The Commission on Social Development meets annually at the UN Headquarters in New York to bring together states, civil society, and others to assess global themes in social development worldwide. The priority theme of the 49th Session of the CSocD being held in February is “Poverty Eradication”he Commission for Social Development (CSocD) focusing on “poverty eradication”. VIVAT International has submitted a written statement Poverty and Culture for the 2011 UN Commission on Social Development (CSocD 49). Philip Gibbs, SVD is participating in the Commission and was the speaker for a side event entitled “Voices from the Grassroots”. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) focusing on “Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work”, will take place during the month of March. Petra Bigge, SSpS will be participating in the CSW, which begins next week.