Economic and Social Council (redirected from ECOSOC)

Economic and Social Council, constituent organ of the United Nations. It is established by chapter 10 of the UN Charter and has 54 (18 before 1965) member nations elected annually for three-year terms by the General Assembly. The council undertakes investigations of international economic and social questions and reports its conclusions and suggestions to the General Assembly and other organs of the United Nations for action. The council also coordinates the activities of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and arranges for consultations with international nongovernmental organizations. The full council meets annually; decisions are taken by a majority of members present and voting, which insures a majority of developing nations. The council has established functional commissions, including the Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Commission for Sustainable Development, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Population and Development Commission, and the Commission on Human Rights and regional commissions. A director-general directly below the UN secretary-general has been created to coordinate programs under the council. The activities of the Commission on Human Rights have been particularly important. In Aug., 1948, a draft of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drawn up by the commission, was adopted by the General Assembly. In 1967, the commission was authorized to investigate and monitor violations of human rights in both developed and developing countries. The council supervises the activities of the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Program, and the International Narcotics Control Board, and it has consultative relationships with numerous nongovernmental organizations. It also undertakes special studies at the request of countries belonging to the United Nations.

Bibliography

See bibliography under United Nations.

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Economic and Social Council 

(ECOSOC), a principal organ of the United Nations. The Economic and Social Council has 54 members, which are elected by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly for three-year terms. One-third of the membership is renewed each year.

The main tasks of ECOSOC are to carry out, under the supervision of the General Assembly, the specific functions of the UN in the field of international economic and social cooperation. Article 55 of the UN Charter defines these functions as the creation of conditions of stability and well-being that are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

In order to discharge its responsibilities, ECOSOC is empowered to initiate studies, prepare reports, and make recommendations to the General Assembly, the members of the UN, and the specialized agencies of the UN. The council may call international conferences and prepare draft conventions with respect to matters falling within its competence for submission to the General Assembly. ECOSOC may enter into agreements with specialized agencies of the UN to define the terms of their relationship with the UN and may coordinate the activities of such agencies through consultation with and recommendations to the agencies. It is also empowered to assist the Security Council, furnish the Security Council with necessary information, and perform such other functions as may be assigned by the General Assembly.

Regular sessions of ECOSOC are held twice a year. Each year, the council elects a president and two vice-presidents. Decisions of the council are made by a simple majority of the members present and voting.

The standing and ad hoc committees of ECOSOC include the following: the Economic Committee; the Social Committee; the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations; the Committee on Housing, Building, and Planning; the Committee on Natural Resources; the Committee for Program and Coordination; the Committee for Industrial Development; and the Committee on Science and Technology.

ECOSOC carries out its duties through various functional commissions, including six statistical commissions, the Population Commission, the Social Development Commission, the Commission on Human Rights, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The Commission on Human Rights has a subcommission on the prevention of discrimination and the protection of national minorities.

The following regional economic commissions have been established under ECOSOC: the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Economic Commission for Latin America, the Economic Commission for Africa, and the Economic Commission for Western Asia.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was created under ECOSOC in 1946 to aid children who are victims of war and to implement measures for the protection of the health of children.

V. I. MENZHINSKII