The NGO community working for Social Development, convened in the Civil Society Forum of the UN Commission for Social Development, has committed itself to work for shared societies, making Club de Madrid’s concept its own. This vision favours the term social inclusion vs. social integration because as stated in the Global Forum on Leadership for Shared Societies (Rotterdam November 2008) “as long as one talks of integration is not in her/his mind that the other is already part of the same society”. 

The Draft Declaration of the Forum reads:

We are committed to working for an equitable and shared society, as the Club de Madrid, an organization of former heads of states, has defined it: “A shared society is a socially inclusive and cohesive society. It is stable and safe. It is where all those living there feel at home. It respects everyone’s dignity and human rights while providing every individual with equal opportunity. It is tolerant. It respects diversity.”

Like the NGO Community, the Club de Madrid’s Shared Societies Project favours the term social inclusion vs. social integration. As stated in the Global Forum on Leadership for Shared Societies (Rotterdam November 2008) “as long as one talks of integration is not in her/his mind that the other is already part of the same society”.

One of the main interests of the Club de Madrid in its participation in the UN Commission for social Development is to ensure that the language used does not imply that groups should be assimilated into existing society but that they should share in the society as equals.

A Club de Madrid delegation is participating in the 48th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development this week in New York City. The Session marks the 15th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declaration when leaders committed to “promoting societies that are stable, safe and just and are based on the promotion and protection of all human rights” and offers an opportunity to advance leadership policies and practices for inclusion.

The Club de Madrid’s Shared Societies Project shares with the NGO Community the vision of a future society that is “socially just and respectful of every human person” as stated in the Draft declaration; the Project also agrees that it is in times of crisis when action for shared societies is most needed and that “each individual has the potential to contribute to the building of their society and to be protagonist of their own development” and that for that purpose education is key. The Declaration by the Civil Society will be brought to the attention of UN Member States in the Commission for Social Development for consideration in their deliberations and drafting of a final resolution that could serve as a reference for all those working on inclusion and promoting inclusive policies.

Like the NGO Committee, the Shared Societies Project wants to highlight that shared societies are not only needed, but also possible and for that purpose has developed a set of ten commitments in ten key policy areas that are essential to promoting social inclusion and offer a comprehensive approach to building social cohesion. The feasibility of the commitments is illustrated by a compilation of policies and practices from around the world that adds to the survey on effective practices in social cohesion developed by the NGO Committee.

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ABOUT US

The Club of Madrid The Club of Madrid responds to the demand for leader-to-leader support to confront today’s global, regional and national democratic leadership challenges. It is an independent organization dedicated to strengthening democratic values and leadership around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of its Members –more than 70 democratic former Heads of State and Government from 50 countries who contribute their time, experience and knowledge to this mission. The Club of Madrid’s membership constitutes the world’s largest forum of ex-Presidents and ex-Prime Ministers and offers today’s leaders an unequalled body of knowledge and political leadership. For more information please visit www.clubmadrid.org

The Shared Societies Project is The Shared Societies Project is a Club of Madrid global initiative that provides leaders with greater understanding of the benefits of social cohesion and the incentives and means to act to advance it. The project supports democratic development through leadership for dialogue, diversity and social cohesion.

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Silvia Pescador
Communications Coordinator
Tel: +34 911 548 230

E-Mail: spescador@clubmadrid.org