Economic and Social Council

2010 Substantive Session

52^nd Meeting (PM)

Economic and Social Council Elects Members to Subsidiary Bodies,

 

Adopts Text on International Cooperation in Informatics Field

 

Concluding its 2010 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council today elected members to some of its subsidiary bodies, adopted one draft resolution and postponed consideration of several other items until next year’s session.

In two rounds of secret balloting, the Council elected Bertie Xavier of Guyana to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, starting on 1 January 2011, to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Miriam Masaquiza of Ecuador.  Ms. Xavier was one of two candidates, the other being Mónica Roxana Alvarez of Bolivia.

A total of 51 valid ballots were cast in the first round of voting, but since there was one abstention, only 50 members voted.  With the winning candidate requiring a majority of 26 votes, Ms. Alvarez and Ms. Xavier each received 25.  The second round resulted in 52 valid ballots cast, with one abstention.  Ms. Xavier received 26 votes and Ms. Alvarez 25.

Elected by acclamation to the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission were Egypt, Guatemala, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Spain, Ukraine and Zambia.  They will serve two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2011.

Also by acclamation, the Council elected France to serve a four-year term on the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, beginning on 1 January.  It postponed the election of one member from the Group of Asian States, two from the Group of Eastern European States and three from the Group of Western European and other States due to the absence of candidates.

Again by acclamation, the Council elected Croatia to the Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, for a term beginning today and expiring on 31 December 2012.  In the absence of other candidates, it postponed the election of four members from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, four from the Group of Western European and other States and four from the Group of Asian States.

Under its agenda item 7(c), entitled “Coordination, programme and other questions:  international cooperation in the field of informatics”, the Council adopted, without a vote, a draft resolution headed “The need to harmonize and improve United Nations informatics systems for optimal utilization and accessibility by all States” (document E/2010/L.44).

By that text, the Council reiterated once again the high priority it attached to easy, economical, uncomplicated and unhindered access to computerized United Nations databases, information systems and services for Member States, observers and accredited non-governmental organizations.

The Council requested its President to convene the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Informatics for one more year to enable it to facilitate the successful implementation of initiatives being taken by the Secretary-General with regard to the use of information technology.  It requested the Secretary-General to extend full cooperation to the Working Group and to give priority to implementing its recommendations and guidance.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union after the adoption, the representative of Belgium said the regional bloc was happy to join the consensus but unhappy with the way in which the text had been submitted.  No informal consultations had been convened and the draft had only been circulated yesterday.

Turning to agenda item 6 (a), “Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development”, the Council decided to continue its consideration of a draft resolution headed “Establishment of an ad-hoc panel of experts on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development” (document E/2010/L.37) until its 2011 substantive session.

Also deferred to the 2011 substantive session was consideration of two draft resolutions recommended by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and contained in an addendum to the report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields (document E/2010/15/Add.1).  The drafts are titled:  “Upgrading the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Section for Emerging and Conflict-related Issues to the level of a division and establishing a governmental committee on emerging issues and development in conflict settings”; and “Upgrading the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Centre for Women to the level of a division and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the Arab Countries after fifteen years: Beijing+15”.

The Council further decided to revert to the report of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration on its ninth session (document E/2010/44) at a later stage, but before the beginning of the 2011 substantive session.

In other business, Council members were informed that Bolivia had proposed two amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, 1961, as amended by the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, 1961.  The Secretary-General, in his capacity as Depositary, had communicated the proposed amendments to the States parties to the Convention, which stipulates that a proposed amendment will enter into force if it has not been rejected by any party within 18 months after it has been circulated.

Delegations were reminded that the 18-month period would end on 31 January 2011.

Council President Hamidon Ali (Malaysia), in closing remarks, thanked delegations for their spirit of cooperation and for helping the Council successfully to conclude its work for 2010.  He also thanked the support staff for making that possible.

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For information media • not an official record