United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (English Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC; French Conseil économique et social de l' ONU) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations based in New York. In addition to his responsibilities within the organization of the United Nations in particular, he coordinates the activities of the 19 specialized agencies. In addition, the Council receives and treats reports from 11 UN funds and programs.
Together with the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council with 54 member States committed to economic and social areas. Specific tasks are to raise living standards in the world, proposing solutions to international economic, social and health problems, the promotion of international cooperation in culture and education, and the promotion of human rights. According to his duties the seats in the Council are distributed so that the developing countries are represented with disproportionately many seats. 14 members representing the African, 11 Asian, 6 Eastern European, 10 Latin American and Caribbean regional group and 13, the Group of Western European and other States. Each year, one third of the 54 members are elected for a term of 3 years, with an immediate re-election is not excluded. The President of the Economic and Social Council shall be elected annually by a simple majority among the members. The Council meets every year alternately in July in New York and Geneva together. The current chairman is Zambia.
Meetings
The work session of the Economic and Social Council shall be held once a year in July for a period of four weeks. The venue of the meeting alternates between New York and Geneva, which alternate every year. The conference consists of several segments:
- High-level segment: Meet here mainly ministers, directors and senior officials of international institutions and representatives of civil society and the private sector to discuss current issues in the international agenda in the field of economic, social and environmental development. At the end of the segment every year a ministerial declaration is made, which usually includes policies and recommendations
- Coordination segment
- Segment for operational activities
- Segment of Humanitarian Affairs
- General segment
Since the 2005 World Summit, there are two new segments
- Annual ministerial review
- Forum for Development Cooperation