UN Economic and Social Council

Description

GS PAPER II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora - their structure, mandate.

Context: India has been elected to the Economic and Social Council, one of the six main organs of the United Nations, for the 2022-24 term.

India was elected in the Asia-Pacific States category along with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Oman.
India is currently serving the 2021-22 term as a non-permanent member of the powerful UN Security Council and will assume the Presidency of the 15-nation UN organ in August.

ECOSOC

The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
The 54-member Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.
It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.
It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
ECOSOC’s 54 members are elected for three-year terms by the General
Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographical representation with 14 allocated to African states, 11 to Asian states, six to eastern European states, 10 to Latin American and Caribbean states and 13 to western European and other states, according to the ECOSOC website.