ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL | UNITED NATIONS

In this article we have discussed about the United Nations Economic and Security Council including its origin and purpose, composition, voting system, powers and function, functional and regional commissions.

 

1. INTRODUCTION:

 

The Preamble of the Charter proclaims that the peoples of the United Nations are determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. Further, Para 3 of Article 1 lays down that it is a primary purpose of the United Nations to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction to race, sex, language or religion. To achieve these ends, the Charter established the Economic and Social Council which is one of the principal organs of the United Nations.

 

2. ORIGINS AND PURPOSE:

 

ECOSOC was founded in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations, pursuant to Article 7 of the UN Charter. The council's primary objective is to promote international economic and social cooperation and to address the root causes of global challenges. By fostering dialogue and collaboration among member states, ECOSOC strives to find comprehensive and effective solutions to issues that transcend national borders.

 

3. COMPOSITION:

 

Provisions regarding the composition of the Economic and Social Council are laid down in Article 61 of the Charter. The Council consists of fifty-four members which are elected by the General Assembly. One third of the total members, i.e., eighteen members of the Council are elected each year for a term of three years. Retiring members are eligible for immediate re-election. Each member is represented by one representative in the Council. Elections to the Council are held in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution. President of the Council is elected for one year.

 

The permanent members of the Security Council have no privileged position in the Economic and Social Council. However, they have served continuously as its members. It is submitted that the composition of the ECOSOC should be reformed. Presently, most of the members are from developing countries and therefore the wealthiest countries have not wished to submit to the Council which they do not control and on which none has a guaranteed position.

 

In order to make the ECOSOC more effective it is desirable that the membership of the Council is reduced to twenty-five States (which would make it about the same size as is widely agreed to be appropriate for the Security Council). The wealthiest countries (say, the Group of 8) and a similar number of the most populous countries (China, India, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria) could be made standing members, with the remaining members being elected for fixed terms on a regional basis. The above change in the composition of the ECOSOC requires an amendment in the Charter which of course is a difficult task. However, unless the amendment is made, it is difficult to see much prospect of the United Nations substantially strengthening its influence on international economic policy-making,

 

4. VOTING SYSTEM:

 

Voting in the Council is simple and direct. Each member has one vote. All decisions are taken by a simple majority of those present and voting. The Council invites any member of the United Nations to participate, without vote, in its deliberations on any matter of particular concern to that member.' Article 70 lays down that the Council provides arrangements for such participation by specialized agencies.

 

The Council elects a president and a first and second Vice-president at the start of its first session. These officers are eligible for re-election but they may not hold office after the State, they represent, is no longer a member of the Council.

 

5. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS:

 

Regular sessions of the Council are held twice in a year, each one month long, in New York and Geneva. The first session is usually devoted to social and human rights and the second session to economic and developmental matters. In addition to regular session, special session may also be held.

 

The Council performs concrete tasks in the field of international economic and social co-operation and it carries out functions under the guidance of the General Assembly. The Council performs the following functions:

 

1. The Council may make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters. It may make recommendations with respect to any such matters to the General Assembly, to the members of the United Nations and to the specialized agencies concerned.
2. The Council may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
3. The Council may prepare draft conventions for submissions to the General Assembly on any subject falling within its competence."
4. The Council may call, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the United Nations, international conferences on mattes falling within its competence.
5. The Council may make arrangements with the members of the United Nations to obtain reports on the steps taken to give effect to its recommendations and to the recommendations of the General Assembly on matters falling within its competence. When these reports are received, it may communicate its observation on these reports to the General Assembly.
6. The Council may also furnish information to the Security Council and assist the Security Council upon its request.
7. The Economic and Social Council shall perform such functions, as fall within its competence in carrying out of the recommendations of the General Assembly.
8. The Council may, with the approval of the General Assembly, perform services at the request of the members of the United Nations and at the request of specialized agencies.
9. The Council may perform such other functions as are specified elsewhere in the U.N. Charter or as may be assigned to it by the General Assembly.

 

The Council is a principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social development, as well as for implementation of the development goals agreed at the major United Nations summits and conferences.

 

The 2005 World Summit Outcome stated that in order to achieve these objectives, the Council should

 

a) promote global dialogue and partnership on global policies and trends in the economic, social, environmental and humanitarian fields;

 

b) hold a biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forum to review trends in international development cooperation;

 

c) ensure follow-up of the outcomes of the major United Nations Conferences and Summits, including the internationally agreed development goals;

 

d) support and complement international efforts aimed at addressing humanitarian emergencies, including natural disasters; and

 

e) play a major role in the overall coordination of funds, programmes and agencies, ensuring coherence among them and avoiding duplication of mandates and activities.

 

Under the U.N. Charter, the Council's powers are merely recommendatory which are legally not binding upon the members and therefore it has 'sunk to a level of unimportance'. However, one of the greatest achievements of the United Nations has been in the economic and social fields which could be possible with the effective functioning of the Economic and Social Council.

 

5.1. FUNCTIONS RELATING TO SPECIALIZED AGENCIES:

 

Specialized agencies are the several inter-governmental organizations established to deal with specific international problems. The Council stands in special relation to these organizations. The Council is empowered to perform a number of functions in relation to these Agencies which are as follows:

 

1. The Council may enter into agreements with these agencies to bring them into relationship with the United Nations. However, such agreements are required to be approved by the General Assembly.
2. The Council is empowered to co-ordinate the activities of the specialized agencies through consultation with and recommendations to such agencies and through recommendations to the General Assembly and to the members of the United Nations.
3. The Council is empowered to obtain regular reports from the specialized agencies. The Council may make arrangements with member States and with specialized agencies to secure reports on steps taken to give effect to its own recommendations or to the recommendations made by the General Assembly on matters falling within the Council's competence² and communicate its observations to these reports to the General Assembly.
4. The Charter provides that the Council may initiate negotiations among the States concerned for any new specialized agencies which may be required for the accomplishment of its social, economic, health and cultural objectives. Responsibility for taking steps to create new specialized agencies is vested in the General Assembly, and under the authority of the Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council. For instance, it was the Council which initiated the arrangements for setting up, for example, the World Health Organization. First of the measures which it took in this connection was to summon an international conference of health authorities.

 

Thus, by co-ordinating the specialized agencies, by its own deliberations, and through the work of its Commissions and Committees, Economic and Social Council grapples with almost every aspect of human well-being. Its task is no less than to guide mankind in constructive international co-operation so that all people may indeed live in greater prosperity and larger freedom.

 

6. FUNCTIONAL COMMISSIONS:

 

The Charter under Article 68 provides "that the Economic and Social Council shall set up commissions in economic and social fields and for the promotion of human rights, and such other commissions as may be required for the performance of its functions." Acting under this provision, the Council has established a number of functional Commissions such as Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights (discontinued in 2006 and replaced by the Human Right Council), Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development (disbounded in 2013 and replaced with High Level Political Forum on sustainable development), Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Population, Development and Statistical Commission and United Nations Forum on Forests. The Human Rights Commission has a sub- commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

 

Commissions are composed of experts chosen on the basis of personal qualifications so that they may provide the best technical advice. Thus, these Commissions are the expert investigating bodies, on matters falling within their competence. These Commissions submit reports to the Council, which then decides on further action.

 

7. REGIONAL COMMISSIONS:

 

Although, the Charter has not made any provision for the creation of the regional commissions, the Council has established five regional economic commissions on the initiative of the General Assembly to assist it in the performance of its functions which are as follows-

 

1. Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).-The General Assembly, in its first session, urged the Commission for Europe and accordingly the ECE was established in March 1947 to work for the economic reconstruction of post-war Europe, to increase the economic activity of European countries and to provide their governments with economic, technological and statistical information. Its Headquarters is situated at Geneva.
2. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP). The Commission was established on March 18, 1947 as the Economic Commission for Asia and Far East (ECAFE). It was renamed in 1974 to reflect an equal concern for economic growth and social progress and to clarify its geographical scope.
3. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Economic Commission for Latin America-The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) was set up on February 25, 1948. In 1983, it formally incorporated the Caribbean region into its name becoming the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Its headquarters is situated in Santiago. Its meet biennially. A Committee of Whole carries out its work between sessions.
4. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The ECA was established on April 9, 1958. The headquarter is situated in Addis-Abbaba. The chief objective of the Commission is the modernization, with emphasis on rural development and industrialization. The ECA has sub-regional organisations known as Multinational Programming and Operational Centres. Five centers have been set up since 1977. The Commission works closely with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
5. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was established in 1973 and has met annually since 1974. ESCWA was earlier headquartered in Beirut; however, civil strife and conflict in Labanon led it to relocate to Amman in 1976.

 

These commissions are composed of countries within the areas and of certain other countries with special interest. These commissions undertake research and advice the Council on problems of a regional nature and make recommendations to member governments admitted in an advisory capacity and specialized agencies on matters falling within their competence.

 

These commissions have proved to be most successful organs of the United Nations in promoting co-operation in the economic fields.

 

8. CONCLUSION:

 

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations plays a vital role in promoting international cooperation and sustainable development. Through its diverse membership and collaborative mechanisms, ECOSOC acts as a bridge between nations, fostering dialogue, and coordinating policies to address global challenges. As the world continues to face complex and interconnected issues, the council's role remains paramount in building a prosperous and equitable future for all nations and their citizens. By harnessing the collective will of member states and collaborating with civil society and the private sector, ECOSOC continues to make strides toward a more prosperous and sustainable world.