What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it. (UPSC IAS Mains 2017 General Studies Paper – 2)
The Economic and Social Council 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. The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
The main functions of ECOSOC are
- Advancement of the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development.
- It acts as the main forum for promoting and forming debates, creative thinking, and making attempts to put international agreements into action.
- A four-week session of UN conferences and summits, as well as meetings with the World Bank and IMF, are also its responsibility.
- Functional commissions: It is connected to a number of functional commissions. Some have been replaced and others have been disbanded.
Active commissions
- Commission for Social Development- It was established in 1946 to advise and assist in the implementation of its work. It is associated with the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.
- Commission on Narcotic Drugs- It acts as the central drug policy- making body within the UN system and performs duties supervised by the international drug control conventions.
- Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice- It provides guidance in the matter of crime prevention and criminal justice to the United Nations.
- Statistical Commission- It is associated with providing assistance to the council in the matter of development of national statistics, coordination of the statistical work of specialized agencies, development of the central statistical services, advising collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information.
- Forum on Forests- Responsible for implementation of agreements related to forest, fostering international cooperation, policy development, monitoring, assessing and creating reports on progress, provide strong commitment for sustainable development.
- Commission on Science and Technology for Development- It looks after the specific issues related to science and technology for development.
- Commission on the Status of Women- It is associated with promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.
- Commission on Population and Development- Responsible for monitoring, reviewing and assessing the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted in the International Conference on Population and Development.
- Disbanded and replaced commissions: Commission on Human Rights was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
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