THE UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) derives its existence from Chapter X of
UNCH. 1

COMPOSITION
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been actively engaged with the United
Nations (UN) since its inception in 1945. Article 71 of the United Nations Charter, which
established the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), states the following:
The Economic and Social Council may make suit-able arrangements for
consultation with non-governmental organizations which are concerned with
matters within its competence. Such arrangements may be made with international
organizations and, where appropriate, with national organizations after
consultation with the Member of the United Nations concerned.2
The Economic and Social Council is a principal organ of the UN which is responsible for
economic and social matters within the UN. It has been described as an organ of very
wide terms of reference but of limited powers. 3
It is composed of 54 members who serve for three years and each member has one vote as
described, All Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55.
4

They are elected by the General Assembly through staggered elections so as to ensure

some continuity. The amendment of Article 61 of the Charter, decided upon in Resolution
2847 (XXVI), establishes five categories of members corresponding to the following
groups: African, Asian, Latin-American, W. European and others, E. European. Any

Paul Sieghart, the International Law of Human Rights, (Clarendon Press Oxford, 1983), 423.
United Nations Charter, Chapter X, Article 71.
3
D.W. Greig, International Law, 2nd ed. (Butterworth & Co. Publishers Ltd, 1976), 773.
4
Blackstone, Edited by P. R. Ghandhi, International Human Rights Documents, Chapter: UN Charter
(1945), page # 16, Article#56.
2

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member of the UN can participate if there is a matter of particular concern to that Member
but without a right to vote.5

VOTING
There is one vote for each member and the decisions is being made by a simple majority
of the members present and voting.6

MEETINGS
The Council generally holds two regular sessions a year, each one month long, in New
York and Geneva.7

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

ECOSOC works under the authority of the General Assembly. 8
Article 62 of UN Charter describes its functions in various ways.
i.

Studies: Under Article 62 of UN Charter, it can make or initiate studies of a general

character and quite specific and restricted character. In general character, the study
request of Secretary General on the economic development of under developed
countries and in its restricted character such as the study of the effects of chewing
coca leaf undertaken by a commission of inquiry dispatched to Peru.

ii.

Recommendations: It may make recommendations under Article 62(1) or,

without being related to any particular study under Article 62(2). Under Article
62(1), it may make recommendations with respect to international economic,
social, cultural, educational and health to the General Assembly, to the Members

D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, (London: The London Institute of World Affairs
Publishers), 61.
6
Edmund Jan Osmanczyk, the Encyclopedia of The United Nations and International Agreements,
(London: Taylor and Francis, 1985 Philadelphia), 225.
7
Ibid.
8
Blackstone, Edited by P. R. Ghandhi, International Human Rights Documents, Chapter: UN Charter
(1945), page # 16, Article#60.

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of the United Nations, and to the specialized agencies concerned. Under Article
62(2), it may also make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect
for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
iii.

Draft Conventions: It may make draft conventions for submission to the General
Assembly, which adopts them and opens them for signature; the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was dealt with in this way.
[Article # 62(3)].

iv.

Calling of conferences: Under Article 62(4), international conferences can be

called in accordance with the rules prescribed by the United Nations and apart from
their function in relation to a draft convention prepared by the Council where the
work cannot be done by an organ of the United Nations. Conferences can be of an
international or a regional character as about health, trade and employment,
transport and refugees. It can be of non-governmental in character, such as the
World Population Conference of 1954 and UN Scientific Conferences on the
Conservation and Utilizations of Resources, 1949.9

ASSISTANCE TO OTHER ORGANS, STATES AND

SPECIALIZED AGENCIES
The Council shall assist to two other main organs; to the Security Council under Article 65
and to the General Assembly under Article 66(1) and (3). It may also assist member states
and specialized agencies with the approval of the General Assembly.10
Example of assistance to States in the field of technical assistance which until the end of
1965 flowed through three main channels.
Firstly, there was the regular program carried on by the Council independently of
the specialized agencies.

D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, (London: The London Institute of World Affairs
Publishers), 63.
10
Blackstone, Edited by P. R. Ghandhi, International Human Rights Documents, Chapter: UN Charter
(1945), page # 17, Article#65 and 66.

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 Secondly, there was the Expanded Program of Technical Assistance carried out by
it together with 10 participating specialized agencies with a Technical Assistance
Committee of the Council.
Thirdly, there was the Special Fund, 1st established in 1958 and based entirely on
voluntary contributions from member States and controlled by its own Governing
Council and Consultative Board.11

WORK WITH AND BETWEEN THE SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

One of the important tasks for the Council is to envisage various specialized agencies to
co-ordination the work of these to bring it into relationship with the UN (Article 57 and
63). At present there are agreements with 12 specialized agencies, some of these are; the
International Telecommunications Union, Universal Postal Union, International Labour
Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization and
International Finance Corporation etc.12

RELATIONS WITH THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL

ORGANIZATIONS
The intergovernmental agencies are separate, autonomous organizations related to the
United Nations by special agreements. They have their own membership, legislative and
executive bodies, secretariats and budgets, but they work with the UN and with each other
through the coordinating machinery of the Economic and Social Council. These are almost
15 agencies consisting, ILO, FAO, WHO, UNESCO, IFC, IMF, WIPO and WMO.13

11

D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, (London: The London Institute of World Affairs
Publishers), page # 63-64.
12
D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, (London: The London Institute of World Affairs
Publishers, page # 65-66.
13
Edmund Jan Osmanczyk, The Encyclopedia of The United Nations and International Agreements,
(London: Taylor and Francis, 1985 Philadelphia), page # 225.

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RELATIONS WITH THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL

ORGANIZATIONS
The Council recognizes that these organizations should have the opportunity to express
their views, and that they often possess special experience or technical knowledge that
would be of value to the Council in its work. Organization of consultative status may also
consult with the UN Secretariat on matters of mutual concern. These organizations may
send observers to public meeting of the Council and its subsidiary bodies and may submit
written statements relevant to the work of the Council. 14

THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE OF ECOSOC

Article 68 gives power to set up commission as prescribed in UN Charter,
ECOSOC shall set up commissions in economic and social fields and for the
promotion of human rights, and such other commissions as may be required for the
performance of its functions.15
These commissions vary in types, structure, functions and composition but may be grouped
into three classes.
I.
III.

Functional commissions

II.

Regional commissions

Other bodies
I.

Functional Commissions: These are 6 in number, with one sub

commission and include bodies such as the Commission on Human
Rights, the Commission for Social Development, the Population
Commission, the Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic
Drugs and the Commission on the Status of Women.

14

Edmund Jan Osmanczyk, The Encyclopedia of The United Nations and International Agreements,
(London: Taylor and Francis, 1985 Philadelphia), page # 225.
15
Blackstone, Edited by P. R. Ghandhi, International Human Rights Documents, Chapter: UN Charter
(1945), page # 17, Article#68.

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II.

Regional Commissions: these were unforeseen but experience has shown

that economic and social problems vary tremendously by region and can
thus be better considered at a regional level. So now there exist five such
commissions.16
ECOSOC has created a number of subsidiary organs, five regional
commissions for Africa, the Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and The
Caribbean, and Western Asia.17

III.

Other bodies: Certain other bodies have been established to gain special
need which does not fall in the above two categories.18

16

D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, (London: The London Institute of World Affairs
Publishers), 70-71.
17
Malcolm D. Evans, International Law, Oxford University Press, page#295.
18
D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, (London: The London Institute of World Affairs
Publishers), page # 70-71.

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REFERENCES
Blackstone, Edited by P. R. Ghandhi, International Human Rights Documents, Chapter: UN
Charter (1945), page # 16, Article#55, 56 and 60.
Blackstone, Edited by P. R. Ghandhi, International Human Rights Documents, Chapter: UN
Charter (1945), page # 17, Article#65, 66 and 68.
D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, page # 61 and 63-66, The London
Institute of World Affairs Publishers.
D. W. Bowett, The law of International Institutions, page # 70-71, The London Institute of
World Affairs Publishers.
D.W. Greig, International Law, Second Edition, page#773, Butterworth & Co. (Publishers)
Ltd. 1976.
Edmund Jan Osmanczyk, The Encyclopedia of The United Nations and International
Agreements, page # 225, Taylor and Francis, 1985 Philadelphia London.
Malcolm D. Evans, International Law, page#295, Oxford University Press.
Paul Sieghart, The International Law of Human Rights, page # 423, Clarendon Press,
Oxford 1983.
United Nations Charter, Chapter X, Article 71.

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