Your Excellency, Ambassador Mona Juul,Your Excellency, Ambassador Munir Akram,Distinguished members of both the outgoing Bureau and incoming Bureau of ECOSOCExcellencies,Distinguished Delegates,Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to join you today as we mark the transition from one cycle of the Economic and Social Council to the next.
I first wish to congratulate Her Excellency Ambassador Mona Juul, the outgoing President of ECOSOC and all the members of her Bureau. Ambassador Juul, during your tenure, you were confronted with an unprecedented crisis with widespread human, social, and economic impacts for the entire world.
But, with her skillful leadership, Ambssador Mona Juul was able to adapt to the complex circumstances to complete a very substantive 2020 session of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum.
Please allow me to share with you a few reflections as follows:The Bureau allowed the Council to respond urgently to the COVID-19 pandemic, by organizing a high-level briefing with heads of critical UN system agencies on 11 May 2020.
Just last week, the HLPF broke new ground in many ways. It was the first opportunity to take the full measure of the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SDGs, in a context where we were already running behind to achieve the goals by 2030. It also called for a multilateral response to COVID-19 and international solidarity with the most vulnerable countries and people. And it affirmed that the response to COVID-19 is the opportunity to build the kind of socio-economic systems and societies that will take us to the SDGs in 2030. It looked at ways to improve the well-being of all and ensure that no one is left behind.
The ECOSOC High-level Segment had a visionary discussion about multilateralism and the United Nations we want in the aftermath of COVID-19. It paved the ground for the United Nations commemoration of its 75th Anniversary in September.
I encourage delegations to continue consultations to reach agreement on an ambitious Ministerial Declaration that will give good guidance for a global response to COVID-19. Indeed, this would help put us on track for achieving the SDGs.
Over the past year, and with the able leadership of the Vice-President, Ambassador Sandoval, ECOSOC reflected on the UN development system’s repositioning to the next level. The operational activities segment considered how the United Nations development system can help developing countries respond to COVID-19, while keeping the compass on long term development goals. It showed that the repositioning reforms have prepared the UN development system for effectively supporting countries. It also paved the ground for the General Assembly review of UN system operational activities (the QCPR) in the coming fall.
In addition, I look forward to the adoption of the ECOSOC resolution on Operational Activities for Development. This resolution can provide important guidance to the United Nations development system on the next steps of the reform at the regional level and in multi-country office settings. It will enable the system to continue forging ahead to make the Organization deliver better results on the ground.
The humanitarian affairs segment discussed ways to ensure coordinated responses to the pandemic – with Member States and the UN system – while responding to today’s continuing multiple emergencies.
In confronting the current crisis, ECOSOC, through its Financing for Development Forum, advanced the policy reflection on mobilizing well directed financial resources for the SDGs. The ECOSOC FFD Forum, even though it had to be scaled down, adopted the first intergovernmentally agreed document on COVID-19 and its impact on financing for development.
I also salute the efforts of the outgoing President to firmly position ECOSOC at the heart of the United Nations architecture. She was able to solidify the close working relationship between the General Assembly and ECOSOC and between their Presidents. They showed a united front to respond to the impacts of the pandemic and ensure business continuity. In addition, ECOSOC deepened the relationship with the 国产AVbuilding Commissions. It also opened up the annual meeting with the Chairs of functional commissions and other subsidiary bodies to all Member States. This allowed Member States to hear about the breadth of the work carried out in the ECOSOC family and identify challenges and coordination issues.
Overall, the impact and visibility of ECOSOC, as a Charter body, has been increased. It has demonstrated critical responsiveness to the dramatic crisis we are facing.
Your Excellency Ambassador Akram,
Allow me to warmly welcome and congratulate you for your assumption as the new President of ECOSOC. Having already served as President in 2005, your competence, your experience and deep knowledge of this body are a guarantee of success for the work of the Council. I also wish to welcome all other members of the incoming Bureau.
My Department, UN DESA, looks forward to engaging with you on the priorities for this Presidency. Indeed, we look forward to identifying new avenues for DESA to provide support to the efforts of the Council in promoting the 2030 Agenda.
I look forward to the guidance from you, Mr. President and your Bureau.
I also look forward to the decision of the General Assembly on the theme of ECOSOC and the HLPF. This will allow my Department to begin its early preparations for ECOSOC and its forums and segments, as well as the HLPF.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let us together, strengthen our cooperation and stay focused on the SDGs in order to build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic. At the start of the new decade of action and delivery, the 2030 Agenda remains our guiding light towards a sustainable and resilient path, where no one is left behind. ECOSOC and the HLPF have a critical role to show the way forward.
I look forward to supporting the ECOSOC Bureau, as well as all Member States, in the exciting year ahead.
I wish you all a safe, healthy and pleasant summer.
Thank you.
I am pleased to join you today as we mark the transition from one cycle of the Economic and Social Council to the next.
I first wish to congratulate Her Excellency Ambassador Mona Juul, the outgoing President of ECOSOC and all the members of her Bureau. Ambassador Juul, during your tenure, you were confronted with an unprecedented crisis with widespread human, social, and economic impacts for the entire world.
But, with her skillful leadership, Ambssador Mona Juul was able to adapt to the complex circumstances to complete a very substantive 2020 session of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum.
Please allow me to share with you a few reflections as follows:The Bureau allowed the Council to respond urgently to the COVID-19 pandemic, by organizing a high-level briefing with heads of critical UN system agencies on 11 May 2020.
Just last week, the HLPF broke new ground in many ways. It was the first opportunity to take the full measure of the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SDGs, in a context where we were already running behind to achieve the goals by 2030. It also called for a multilateral response to COVID-19 and international solidarity with the most vulnerable countries and people. And it affirmed that the response to COVID-19 is the opportunity to build the kind of socio-economic systems and societies that will take us to the SDGs in 2030. It looked at ways to improve the well-being of all and ensure that no one is left behind.
The ECOSOC High-level Segment had a visionary discussion about multilateralism and the United Nations we want in the aftermath of COVID-19. It paved the ground for the United Nations commemoration of its 75th Anniversary in September.
I encourage delegations to continue consultations to reach agreement on an ambitious Ministerial Declaration that will give good guidance for a global response to COVID-19. Indeed, this would help put us on track for achieving the SDGs.
Over the past year, and with the able leadership of the Vice-President, Ambassador Sandoval, ECOSOC reflected on the UN development system’s repositioning to the next level. The operational activities segment considered how the United Nations development system can help developing countries respond to COVID-19, while keeping the compass on long term development goals. It showed that the repositioning reforms have prepared the UN development system for effectively supporting countries. It also paved the ground for the General Assembly review of UN system operational activities (the QCPR) in the coming fall.
In addition, I look forward to the adoption of the ECOSOC resolution on Operational Activities for Development. This resolution can provide important guidance to the United Nations development system on the next steps of the reform at the regional level and in multi-country office settings. It will enable the system to continue forging ahead to make the Organization deliver better results on the ground.
The humanitarian affairs segment discussed ways to ensure coordinated responses to the pandemic – with Member States and the UN system – while responding to today’s continuing multiple emergencies.
In confronting the current crisis, ECOSOC, through its Financing for Development Forum, advanced the policy reflection on mobilizing well directed financial resources for the SDGs. The ECOSOC FFD Forum, even though it had to be scaled down, adopted the first intergovernmentally agreed document on COVID-19 and its impact on financing for development.
I also salute the efforts of the outgoing President to firmly position ECOSOC at the heart of the United Nations architecture. She was able to solidify the close working relationship between the General Assembly and ECOSOC and between their Presidents. They showed a united front to respond to the impacts of the pandemic and ensure business continuity. In addition, ECOSOC deepened the relationship with the 国产AVbuilding Commissions. It also opened up the annual meeting with the Chairs of functional commissions and other subsidiary bodies to all Member States. This allowed Member States to hear about the breadth of the work carried out in the ECOSOC family and identify challenges and coordination issues.
Overall, the impact and visibility of ECOSOC, as a Charter body, has been increased. It has demonstrated critical responsiveness to the dramatic crisis we are facing.
Your Excellency Ambassador Akram,
Allow me to warmly welcome and congratulate you for your assumption as the new President of ECOSOC. Having already served as President in 2005, your competence, your experience and deep knowledge of this body are a guarantee of success for the work of the Council. I also wish to welcome all other members of the incoming Bureau.
My Department, UN DESA, looks forward to engaging with you on the priorities for this Presidency. Indeed, we look forward to identifying new avenues for DESA to provide support to the efforts of the Council in promoting the 2030 Agenda.
I look forward to the guidance from you, Mr. President and your Bureau.
I also look forward to the decision of the General Assembly on the theme of ECOSOC and the HLPF. This will allow my Department to begin its early preparations for ECOSOC and its forums and segments, as well as the HLPF.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let us together, strengthen our cooperation and stay focused on the SDGs in order to build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic. At the start of the new decade of action and delivery, the 2030 Agenda remains our guiding light towards a sustainable and resilient path, where no one is left behind. ECOSOC and the HLPF have a critical role to show the way forward.
I look forward to supporting the ECOSOC Bureau, as well as all Member States, in the exciting year ahead.
I wish you all a safe, healthy and pleasant summer.
Thank you.
File date:
Thursday, July 23, 2020