India along with 17 other countries has been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2022-24 term beginning on January 1, 2022. India was elected in the Asia-Pacific States Category along with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Oman.
- ECOSOC is one of the 6 main organs of the UN. It is the coordinating body for the economic and social work of UN agencies and funds
- ECOSOC’s 54 members are elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly.
Other Countries to get elected
i.From the African States, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Mauritius, Tunisia and Tanzania were elected.
ii.From the eastern European states – Croatia, Czech Republic were elected.
iii.From the Latin American and Carribean states, Belize, Chile and Peru were elected.
iv.Meanwhile in the Economic and Social Council by-election –
- Greece, New Zealand and Denmark were elected for a term of office from January-December 2022, and
- Israel was elected for a term of office beginning January 1, 2022 till December 31, 2023.
Note – India is currently serving the 2021-22 term as a non-permanent member of the powerful UN Security Council and is set to assume the Presidency of the UNSC in August, 2021.
ECOSOC
It is one of the 6 principal organs of the UN and it coordinates economic, social, and related work of the fourteen UN specialized agencies, functional commissions and 5 regional commissions.
- ECOSOC’s seats on the council are allotted based on geographical representation with 14 allocated to African states, 11 to Asian States, 6 to eastern European states, 10 to Latin American and Caribbean states and 13 to western European and other states.
Recent Related News:
April 21, 2021, India was elected by acclamation (a form of election that does not use a ballot) to 3 bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It has been elected to the 3 bodies for a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2022.
About UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
President – Munir Akram
Established in – 1945
Headquarters – New York, USA
Members – 54