10 October 2016: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) considered the report of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on its activities in 2016, particularly related to early implementation of the 2030 Agenda. ECOSOC’s 2016 president, Oh Joon (Republic of Korea), introduced the report and highlighted the Council’s relevance to global threats, challenges and humanitarian emergencies.

In the course of the meeting, the Assembly took note of the report, which was titled ‘Report of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on its 2016 session’ (A/71/3).

Oh told governments that in 2016, ECOSOC focused on start-up implementation of the 2030 Agenda, through the Council’s segments, forums, functional and regional commissions, and expert bodies. He highlighted ECOSOC’s role in advancing sustainable development through: the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which heard 22 voluntary national reviews (VNRs) and adopted a Ministerial Declaration; and ECOSOC’s Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (FFD Forum), which he said resulted in a concise, forward-looking outcome document that recognizes the link between the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). Oh further noted ECOSOC’s achievements in exploring ways to improve the alignment of the UN development system with the 2030 Agenda and its review of progress and trends in international development cooperation, through the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF).

On global threats and challenges, Oh recalled, ECOSOC held a special meeting on inequality, as well as special briefings on El Niño and the Zika Virus. The Council also worked to advance integrated responses to sustainable development and peace and security.

On strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships, the report highlights the 2016 Partnership Forum and the Youth Forum. Oh said the number of new applications from NGOs for consultative status with ECOSOC had reached an historic level, reflecting the Council’s relevance in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Among governments who commented on the report, India highlighted the importance of partnerships in achieving the SDGs and in sharing technology with developing countries. Mexico said implementing the 2030 Agenda is its “top priority.” To ensure ECOSOC’s relevance, Mexico cautioned against overlap or duplication with other UN bodies, and called for considering the specificities of middle-income countries (MICs). [UN Press Release] [Oh Joon Statement] [Report of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on its 2016 session]