Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Background

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was established under the UN Charter as the principal organ, under the authority of the General Assembly, to coordinate economic, social and related work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, 10 functional commissions and five regional commissions. ECOSOC also receives reports from 11 UN funds and programmes.

As the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the UN system, it promotes:
(a) higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development;
(b) solutions of international economic, social, health and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and
(c) universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

ECOSOC consists of 54 member governments, elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly. It holds one four-week substantive session each July, alternating between New York and Geneva. That session includes a High-Level Segment, a Coordination Segment, an Operational Activities Segment, a Humanitarian Affairs Segment and a General Segment. At the High-Level segment, national cabinet ministers and chiefs of international agencies and other high officials discuss in detail a selected theme of global significance. A Ministerial declaration is generally adopted on the theme of the High-Level Segment, which will provide policy guidance and recommendations for action. ECOSOC's year-round work is carried out by its subsidiary bodies - commissions and committees - which meet at regular intervals and report back to the Council.

With a view to strengthening ECOSOC, the General Assembly agreed in 2005 that ECOSOC should convene a biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forum to review trends in international development cooperation, promote greater coherence among the development activities of different development partners and strengthen the links between the normative and operational work of the UN. ECOSOC is also expected to conduct annual ministerial-level substantive reviews to assess progress in reaching the Millennium Development Goals, drawing on its functional and regional commissions and other international institutions.

The UN Charter authorizes ECOSOC to consult with NGOs concerned with matters within its competence. ECOSOC recognized that these organizations should have the opportunity to express their views, and that they possess special experience or technical knowledge of value to its work. Under ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, NGOs may seek and be granted consultative status to facilitate such dialogue.

NGO Section, ECOSOC link: http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ngo

For more resources about previous years' CONGO contributions to ECOSOC and NGO Forums, click HERE.

Related pages and documents

• Discussion Held April 28 with Members of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs Notes
• Briefing with President of ECOSOC 25 July, New York
• NGO Representatives at the United Nations Geneva, New York, Vienna