1. Economic and Social Council
  2. Economic and Social Council: Press Release

Economic and Social Council: Press Release

23 July 2020
ECOSOC/7025

Newly Elected President Discusses Key Role of Economic and Social Council in Tackling COVID-19 Pandemic, Climate Change, as 2021 Organizational Session Begins

The Economic and Social Council’s mandate remains as relevant as ever, encompassing the three simultaneous global challenges Member States are facing — the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the existential threat of the climate catastrophe — its newly elected President said today at the first meeting of its 2021 organizational session, held via videoconference due to COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions at United Nations Headquarters.

22 July 2020
ECOSOC/7024

Economic and Social Council High-Level Segment Concludes with Calls for Stronger Multilateralism, Inclusive Path to Recover Better from COVID-19 Pandemic

The Economic and Social Council’s high-level segment concluded on 17 July with calls to strengthen multilateralism and forge an inclusive path to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic, yet failed to adopt a Ministerial Declaration approved at the closing of its 2020 high-level political forum session, held from 7 to 17 July via videoconference due to coronavirus-related restrictions at United Nations Headquarters.

21 July 2020
ECOSOC/7023

Subsidiary Body Chairs Introduce Reports on Development, Human Rights, Status of Women, as Economic and Social Council Continues Management Segment

Continuing its 2020 Management Segment in a virtual format today, the Economic and Social Council heard updates from across the spectrum of its subsidiary bodies, each of which have grappled with the pervasive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it considered reports on the recent work of committees ranging from the Commission on the Status of Women to the United Nations Forum on Forests.

17 July 2020
SG/SM/20178

Stronger Multilateralism Needed as Pandemic Reveals ‘Increasingly Interdependent, Increasingly Fragile’ World, Secretary-General Tells Economic and Social Council

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council on the theme “Multilateralism after COVID-19: What Kind of UN Do We Need at the 75th Anniversary?”, in New York today:

13 July 2020
ECOSOC/7022

Speakers at High-Level Political Forum Outline Action Urgently Needed to Overcome Widespread Ill Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic, Advance Sustainable Development

Addressing what has become the worst human crisis in decades requires a new dynamic to overcome the widespread negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Economic and Social Council’s President said at its 2020 high-level political forum on sustainable development, held from 7 to 17 July via videoconference due to coronavirus-related restrictions at United Nations Headquarters.

6 July 2020
ECOSOC/7021

As COVID-19 Reveals Widespread Inequality, Joint Action Is Key to Preserve Development Gains, Secretary-General Warns at Economic and Social Council Integration Segment

All stakeholders must work together to prevent a reversal of decades of progress on development goals during these unprecedented times that require deep reflection and strong action, the Secretary-General said at the Economic and Social Council’s integration segment, held on 7 July via videoconference due to restrictions at United Nations Headquarters related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

11 June 2020
ECOSOC/7020

As COVID-19 Death Toll Exceeds 400,000, Economic and Social Council Urges Member States to Ensure Flexible Humanitarian Funding, Quicker Entry for Health Personnel at Borders

Standing in solidarity with those least able to protect themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic is not only the right thing to do, but the only way the world will overcome this, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Economic and Social Council, which launched a global call to action at its 2020 Humanitarian Affairs Segment, convened from 9 to 11 June via videoconference due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

3 June 2020
ECOSOC/7019

Economic and Social Council, in Management Segment, Considers Range of Draft Texts on Social Development, Narcotic Drugs, Non-Governmental Organizations

The Economic and Social Council held its 2020 management segment via videoconference today, hearing the introduction of reports from its subsidiary bodies and four resolutions and seven decisions contained therein, to be adopted by the silence procedure at a later date due to restrictions related to the COVID‑19 pandemic.

27 May 2020
ECOSOC/7018

United Nations Must Help Countries Safeguard Development Gains, Secretary-General Tells Economic and Social Council 2020 Operational Activities Segment

As COVID-19 continues to expose fragilities across the globe, the United Nations has a “triple imperative” of helping countries respond, safeguarding development gains and ensuring that recovery aligns with efforts to achieve greater well-being for people and planet, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Economic and Social Council, as he outlined priorities for the system’s operational activities.

27 April 2018
HR/5393

United Nations Forum Calls for Measures Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Collective Rights to Lands, Territories, Resources

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues concluded its seventeenth session today with the adoption of recommendations to protect and advance indigenous peoples’ rights worldwide, stressing that indigenous peoples’ collective rights to lands, territories and resources not only serve their own well-being, but also help address some of the most pressing global challenges, such as climate change and the loss of biological diversity.

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