ECOSOC and HLPF Reviews

• GA resolution 70/299 decided to review progress in implementing resolution 70/299 and resolution 67/290 on the format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum(HLPF) at the 74th session of the GA, in order to benefit from lessons learned in the first cycle of the forum as well as from other processes under the GA and the ECOSOC related to the follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Efforts to strengthen ECOSOC have been ongoing since its creation. GA resolution 72/305, the latest in this effort, addressed a wide range of issues, including a more focused and pertinent agenda, revisiting the ECOSOC cycle, and the Council’s oversight and coordination function of its subsidiary bodies.
• GA resolution 72/305 on the implementation of the GA resolution 68/1 on ECOSOC strengthening decided that the arrangements contained in that resolution and its annex would be reviewed at the 74th session of the GA and at subsequent review cycles in conjunction with the review process of the HLPF.
• On 13 January 2020, the President of the General Assembly appointed the Permanent Representative of Benin and the Permanent Representative of Georgia to facilitate the intergovernmental negotiations related to the implementation of the resolution 72/305 on ECOSOC strengthening and the HLPF resolutions (67/290 and 70/299). 
  
   

STATEMENTS

• Co-facilitators’ remarks for the virtual information consultations on ECOSOC/HLPF review (8 April 2020)

LETTERS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, informing that the silence procedure on the draft resolution entitled, “Review process of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 67/290 and 70/299 on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level and resolution 72/305 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council” concluded successfully (03 August 2020)
• Letter dated 30 July 2020 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, informing that the silence procedure on the draft resolution is extended until Monday, 3 August 2020 at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) (30 July 2020)
• Letter dated 28 July 2020 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, sharing the revised draft resolution (28 July 2020) 
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, on the breaking of the silence procedure (9 July 2020)
• Letter dated 7 July 2020 from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, sharing the final draft resolution (7 July 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum (29 June 2020) 
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, conveying the rescheduled date and time for the virtual consultation (12 June 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, conveying the revised draft resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review to be discussed at the virtual consultation to be convened on 15 June 2020 (8 June 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum, conveying the inputs received from delegations (21 May 2020) 
• Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum on the virtual informal consultations taking place on 8 May 2020 (5 May 2020)
• Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum on the zero draft of the GA resolution for the HLPF/ECOSOC review (24 April 2020)
• Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum announcing a virtual consultation to discuss the way forward for the HLPF/ECOSOC Review in light of the COVID-19 pandemic on 8 April 2020 at 3 p.m. (6 April 2020)
• Letter by the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum (1 April 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum (18 March 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum (5 March 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF, conveying the dates of the forthcoming thematic review meetings (26 February 2020)
• Letter from the co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations for the review process of the ECOSOC and the HLPF resolutions (3 February 2020)
• Letter on the appointment of co-facilitators for the intergovernmental negotiations related to the ECOSOC and the HLPF (13 January 2020)
• Letter by the President of the General Assembly and the President of ECOSOC on the Group of Friends of the VNRs,(14 November 2019)

MAJOR DOCUMENTS RELATED TO ECOSOC AND HLPF MANDATES

• United Nations Charter (1945): Chapter IX: “International economic and social cooperation” and Chapter X: “The Economic and Social Council”
• A/RES/32/197 (1977): Restructuring of the economic and social sectors of the UN System
• A/RES/45/264 (1991): Restructuring and revitalization of the UN in the economic, social and related field's
• A/RES/48/162 (1993): Further measures for the restructuring and revitalization of the UN in the economic, social and related fields
• A/RES/50/227 (1996): Further measures for the restructuring and revitalization of the UN in the economic, social and related fields
• A/RES/53/12B (1997): Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform
• A/RES/60/1 (2005): World Summit Outcome Document
• A/RES/61/16 (2006): Strengthening of the Economic and Social Council
• A/RES/66/288 (2012): The Future We Want
• A/RES/67/290 (2013): Format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development
• A/RES/68/1 (2013): Review of the implementation of GA resolution 61/16 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council
• A/RES/70/1 (2015): Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• A/RES/70/299 (2016): Follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level
• A/RES/72/305 (2018): Review of the implementation of GA resolution 68/1 on the strengthening of the ECOSOC
• A/RES/74/4 (2019): Political Declaration of the HLPF convened under the auspices of the General Assembly

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

• Non-papers for the Consultations:
  • Non-paper by the co-facilitators “High-level political forum on sustainable development: thematic reviews, VNRs and HLPF-related issues”
  • Non-paper by the co-facilitators “Review of the implementation of GA resolution 72/305 on Strengthening the Economic and Social Council”

• Secretariat’s Issue Briefs on ECOSOC’s work and roles
  • Brief I:  ECOSOC mandates and evolution of functions
  • Brief II: ECOSOC Policy Dialogue and Guidance
  • Brief III: ECOSOC Guiding and promoting a coherent and coordinated UN system
  • Brief IV: ECOSOC Subsidiary bodies
  • Brief V: ECOSOC’s Relationship with the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council
  • Brief VI: ECOSOC and Countries in Special Situations
  • Brief VII: ECOSOC Addressing Emergency Issues

• Other Relevant Background Documents:
  • Summary of the Expert Group Meeting on “The Way Forward – Strengthening ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development” held at UNHQ in New York, 3 to 4 December 2019
  • Summary of the Expert Group Meeting on “Lessons learned from the first cycle of the HLPF” held at UNHQ in New York, 6 to 7 May 2019.
  • HLPF thematic session on “Lessons learned from the first cycle of the HLPF and Messages for the 2019 HLPF Summit”, 18 July 2019
  • Background note of the HLPF thematic session on “Lessons learned from the first cycle of HLPF and Messages for 2019 HLPF Summit: What should Heads of State and Government know and how can we improve the HLPF?”, 18 July 2019.
  • Results of the Survey on the HLPF: Evaluation after 4 years