments to promote social integration to create “ a society for all”, through fostering inclusive 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 society for all is one in which people play an active role for peace and development within an enabling environment created by governments, and in partnership with the United Nations and others. In its five-year review of the Social Summit, the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly resolved to strengthen the effectiveness of organizations and mechanisms working for the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, and to increase the capability of relevant United Nations bodies to promote social integration in post conflict situations.

Against this background, the World Summit for Social Development and the 24 th Special Session of General Assembly, the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) is exploring the role of multi-stakeholder dialogue in the process of building more integrated and peaceful social relations.

Context

The Expert Group meeting is the second activity scheduled to take place in 2005, under the first Phase of the Division for Social Policy and Development’s long-term intervention. The objective of this first phase is to establish an appropriate conceptual framework. F rom 1 to 24 June 2005, the Division organized a multi-stakeholder web-based dialogue on “Peace Dialogue in the Social Integration Process: building peaceful social relationship by, for and with people”, with the participation of various stakeholders from different regions.

The main objective of the E-dialogue was to address the importance of social integration as a means to create a peaceful society, clarify the inter-linkage between the process of social integration and peace building, and explore the potential of dialogue to achieve this goal.

The second phase, which will follow the Expert Group meeting, will develop a methodology to apply the conceptual framework into various situations in partnership with social groups such as the youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, migrants, returnees/former refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), ex-combatants, land mine survivors, ethnic/religious minorities… Activities in this phase will include: development of operational guidance notes for application of the “Dialogue in the Social Integration Process” framework; identification of key partners; and training of trainers.

The third phase will focus on capacity building of local communities/social groups, as well as local government through the organization of workshops.

Objectives

The Expert Group meeting aims to discuss and demonstrate the analytical and operational relevance of the concept of “Social Integration” for peace-building and conflict transformation and, further, to explore, through case studies and a strategic framework, how participatory dialogue can facilitate the social integration processes.

In specific, the meeting will:

• Review current trends of social integration/disintegration at global, and regional level to identify the critical elements that keeps societies from disintegrating;

• Review and discuss on a conceptual framework, drawing on participant’s respective expertise in each of six stages of social integration processes, namely: fragmentation; exclusion; polarization; co-existence; collaboration; and cohesion;

• Identify, through case/situation analysis, the types of interventions and stakeholders necessary to promote social integration process;

• Review and identify existing tools, including dialogue procedures, action research, lessons learned, potential partners, etc.:

• Explore several options for future directions and activities.

Expected outputs

The meeting will produce the following outputs:

• The importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue in the social integration process will be addressed;

• Analysis of current trends and patterns of social integration/disintegration will be conducted;

• Key elements for building more resilient societies will be identified;

• Effective interventions, existing tools, good practices, as well as potential partners will be identified;

• Policy recommendations at international, national and local levels will be adopted;

• Future directions and activities will be identified.

The results of the meeting will be incorporated in the final report, which will be published by the DSPD. Policy recommendations will be presented during the forty-four session of the Commission on Social Development scheduled to take place from 8 - 17 February 2006.

VI. Organizational and administrative matters

The Expert Group meeting will be organized by the Division for Social Policy and Development. The meeting will be conducted at UN Headquarters in New York, USA, and is scheduled to take place from 21 - 23 November 2005.

The number of participants will be approximately 35, including 20 experts, who will be identified and invited by the Division for Social Policy and Development. In addition, the following will participate:

 

1. UNDESA/DSPD as an organizer to provide substantive and administrative support;

2. Discussants who will be identified by DPSD;

3. Representatives of the Civil Society, including NGOs;

3. Facilitators;

4. Representatives from international organizations, UN Departments and agencies.

 

VII. Documentation and the Language of the meeting

The documentation of the meeting will comprise relevant background papers, including the concept paper, 5 – 10 page contributions from the expert participants, and relevant United Nations documents. Expert participants will be invited to provide their contributions in advance (to be submitted by 28 October 2005), and to make brief presentations in the plenary.

The working language of the meeting will be English. Documentation for the meeting will be provided in English.  

VIII. Passports and Visas

Participants will be expected to make necessary arrangements with regard to passports, visa and health certificates for travel. An information note will be sent out to participants to assist them with travel arrangement.

All relevant correspondence should be addressed to:

Makiko Tagashira
Inclusive Development Section
Social Integration Branch
Division for Social Policy and Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two United Nations Plaza, Room 1378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. (212-963-4836)
Fax. (212-963 3062)
E-mail: tagashira@un.org