It is responsible under the General
Assembly for co-ordinating the functions of the UN or the
issues of economic, social, cultural, educational, health
and other related matters. Round the year the work of the
Council is carried out by related organisations, specialised
agencies and subsidiary bodies, com- missions and
committees. The features of the Council are furnished below
:
(i) The Council consists of 54 member states which
are elected by two-third majority of the General Assembly
for a three year term.
(ii) Members elected represent the under-mentioned
geographical representation :
Africa : 14 members
Asia: 11 members
Eastern Europe : 6 members
Latin America and Caribbean : 10
members
Western Europe and other states:
13 members
(iii) One-third of the
member-states retire each year, but the retiring member can
seek immediate reelection.
(iv) Decisions are taken by a Majority of members
present and Vote.
(v) The Council holds one four week substantive
session in a year alternating between New York and Geneva.
(vi) One organisational session is held in New York.
(vii) The substantative session is a high level
session attended by the Ministers to discuss the following
matters :
Major economic and social issues
(viii) Special session of the Council may also be
held, if requisite.
(ix) President of the Council is elected for one year
and can also seek immediate re-election.
(x) ECO-SOC has the under-mentioned subsidiary
machinery.
Nine functional commissions,
Statistical Commission, Commission on Population and
Development, Commission for Social Development, Commission
on Human Rights and Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,
Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Narcotic
Drugs and Sub-Commission on ll1icit Drug Traffic and
Related Matters in the Near and Middle
East, Commission on Service and Technology for
Development, Commission on Crime Prevention Criminal
Justice, and Commission on Sustainable Development.
(xi) Five Regional Economic
Commissions: Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa and
Ethiopia (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Asia
Pacific, Bangkok and Thailand (ESCAP),
Economic Commission for Europe
(ECE), Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean,
Santiago, Chile (ECLAC), Economic
Commission for Western Asia,
Beirut and Lebanon (ESCWA).
(xii) Nine Standing Committees
and subsidiary expert bodies: Committee for Programme and
Co-ordination, Commission on Human
Settlements, Committee on Non-Government Organizations, Committee on Natural Resources, Committee for Development
Planning, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
Committee on New and Renewable
Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development, Ad-hoc
Group of Experts on International Co- operation in Tax
Matters, Committee of Experts on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods.
(xiii) Other related operational programmes, Funds
and Special Bodies are :
United Nations Children Fund
Office of the UN High commission
for Refugees
UN Conference on Trade and
Development
UN Development Programme
World Food Programme
International Research and Training
Institution for the Advancement of women
UN International Drug Control
Programme
(xiv) The Council may also
carry out consultations with international, non-governmental
organizations, member concerned and with national
organizations to make arrangements.
Over 1,000 non-governmental
organizations have consultation status with the Council.
Subsidary bodies may also consult
with the UN Secretariat on matters of mutual concern.
