Context
- Recently, the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has held a high-level dialogue on the subject ‘Multilateralism after Covid-19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th Anniversary?’
- The UN will celebrate its 75th anniversary on 24th October 2020.
Back to Basics:
About ECOSOC
- The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.
- It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
- The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United
- It is the UN’s central platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking on sustainable development.
- The Council has 54 members, elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.
- It meets throughout the year and holds a major session in July, during which a high-level meeting of Ministers discusses major economic, social and humanitarian issues.
- While the Security Council’s primary responsibility is maintaining peace, ECOSOC focuses on promoting social progress and better standards of living. Achieving international security and social progress go hand in hand.
- You can’t have one without the other. Poverty and the denial of human rights greatly increase the risk of instability and violence. Similarly, war sets back development.