The United Nations Charter established the Economic and Social Council as the principal organ to coordinate the economic and social work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and institutions-known as the United Nations family of organizations. The council has 54 members who serve for three-year terms. Voting in the council is by simple majority; each member has one vote.
Functions and Powers
The functions and powers of the Economic and Social Council are:
* To serve as the central forum for the discussion of international economic and social issues of a global or inter-disciplinary nature and the formulation of policy recommendations on those issues addressed to Member States and to the United Nations system;
* To make or initiate studies and reports and make recommendations on international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters;
* To promote respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms;
* To call international conferences and prepare draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly on matters falling within its competence;
* To negotiate agreements with the specialized agencies defining their relationship with the United Nations;
* To coordinate the activities of the specialized agencies by means of consultations with and recommendations to them and by means of recommendations to the General Assembly and the Members of the United Nations;
* To perform services, approved by the Assembly, for Members of the United Nations and, on request, for the specialized agencies;
* To consult with nongovernmental organizations concerned with matters with which the council deals.
Sessions
The Economic and Social Council generally holds one five-week-long substantive session each year, alternating between New York and Geneva, and at least two organizational sessions in New York. The substantive session includes a high-level special meeting, attended by ministers and other high officials, to discuss major economic and social issues. The year-round work of the council is carried out in its subsidiary bodies-commissions and committees-which meet at regular intervals and report back to the council.
Subsidiary and Related Bodies
The subsidiary machinery of the council includes:
* Nine functional commissions: Statistical Commission, Commission on Population and Development, Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on Science and Technology for Development and Commission on Sustainable Development;
* Five regional commissions: Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand), Economic Commission for Europe (Geneva, Switzerland), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Santiago, Chile) and Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (Amman, Jordan);
* Four standing committees: Committee for Programme and Coordination, Commission on Human Settlements, Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations and Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting;
* A number of expert bodies on subjects such as development planning, natural resources, new and renewable sources of energy and energy for development, and economic, social and cultural rights;
* The executive committees and boards of the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund, the World Food Programme and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. Also related to the Council are the International Narcotics Control Board and the World Food Council.
Relations with Nongovernmental Organizations
Under the Charter, the Economic and Social Council may consult with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) concerned with matters within the council's competence. The council recognizes that these organizations should have the opportunity to express their views, and that they possess special experience or technical knowledge of value to the council's work.
Over 1,500 NGOs have consultative status with the council. They are classified into three categories: category I organizations are those concerned with most of the council's activities; category II organizations have special competence in specific areas; and organizations on the roster are those that can make an occasional contribution to the council, its subsidiary organs or other United Nations bodies.
NGOs with consultative status may send observers to public meetings of the council and its subsidiary bodies and may submit written statements relevant to the council's work. They may also consult with the United Nations Secretariat on matters of mutual concern.
From Basic Facts About the United Nations. Published by United Nations Department of Public Information. Copyright 1995 United Nations.
