BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system. It is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems; facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It has the power to make or initiate studies and reports on these issues. It also has the power to assist the preparations and organization of major international conferences in the economic and social and related fields and to facilitate a coordinated follow-up to these conferences. With its broad mandate the Council's purview extends to over 70 per cent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system.

Picture of the first session of the ECOSOC at Church House in London, 23 January 1946. This picture shows Mr. Gladwyn Jebb (right), Executive Secretary of the United Nations, congratulating Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar of India upon his election as first President of ECOSOC.

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

In the Millennium Declaration, Heads of State and Government decided to further strengthen the Economic and Social Council, building on its recent achievements, to help it fulfill the role ascribed to it in the UN Charter. In carrying out its mandate, ECOSOC consults with academics, business sector representatives and more than 2,100 registered non-governmental organizations. The Council holds a four-week substantive session each July, alternating between New York and Geneva , and it is organized under the High-level Segment, Coordination Segment, Operational Activities Segment, Humanitarian Affairs Segment and the 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.