±¬ÁÏÍø ECOSOC marks 70th anniversary, cites ¡®central role¡¯ in achieving sustainable development
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), its current President today highlighted the organ¡¯s central role in realizing the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.
¡°We have a rich history in ECOSOC, but the bar has been raised,¡± the Council¡¯s President, Oh Joon, told ±¬ÁÏÍø officials and delegates attending the commemoration at ±¬ÁÏÍø Headquarters in New York.
¡°We must deepen our thrust to work with Member States and other stakeholders to meet the growing expectations for transforming the world for the benefit of mankind,¡± he emphasized.
ECOSOC¡¯s inaugural meeting was convened in January 1946 in London, with Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar of India chairing as its first President. Since then, the 54-member body has served as the central platform of the ±¬ÁÏÍø to address global economic, social and related issues. Indeed, at the centre of the ±¬ÁÏÍø development system, ECOSOC conduct cutting-edge analysis, agrees on global norms and advocates for progress towards collective solutions to advance sustainable development.
¡°The Council¡¯s primary role has been the formulation of policy recommendations for Member States and the coordination of development action by the ±¬ÁÏÍø system,¡± Mr. Oh explained. ¡°Seventy years on, the United Nations achieved another significant milestone by adopting the in September last year,¡± he said.
ECOSOC¡¯s President described the new Agenda are being based on decades of devotion to advancing development. ¡°It reflects a remarkable evolution in international development thinking since the United Nations was created in the aftermath of World War II. I believe that the work of this Council has been pivotal to that evolution,¡± he insisted.
Also at the event was the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, who said the chamber of ECOSOC itself carries great symbolism.
¡°It was designed by my fellow countryman, Sven Markelius,¡± said Jan Eliasson, a Swedish national. ¡°In creating this beautiful room, there appears to be a flaw: part of the ceiling is unfinished. This serves as a fitting reminder that the work of ECOSOC will continue to be needed across the world.¡±
He stressed that as the international community looks ahead, the work of the Council has ¡°never been more crucial,¡± as it serves as a ¡°review platform for the SDGs, linking the global commitment to national action.¡±
Quoting former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskj?ld, Mr. Eliasson concluded his remarks by recalling that ¡°while the Security Council exists primarily for settling conflicts [¡] the Economic and Social Council exists primarily to eliminate the causes of conflicts.¡±
Source: ±¬ÁÏÍø News Centre
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