United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Why it Matters?
Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Shri Suman Bery, presented India’s 3rd Voluntary National Review (VNR) report at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
What You Should Know?
It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
It is responsible for coordinating the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities of the UN system.
It was established by the UN Charter in 1945 and later amended in 1965 and 1974 to expand its membership from 18 to 54 countries.
Membership is based on geographic representation - 14 for Africa, 11 for Asia, 6 for Eastern Europe, 10 for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 13 for Western Europe and others.
Members are elected by the UN General Assembly for three-year terms, with elections based on regional quotas.
Four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have been continuously re-elected due to their significant financial contributions.
ECOSOC functions through functional commissions on issues like human rights, narcotics, women’s status, population, social development, and science & technology.
It also oversees regional commissions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Western Asia, Latin America, and Europe for economic and social development.
ECOSOC has the authority to grant consultative status to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
ECOSOC decisions are made by a simple majority vote, and the Presidency rotates annually among member states.
ECOSOC serves as the main UN platform for global discussion on international economic and social issues, and it reports to the UN General Assembly.
It plays a key role in monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and convenes platforms like the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on SDGs.