ECOSOC role in 2030 Agenda discussed by UN General Assembly

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) report for 2016, with particular reference to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, has been discussed by the UN General Assembly. Its president for 2016, Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea, introduced the report, highlighting the Council's relevance to global threats, challenges and humanitarian emergencies.

The Assembly took note of the report, entitled Report of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on its 2016 session (A/71/3).

According to Oh, ECOSOC focused on start-up implementation of the 2030 Agenda during 2016, through the Council's segments, forums, functional and regional commissions, and expert bodies. In particular, he focused on ECOSOC's role in advancing sustainable development through: the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and its Ministerial Declaration, (See: HLPF Ministerial Declaration adopted) and ECOSOC's Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (FFD Forum) (See: Inaugural session of Financing for Development Forum). According to Oh, this resulted in a concise, forward-looking outcome document that recognizes the link between the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). He also 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).

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

The 2016 Partnership Forum and the Youth Forum are included in the report. Oh also noted that the number of new applications from NGOs for consultative status with ECOSOC had reached an historic level, which reflects the Council's relevance in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

See also: http://sd.iisd.org/news/unga-discusses-ecosoc-role-in-2030-agenda/