policy
16 November 2006
The Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya is to host his
counterparts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in
Johannesburg next week for a dialogue on a regional social policy.
The conference, under the theme "Towards a regional social policy" is hosted
by the Department of Social Development in partnership with the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
It will bring together Ministers and senior social development officials in
the region to discuss the social development challenges and possible solutions,
within the context of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
The dialogue will take place in the Sandton Convention Centre. It will be in
two sessions, a 'senior officials' meeting on 21 to 22 November and the
Ministerial session on 23 to 24 November. The session will be attended by
Ministers and officials from amongst others, Angola, Botswana, Malawi,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Observers from Ghana and Senegal will also participate.
The session will focus on developing further a definition and approach on
the social dimensions of NEPAD, as well as issues such as promoting full
employment and decent work, migration and regional aspects of social
empowerment. The Dialogue will feed into existing SADC and African Union
processes on NEPAD and its implementation.
"The session will provide an opportunity for us to interact and dialogue on
the issues that affect us directly as a region. Our destinies are intertwined,
and solutions need to come from all of us working together," said the Minister
of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya.
Dr Skweyiya added: "We believe that the social policies we produce should
emphasise social inclusion, and that we should also further develop our focus
on the social and equity dimensions of our economic policies. We hope therefore
that the meeting will help to increase the profile and level of focus on the
social dimensions of NEPAD in the region."
Minister Skweyiya will on 23 November, on the sidelines of the conference,
also sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ms Sheilabai Bappo, Minister
of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare Reform
Institutions of the Government of the Republic of Mauritius.
The MoU will focus on enhancing relations between the two countries in the
areas of:
* social assistance to vulnerable communities
* HIV and AIDS
* drug and substance abuse and rehabilitation
* persons with disabilities
* capacity building for civil society organisations
* implementation of the Southern African Development Community and African
Union decisions, including the NEPAD programme.
The media is invited to cover the Ministerial session on 23 to 24 November
2006, including the signing ceremony with Mauritius.
Background
During 1999 and 2000 SADC Ministers responsible for social development met
to discuss the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit for Social
Development. The meeting culminated with the SADC Statement of Intent on
Copenhagen + 5, held in Geneva during 2000. The Copenhagen Summit came up with
a programme for social development which culminated in the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG).
During the special session on the review of the Copenhagen Declaration,
recommendations were made to the SADC Council of Ministers to consider
establishing a structure that would look at implementing the outcomes of the
summit of social development issues in general.
The SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) launched in
2004 covered Social and Human development as one of the core areas of
co-operation. In 2004 in preparation for the Ten Year Review of the
Implementation of the Copenhagen Commitments, the Ministers responsible for
social development committed to an ongoing co-ordinated approach to tackling
and promoting social development by promoting Continental dialogues focused on
integrated poverty eradication strategies, social integration and full
employment.
The Department of Social Development hosted in partnership with the United
Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in November
2004, the SADC meeting of Ministers responsible for Social Development. The
meeting recommended to the Integrated Committee of Ministers (IMC) which is a
SADC structure dealing with issues before they are submitted to Summit approve
the establishment of the forum for SADC Ministers responsible for Social
Development. This would be in line with the amended SADC Treaty Article 12
(paragraph 2,1), which mandates the IMC to create such permanent or ad hoc
committees to cater for cross cutting sectors.
At the third Ordinary Session of the African Union Labour and Social Affairs
Commission, April 2005 in Johannesburg, the delegates represented by Ministers
of Labour and Social Affairs agreed that a detailed discussion led by African
Ministers responsible for Social Affairs should have an intensive discussion on
the Social Policy Framework for Africa. This decision was reiterated at the
Fourth Ordinary Session in Cairo, April 2006.
The United Nation Division for Social Development has been a partner of the
Government of South Africa on various capacity building initiatives, including
working with the country on the chairing of the Commission on Social
Development in 2004.
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
16 November 2006
