The new president of ECOSOC, Lachezara Stoeva of Bulgaria, gave a hammer blow for the first time on Monday with a wish to transform the world into "a better place for the people of today and tomorrow".
Ms. Stoeva said in her opening statement that she was honored to have been elected head of one of the un's principal organs, while noting that the next session will be "particularly difficult for the world."
In addition to the coronavirus recovery, she highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has "triggered massive food insecurity, energy shortages and financial crises."
The new head of ECOSOC continued her speech by talking about the initiatives to be put in place to help overcome "the crises that have engulfed our societies".
Setting your agenda
As EcoSOC President, Ms Stoeva said her first priority was to ensure that the Council and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) provide "strong, evidence-based, innovative and achievable policy guidance" to curb and address the impacts of the pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Second, it aims to help bridge the "great financial gap" that has severely reduced the ability of many developing countries to recover.
Its third priority is to advance preparations for the SDG Summit to be held in September 2023, creating momentum and reviving "the passion that has characterized the development and implementation of the SDGs", which were agreed in 2015.
Fourthly, it aims to build on the success of this year's humanitarian affairs debate to "support and strengthen" the Organization and its humanitarian partners in addressing "profound humanitarian challenges" around the world.
Fifthly, Ms. Stoeva aimed to follow up on the recommendations made to ECOSOC in the Secretary-General's "Our Common Agenda" action plan, while her sixth priority would be to provide better access to youth, civil society and others.
Its final priority will be to implement the recommendations adopted by the General Assembly in June 2021 to reform the work of ECOSOC and HLPF.
Ms. Stoeva took up her duties as Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations in February last year and served as Vice-President of ECOSOC, responsible for the management segment, where she successfully led the Council's review of functional commissions and expert bodies.
