Economic and Social Council

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks to the organizational session of the Economic and Social Council, in New York, today, 19 January:

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.

Concerned over the persistent backlog of reports of States parties awaiting consideration, the Economic and Social Council today adopted a resolution asking its Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to improve its working methods in order to enable the Council to determine how to address that backlog, including by temporarily giving it more time if necessary, and to report back to the Council’s July 2011 session on efforts to do so.

Bringing the United Nations another step closer to the official 1 January 2010 launch of “UN Women”, the Economic and Social Council today elected - by acclamation and by secret ballot – the 41 inaugural members to the Executive Board of the new entity established to meet the unique and often under-represented needs of women and girls worldwide.

The Economic and Social Council met this afternoon to adopt the procedures for electing members to the Executive Board of the new United Nations gender entity, and to fill vacancies in three of its subsidiary bodies.

The Economic and Social Council this morning decided that the inaugural election of the 41 members of the Executive Board of the new entity for gender equality would be held “as soon as possible and by early November 2010”.

With the adoption of 15 resolutions and three oral decisions spanning questions of international development cooperation, decolonization, human rights and the promotion of decent work, the Economic and Social Council concluded today what its President called a “groundbreaking” 2010 substantive session.

The Economic and Social Council today continued the work of its general segment today, adopting by consensus 10 resolutions and 7 decisions broadly aimed at strengthening crime prevention measures, tackling illegal narcotics trade and extending effective social protections to the world’s most vulnerable populations, especially in the wake of crises.

With dramatic socio-economic and geographic stresses increasing urban poverty and slowing efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the Economic and Social Council today adopted eight consensus decisions that envisioned a world in which economic progress, social advancement and environmental protection were mutually reinforcing elements of sustainable development.

Expressing deep concern about the grave situation of Palestinian women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, resulting from Israeli occupation, the Economic and Social Council adopted a text today urging continued international attention to promote and protect their human rights, as well as intensified measures to improve their difficult conditions.