Commission for Social Development: 55th Session Held at the United Nations in New York City

This month, the 55th annual Commission for Social Development took place at the United Nation’s headquarters in New York City. The theme of this year’s conference was the development of strategies to eradicate poverty and to achieve social development for all people. Attendance at this year’s Commission included a diverse array of individuals, including ambassadors and representatives from UN member states, non-governmental organizations and a select group of ten students from McGill. Among the most vital issues was the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and member states’ progress in achieving these goals since its adoption at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September of 2015. After the success of the Millennium Development Goals, Agenda 2030, comprising seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seeks to include all countries in order to target the challenges that face both the global North and South. The SDGs though broad in context, are designed in such a way as to be interconnected and overlap with other elements that are vital in combating the root causes  of poverty, such as economic growth by investing in education and health institutions, social inclusion which seeks to end discrimination and environmental protection efforts.

The significance of this conference was its ability to bring people of various backgrounds, ages and nationalities to discuss the pertinent issues facing the world today. The International Relation’s Students Association of McGill (IRSAM) is one of two student-run non-governmental organizations that has consultative status with the United Nations. Each year, a group of students are selected to take part in representing McGill University at the UN’s Commission for Social Development and to discuss the advancement of the SDGs and the role of youth therein. From February 5th to the 10th, a group of ten students were able to attend several of the plenary session that took place, including discussions on the importance of technology in eradicating poverty, the significance of addressing mental health as a strategy for social eradication, and the role of media to target various forms of poverty. In addition, the students were fortunate to meet with ambassadors from eight permanent missions of the commission including Estonia, France, Latvia, Germany and Iran. In coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals, the ambassadors to these nations discussed with us their work in promoting and integrating Agenda 2030 in their home countries, as well as their contribution towards the enactment of these goals at the UN.

Not only was this an opportunity to witness and discuss the contemporary challenges facing the international community regarding poverty, this was an invaluable opportunity to witness the dedication and perseverance that is necessary to strive for a more sustainable and hospitable world to live in for generations to come.