Economic issues

In light of new global challenges such as massive unemployment and climate change, the Economic and Social Council focused today on new strategies to overcome them in the areas of coherence, coordination and cooperation in the context of financing for development.

A landmark set of 10 principles to ensure that companies respect and support children’s rights has been launched. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Global Compact and Save the Children today introduced the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, a call on businesses to step up their efforts to respect and support children’s rights in the workplace, marketplace and community.

An unbreakable link between women’s empowerment and sustainable development was underlined today by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN-Women head Michelle Bachelet and a range of private-sector executives, as they marked the second anniversary of the Women’s Empowerment Principles.

Wrapping up what its Chairperson described as “another tough and highly intense” session, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today adopted its draft 2012 report and took action on a number of outstanding matters.

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.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to 10 applicants from a range of fields, including art education, the elderly and penal reform, and removed 20 applicants from its list of consideration, while approving name change requests from another dozen applicants.

Adopting its 2012 work programme today, the Economic and Social Council approved the organizational arrangements for its substantive session — to be held in New York from 2 to 27 July — 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.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today continued consideration of its lengthy list of groups seeking status with the Economic and Social Council, recommending 11 organizations for special consultative status, while postponing consideration of 19 others, pending receipt of additional information from a variety of applicants ranging from an emergency medical service unit to trustees of a major United States university.

Starting the second week of its 2012 substantive session, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today recommend special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for seven organizations, and roster status for another, while postponing consideration of 20 other applications, pending receipt of additional information from the civil society groups.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) today recommended special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for four organizations and general consultative status for two others, while postponing consideration of 16 other applications pending receipt of additional information from the civil society groups.