Economic and Social Council Fills Vacancies in 8 Subsidiary Bodies, Postpones Election of Several Candidates

The Economic and Social Council met today to fill regular and outstanding vacancies in eight of its subsidiary bodies.

Filling vacancies for the Commission on Population and Development, the Council elected by acclamation Germany and the Netherlands, both for a four‑year term beginning at the first meeting of the Commission’s fifty‑second session in 2018 and ending at the close of its fifty‑fifth session in 2022.

Council Vice‑President Inga Rhonda King (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) then moved to postpone six outstanding vacancies for varying terms, including two from the African States, three from the Asia‑Pacific States and one from the Western European and other States.

Turning then to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the organ elected Mauritius and Morocco by acclamation for the three‑year term beginning on 1 January 2018 and ending on 31 December 2020.  The elections of two members from the African States were postponed.

Next, for the Committee for Programme and Coordination, the Council nominated three members for election by the General Assembly for a term beginning on 1 January 2018 and ending on 31 December 2020.  For the African States region, it nominated Botswana, and for the Western European and other States, it nominated Germany and Portugal.  The elections, for varying terms, of one member each of the African States and the Latin American and Caribbean States, and three of the Western European and other States, were all postponed.

For the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, the organ elected Colombia for a term beginning on the date of election and expiring on 31 December 2018.  It went on to postpone the elections, for varying terms, of eight members from African States, six members from Asia‑Pacific States, seven members from Latin American and Caribbean States and 16 members from Western European and other States.

Filling vacancies for the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN‑Women), Ms. King noted that Israel had resigned its seat on the Board effective 31 December 2017.  Turkey was elected to the Board by acclamation for a term beginning 1 January 2018 and ending on 31 December 2019.

Next, the Council turned to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which consists of eight members appointed by the Council President and eight elected by the organ’s members.  Filling a remaining outstanding vacancy for the Asia‑Pacific States region, the Council elected Zhang Xiaoan (China) by acclamation, for a term beginning on the election date and ending on 31 December 2019.

Ms. King informed the Council that biographical data on Ms. Xiaoan could be found in document E/2018/9/Add.2.

Turning then to an outstanding vacancy on the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the Council elected Turkey by acclamation, for a term beginning on the election date and ending on 31 December 2020.

Next, the organ postponed the election of five outstanding vacancies, one from the Latin American and Caribbean States and four from the Western European and other States, for varying terms.

Turning then to the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Council elected Ecuador by acclamation, for a term beginning on 1 January 2019 and ending on 31 December 2019.

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