January 2016 marks the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Since its first meeting in London in 1946, under the inaugural Presidency of Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar of India, ECOSOC has served as the central platform of the UN for addressing global economic, social and related issues. At the centre of the UN development system, ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies conduct cutting-edge analysis, agree on global norms and advocate for progress towards collective solutions to advance sustainable development.
ECOSOC’s work in support of the implementation and follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda will be broad. It will include advancing a balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development through an annual main theme as well as addressing specific areas and issues, such as financing for development, humanitarian affairs and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. This will involve the ECOSOC system as a whole and include a wide range of development stakeholders and actors.
