26 January 2016
On 70th Anniversary, ECOSOC Considers Ways to Deliver 2030 Agenda
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A Special High-level Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on the Council's 70th anniversary discussed how it can improve its work and support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Almost all speakers in the High-level Meeting highlighted the importance of the 2030 Agenda in paving the way forward.

Karel Kovanda, who served as ECOSOC President from 1997 to 1998 (Czech Republic), said sustainable development is on “everyone's lips” and is key to ensure “maintenance of the state of humankind as we know it.”

ECOSOC22 January 2016: A Special High-level Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held on the Council’s 70th anniversary, discussed how it can improve its work and support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Almost all speakers in the High-level Meeting highlighted the importance of the 2030 Agenda in paving the way forward. Karel Kovanda, who served as ECOSOC President from 1997 to 1998 (Czech Republic), said sustainable development is on “everyone’s lips” and is key to ensure “maintenance of the state of humankind as we know it.”

Opening the meeting on 22 January 2016, in New York, US, ECOSOC President Oh Joon said the 2030 Agenda reflects a remarkable evolution in international development thinking, and the work of ECOSOC has been “pivotal” to that evolution. He remarked that the 2030 Agenda requires Member States to formulate integrated policies reflecting social, environment and development aspects of sustainable development, and that promoting policy integration will be a “central area of work” for the Council in the years to come.

Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary-General, recalled that ECOSOC’s working methods have been reformed and its membership has grown. He noted the need to review the positioning of the UN development system to ensure that its activities are implemented in an integrated, “horizontal” and coordinated way. He remarked that the UN Secretariat is considering rethinking how to better align its main functions in support of the Agenda, including making sure that all intergovernmental processes serviced by the Secretariat are coordinated in support of follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recalling that India was among ECOSOC’s founding members, Narendra Damodardas Modi, Prime Minister of India (via video link), said eradication of poverty remains the greatest unfinished business of the 21st century and an unfulfilled objective of the UN. He called for “rejuvenating” ECOSOC by making it more action oriented, and added that the Council’s guiding philosophy must be the welfare of the poorest.

Jose Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the Committee for Development Policy, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), cautioned against duplicating work between the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and ECOSOC, saying this often happens between the UNGA’s Second (Economic and Financial) and Third (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) Committees and the Council. He highlighted the need to improve ECOSOC’s role in coordinating the work of UN system, noting this responsibility has always been “weak.” He also outlined the importance of improving accountability in terms of following up on commitments, and suggested that a system of peer reviews could be relevant in ECOSOC.

Rakesh Rajani, Ford Foundation, said “in too many countries, the space for civil society is closing” and called on ECOSOC to help respond to this challenge. He remarked that organized civil society is vital but not sufficient, and asked countries to develop “everyday mechanisms” where people can give their views on how development can work better. He added that ECOSOC should champion the data revolution, which can help make leaders accountable.

Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, said engaging youth in decision-making processes is no longer “a favor” to young people, and asked if the world is equipped to engage youth in achieving the SDGs. He noted the importance of the ECOSOC Youth Forum, especially in the absence of a “Commission on Youth” at the UN.

In addition, many participants highlighted the need to: stop working “in silos;” make the UN “fit for purpose” to better support the implementation of the Agenda; ensure multistakeholder partnerships and inclusiveness; and better coordinate with the Bretton Woods Institutions, the civil society and others. Some also called for ensuring that all segments, subsidiary platforms and meetings of the 2016 session of ECOSOC effectively support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

ECOSOC is one of the six main organs of the UN established by the UN Charter. The first meeting of the Council was convened from 23 January to 18 February 1946, in London, UK, with Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar (India) as its first President. [Event Webpage and Programme] [Meeting Webcast] [Deputy Secretary-General Statement] [ECOSOC President Statement] [IISD RS Sources]


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