Bangkok, 28 May 2022 (TDI): The President of UN ECOSOC, Collen Vixen Kelapile met the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Vijavat Isarabhakdi. The two officials discussed the trends and practices for the follow-up of 2030 sustainable development.

Both discussed the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model to promote balance in the environmental and economic growth. They discussed the distance Covid-19 has created and dampened the entire world.

Technology is the only source and tool which can bring the people to gather again and it can manage to face complex challenges by offering scientific, innovative, and technological solutions.

Thailand at UN ECOSOC

On the 14 of June 2019, Thailand was elected as a member of UN ECOSOC for the term 2020-2022 in New York. Thailand is among the four countries of Asia-Pacific including China, Bangladesh, and South Korea elected for ECOSOC.

Thailand has always played a significant role in advancing social and development agendas which can closely relate itself to the functions of UN ECOSOC.

By becoming a member of the Council, Thailand can participate closely in the formulation of development programs and policies. Moreover, it can facilitate the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Particularly, the achievements of SDGs through the implementation of the Sufficiency Economy philosophy and the development of science, technology, and innovation as well as the maximization of the contributors to the UN development system.

Thailand has always played active and promotional roles in advancing social, cultural, educational, and health programs which goes well versant with the UN ECOSOC agendas.

For instance, the extension of universal health coverage, and the adoption of health safety and security measures to prevent and reduce the risk of health emergencies caused by natural disasters.

UN Economic and Social Council: An Overview

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates the work of the 14 United Nations specialized agencies, ten functional commissions, and five regional commissions, and receives reports from nine UN funds.

ECOSOC is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, helping in creating employment, and looking after economic and social growth.

Likewise, ECOSOC helps the countries in identifying the solutions to their problems, as well as facilitates the international, cultural and educational cooperation by strengthening the idea of respect for human rights and fundamental freedom.

ECOSOC’s purview extends over 70% of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system. It has 54 member governments elected by the UN General Assembly for a term of three years.

ECOSOC was founded by Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar on 26 June 1945 as a principal organ of the United Nations with its headquarters in New York City, United States, and Geneva, Switzerland with Collen Vixen Kelapile as the 77th President since 23 July 2021.

Currently, he is also serving as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Botswana to the UN. The President is elected for one year term chosen from small or medium size states’ representation.

The Presidency rotates around United Nations regional groups in order to ensure equal and unbiased representation. In addition to rotating membership of 54 member states, it has over 1,600 non-governmental and civil society organizations with a status of consultative bodies.

ECOSOC is comprised of two commissions; Active Functional Commission and Regional Commission. The Active Functional Commission is related to Narcotic Drugs, population and development, science and technology, the status of women, statistics, social development, crime prevention and criminal justice, and human rights forum on the forests, and sustainable development.

While the Regional Commission includes Economic Commission for Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific as well as the Social Commission for Western Asia.

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