Economic and Social Council

2012 Organizational Session

3^rd Meeting (AM)

Economic and Social Council President Describes Arrangements for 27 February Event

Focused on ‘Better Jobs for Young People’, as Organizational Session Concludes

The President of the Economic and Social Council today outlined the arrangements for the 54-member body’s annual Philanthropy event set to take place Monday, 27 February.

As the Council met to conclude its 2012 organizational session, Miloš Koterec of Slovakia told delegations that preparations were under way for the event.  The overall theme this year was “Breaking new ground:  Partnerships for more and better jobs for young people”.  There would be two interactive dialogues, one on the topic, “Innovations in promoting youth employment” and another one on the topic, “A new dynamic for youth at work”.

He went on to highlight two other important meetings that would take place ahead of the Council’s 2012 substantive session, to be held at Headquarters from 2 to 27 July.  He said there would be a special high-level meeting with Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on 12 and 13 March and another meeting on international cooperation in tax matters on 15 March.

Delegations were reminded that there were three outstanding issues before the Council’s organizational session — the theme for the humanitarian affairs segment (to be held 18 through 20 July), the programme for the joint event of the Council’s operational activities and humanitarian affairs segments to discuss the issue of the transition from relief to development (to be held on 18 July), and the theme for the Council’s discussion on regional cooperation.

Earlier in the week, the Council adopted its 2012 work programme and approved the organizational arrangements for its substantive session (document E/2012/L.1), setting the stage for discussions at Headquarters on a range of critical themes, from creating decent jobs to assessing the impact of the financial crisis and bolstering development cooperation.

For more information on the Council’s organizational session see Press Release ECOSOC/6498.

The Council will reconvene at a date and time to be announced.

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For information media • not an official record