Your Excellency, Ambassador Rae,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Thapa,
Distinguished members of the 2025 and 2026 ECOSOC Bureaux,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
I am honoured to join you today as the Economic and Social Council marks the conclusion of a successful session and looks to the challenges of the next.
My sincere congratulations to Ambassador Bob Rae and the entire outgoing ECOSOC Bureau from Costa Rica, Equatorial Guinea, Nepal, and Poland. Your able leadership has been instrumental in steering the work of the Council to deliver an impactful session.
You have raised the Council’s profile and visibility, powerfully demonstrating its vital role in multilateralism at the heart of the UN’ development pillar.
Through its convening power – across segments, forums and special meetings–the Council has shown its continued relevance and demonstrated its capacity to fulfil the Charter mandates.
I warmly welcome and congratulate the new President of ECOSOC, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa of Nepal, and members of the incoming Bureau.
Ambassador Thapa, your outstanding work as ECOSOC Vice-President, Chair of the Least Developed Countries and co-facilitator of the “Sevilla Commitment” of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) gives us great confidence. Your proven commitment ensures that ECOSOC is in capable hands to deliver for all.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
In today’s interconnected world, global challenges demand stronger cooperation to achieve sustainable solutions.
With less than five years remaining to achieve the SDGs and only 35 per cent of targets currently on track or showing moderate progress, urgent action is needed more than ever before.
ECOSOC’s role is central: to forge consensus, provide policy guidance, and mobilize coordinated action and follow-up.
The Council’s 80th anniversary in January 2026 offers a timely opportunity to reflect on its contributions and reaffirm its mandate for our time.
The upcoming review by the Council of its subsidiary bodies, and the review by the General Assembly of ECOSOC and HLPF, are key opportunities to ensure that the full potential of ECOSOC is realized.
The Council will be at the forefront of translating commitments from FFD4 into concrete action. This will require sustained and active engagement by Member States and other stakeholders, as well as coordinated follow-up by the Council.
The Second World Summit for Social Development in November will be a pivotal moment to address persistent gaps in social development, from eradicating poverty to promoting full employment and decent work, and strengthening social inclusion.
It will be important for the Council to ensure an integrated, coordinated and inclusive follow-up to the outcome of this Summit to fulfil the promise of leaving no one behind.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
I urge all Member States to continue actively engage with the Council to advance the implementation of its mandates and the realization of the SDGs.
DESA stands ready to provide our full support to ensure a successful and impactful session.
Thank you.