2015 marks the 20th anniversary of both the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen, and the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. The Permanent Mission of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will collaborate with the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to provide a platform for dialogue aimed at understanding and promoting the gender dimensions {{{more}}in social and economic development efforts over the past 20 years to ensure that moving forward, both women and men benefit from the post-2015 global sustainable development agenda.

In March 1995, at the World Summit for Social Development, representatives of Member States of the United Nations (UN) gathered in Copenhagen and adopted the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, which acknowledged “that social and economic development cannot be secured in a sustainable way without the full participation of women and that equality and equity between women and men is a priority for the international community and as such must be at the center of economic and social development.” Building on the consensus made at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, representatives from 189 governments reunited in Beijing in September of the same year and adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action during the Fourth World Conference for Women.

The Beijing Declaration reaffirmed that “eradication of poverty based on sustained economic growth, social development, environmental protection and social justice requires the involvement of women in economic and social development, equal opportunities and the full and equal participation of women and men as agents and beneficiaries of people-centered sustainable development.”

Today, 20 years after adoption and implementation of the two Declarations, great progress has been made across the globe in social development, but persistent and emerging challenges must be examined. This event will present a platform for dialogue on the complementary goals and commitments made in Copenhagen and Beijing, as well as the past and potential benefits to development progress of working at the intersections of the issues that they address. Organized by the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the UN Department of Economics and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, the event, which will be held on March 19, is designed to echo the theme of the 53rd Session of the Commission for Social Development, “Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world,” and assess the approach to and contribution of gender equality in achieving social development for all. This event aims at promoting dialogue and strengthening partnerships among stakeholders for future cooperation and collaborations.

The Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ambassador Rhonda King, will make opening remarks and participate both in shaping the agenda and ensuring critical member state participation.