ECOSOC

Economic and Social Council elects 16 new members to serve until end of 2007

29 October 2004
The 54 members of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for next year have been decided after the General Assembly this week completed its annual elections for a third of the line-up of the development coordinating body.

Aid to poor countries should focus on building good economies - UN report

29 June 2004
Improving the effectiveness of aid to poor countries requires a focus on economic infrastructure, according to a new United Nations report discussed today by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York.

Fréchette urges wealthy nations to remove or cut agricultural subsidies

28 June 2004
Calling on the world's rich countries to revitalize stalled international trade and development talks, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette today urged them to eliminate or at least reduce "the crippling effect" of agricultural subsidies on the world's poorest and least developed nations.

UN officials urge action on behalf of 700 million people in world's poorest States

28 June 2004
With the world's 50 poorest countries - home to 700 million people - struggling to tackle poverty, senior United Nations officials today urged attention to their plight as the annual meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) began in New York.

Making vital reforms next year may be too late for development goals - Annan

26 April 2004
Countries can halve extreme poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 if they implement vital reforms and get adequate external support this year, "but by next year it might already be too late," United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today.

Officials at UN-backed meeting urge greater support for world's poorest States

18 March 2004
The President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and other senior officials today urged action to implement plans for tackling poverty in the world's least developed countries (LDCs).

ECOSOC continues preparing for high-level talks on financing for development

17 March 2004
How to implement global anti-poverty goals topped the agenda of a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at United Nations Headquarters in New York today, which brought together senior UN officials and their counterparts from across the globe.

UN Economic and Social Council looks to lift poorest nations out of poverty

17 February 2004
Top United Nations officials, donors and heads of international institutions convened at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today to examine worldwide efforts to lift the 50 poorest nations - home to 600 million people - out of poverty and instability.

UN meeting to review mobilization of aid for world's poorest States

13 February 2004
The United Nations Economic and Social Council will hold a meeting next week to examine what help the world is giving to the 50 poorest nations to lift them out of poverty and instability.

Finnish diplomat elected first woman head of UN Economic and Social Council

22 January 2004
Finland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, has been elected president of the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), becoming the first woman ever to head the 54-member development coordinating body.