Leaving no one behind the imperative of inclusive development

Introduction 13
Social inclusion in the international development agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals contained within the 2030 Agenda carry
forward commitments agreed at several United Nations summits, including
the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen in 1995.
At a time of significant political change, including the end of the cold war,
and renewed hope in the potential offered by international cooperation, that
Summit gave rise to a far-reaching people-centred agenda aimed at promoting
inclusive societies, social progress, justice and a higher quality of life for all.
While advocating a broad vision of social development, Governments called
for particular attention to be paid to eradicating poverty, promoting full and
productive employment and fostering social integration – a concept that is
closely linked to social inclusion.
Agreement on the need to pursue social integration as one of the goals
of social development arose from the dramatic events that took place during
the preparations for the Summit. The so-called ethnic cleansing and war in
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), the war in Croatia (1991-1995) and the
genocide in Rwanda (1994) loomed large in the Summit’s outcome. These
horrors of conflict and genocide added to the rising concerns about the social
polarization and fragmentation that existed in some of the newly independent
countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as well as in postapartheid
South Africa. The Summit thus posited social integration as a goal,
namely that the world should endeavour to create a “society for all” based on
respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, cultural and religious
diversity, social justice and the special needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged
groups. 4 Fostering social integration thus called for the active pursuit of social
inclusion of the most disadvantaged groups. 5
International efforts to advance social integration since the Copenhagen
Summit led to the subsequent adoption of new international instruments
aimed at realizing the rights of particular social groups. Some of the major
instruments are the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for women
in 1995, 6 the World Programme of Action for Youth and the Supplement to
the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, 7 the
Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 8 the
4
Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution I, annex I, para. 66.
5
The concepts of social inclusion and social integration are nonetheless distinct; see chap.1 and
box I.1 of the present publication.
6
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II.
7
General Assembly resolution 50/81, annex, and resolution 62/126, annex.
8
Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8–12 April 2002 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II.