Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), its current President highlighted the organ\u2019s central role in realizing the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a rich history in ECOSOC, but the bar has been raised,\u201d the Council\u2019s President, Oh Joon, told UN officials and delegates attending the commemoration at UN Headquarters in New York.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must deepen our thrust to work with Member States and other stakeholders to meet the growing expectations for transforming the world for the benefit of mankind,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
ECOSOC\u2019s inaugural meeting was convened in January 1946 in London, with Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar of India chairing as its first President. Since then, the 54-member body has served as the central platform of the UN to address global economic, social and related issues. Indeed, at the centre of the UN development system, ECOSOC conduct cutting-edge analysis, agrees on global norms and advocates for progress towards collective solutions to advance sustainable development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council\u2019s primary role has been the formulation of policy recommendations for Member States and the coordination of development action by the UN system,\u201d Mr. Oh explained. \u201cSeventy years on, the United Nations achieved another significant milestone by adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/a> in September last year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n ECOSOC\u2019s President described the new Agenda are being based on decades of devotion to advancing development. \u201cIt reflects a remarkable evolution in international development thinking since the United Nations was created in the aftermath of World War II. I believe that the work of this Council has been pivotal to that evolution,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n