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18 new members elected to UN council for economic, social affairs

25 October 2011 02:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN General Assembly on Monday voted for 18 new members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The new members elected were Belarus, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Lesotho, Libya, Nigeria, Spain and Turkey.

These new members will begin their three-year terms on the council beginning on Jan. 1, 2012.

ECOSOC is the coordinating body for the economic and social work of the UN’s agencies and funds. It serves as a forum for discussing related policy matters as well as making recommendations. At any given time, 54 nations serve on ECOSOC, and are elected for overlapping terms based on geographic groupings to ensure that a diversity of regions are represented.

In addition to the 18 new members, three countries are vacating their seats before their terms have expired, requiring replacements.

The Netherlands will replace Belgium, and will serve until the end of 2012 in Belgium’s place. Hungary and Norway are also relinquishing their terms, which last until the end of 2013, to Bulgaria and Switzerland, respectively.

The ECOSOC has 54 members, who serve for three-year terms. Voting in the Council is by simple majority, each member has one vote.

Through its discussion of international economic and social issues and its policy recommendations, the ECOSOC plays a key role in fostering inter cooperation for development and in setting the priorities for action.

ECOSOC election procedures follow the General Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. Election requires a two-thirds majority and the largest number of votes. Members hold staggered terms of three years, and membership can be renewed immediately after it expires on Dec. 31.