Economic issues

The Economic and Social Council today elected a representative from the Latin American and Caribbean States as a Vice-President of its Bureau.

Concluding its three-day humanitarian affairs segment today, the Economic and Social Council adopted a consensus resolution that not only called upon the United Nations to continue enhancing its existing humanitarian capacities but also included new language addressing the frequently protracted nature of displacement resulting from complex crises and emergencies.

Global humanitarian aid actors should adopt policies of solidarity with strife-torn and disaster-stricken communities rather than charity, and ensure aid workers had the requisite skills to deliver their specific mandates, experts on the matter told the Economic and Social Council this afternoon.

With a burgeoning and increasingly complex caseload taxing the global humanitarian aid system, more funding and better ways to help and protect people in strife-torn countries from the Central African Republic to Syria were more vital than ever, speakers said today as the Economic and Social Council began its three-day humanitarian affairs segment.

The Economic and Social Council wrapped up its two-day coordination and management segment today with the consensus adoption of a series of drafts, including on strengthening global tax cooperation.

The Economic and Social Council adopted eight draft resolutions today, including a text on mainstreaming gender perspective into the work of the United Nations system, as the 54-nation organ resumed its coordination and management segment.

International cooperation in tax matters aimed at enhancing dialogue among national tax authorities was the focus of a special meeting of the Economic and Social Council today.

Member States today welcomed a proposal to incorporate youth-focused target areas in the post-2015 development agenda, as the Economic and Social Council concluded its two-day Youth Forum.

The engagement of young people in shaping the global development agenda was critical, as they were the leaders of the present era, senior United Nations officials told the Economic and Social Council’s two-day Youth Forum today, which convened under the theme “#Youth2015: Realizing the future they want.”

Concluding the Economic and Social Council’s first-ever integration segment today, a wide range of stakeholders — ranging from United Nations agencies and local authority groups to civil society organizations and slum dwellers — tackled the complex question of sustainable urban planning.