On July 17, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a keynote address virtually at 2020’s High-Level Segment (HLS) of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session held at the United Nations in New York, United States (US). The theme of this 2020 ECOSOC HLS was “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”.
- This was the first address by PM to the UN membership since India elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the term 2021-22.
- This was the second time that PM Narendra Modi addressed the ECOSOC after the 70th anniversary of the ECOSOC in January 2016.
Key Points from address:
-India has maintained its role as a first responder, as Indian government and Indian pharma companies have ensured medicine supplies to different countries amid COVID-19 crisis.
-There is a long association of India with the ECOSOC and the UN’s developmental work including for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For eg: India’s developmental motto of ‘SabkaSaath, SabkaVikaas, Sabka Vishwas’ (‘Together, for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust’) resonates with the core SDG principle of leaving no one behind.
Points to be noted:
-The first president of ECOSOC, i.e. in 1946, was an Indian named Ramaswami Mudaliar.
-India was among the 50 founding members of the United Nations (UN), which now has 193 member countries.
-UN will mark its 75th anniversary on September, 21 2020 on the theme, ‘The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism’.
About United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
President– Mona Juul
Headquarter– New York, United States (US)
