ECOSOC 27TH JULY 2007

General Segment



The following draft resolutions have been adopted by the Council:

Ø Item 4. The role of the UN system in promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all
Draft resolution submitted by the Vice-President of the Council, Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (Philippines), on the basis of informal consultations, on the role of the ECOSOC in the integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes and the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits, in light of relevant GA resolutions, including resolution 61/16.
Document E/2007/L.32
Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (Philippines), on the basis of informal consultations on the theme of the 2008 coordination segment
Document E/2007/L.33

Ø Item 6. Implementation of and follow-up to major UN conferences and summits
(a) Draft resolution submitted by Mexico, on the follow-up to the international conference on financing for development
Document E/2007/L.31
(b) Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès (Haiti), on the basis of informal consultations, on the implementation of the programme of action for least developed countries for the decade 2001-2010
Document E/2007/L.36

Ø Item 7. Coordination, programme and other questions
(h) Joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Draft resolution submitted by Australia, Barbados, Benin, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Document E/2007/L.23

Ø Items 7(e). Mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the UN system
And 14(a). Advancement of women
Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès (Haiti), on the basis of the informal consultations, on Mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the UN system
Document E/2007/L.28

Ø Item 13. Economic and environmental questions
(a) sustainable development
- Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès (Haiti), on the basis on informal consultations, on the Report of the Committee for development policy on its ninth session
Document E/2007/L.34
- Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès, on the basis of informal consultations, on the Report of the Committee for development policy on its eighth session
Document E/2007/L.35
In consequence, the draft resolution submitted by the US, on the report of the Committee for development policy on its eighth session, Document E/2007/L.9, has been removed.
- Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès, on the basis of information consultations, on the UN Public-Private Alliance for rural development
Document E/2007/L.37

Ø Item 14. Social and human rights questions
(a) Advancement of women
Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès, on the basis of informal consultations
This draft resolution has been adopted by the council as emendated by the secretariat: Future work to strengthen the International Research and Training Institute for the advancement of women, on the behalf of the Group of 77 and China
Document E/2007/L.29


The following points have been deferred by the Council to the next session of ECOSOC:

Ø Item 13. Economic and environmental questions
(e) Environment
Report of the SG, on the products harmful to health and the environment
Document E/2007/62
(g) Public administration and development
Recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration, on its sixth session
Document E/2007/44
(h) International cooperation in tax matter
Draft resolution submitted by the VP of the Council, Léo Mérorès, on the basis of informal consultations, on the Committee of experts on international cooperation in tax matters
Document E/2007/L.30
And the programme budget implications thereto contained in the document E/2007/L.16

Ø Item 14. Social and human rights questions
(i) genetic privacy and non-discrimination
Report of the SG on Genetic privacy and non-discrimination
Document E/2007/65 and Add.1 and Add.2



Statement by Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary General for economic and social affairs, delivered by Mr. Nikhil Seth, Director, Office of ECOSOC support and coordination, department of economic and social affairs,

There are four clear messages that have come out of the discussions during the Development Cooperation Forum’s launch.
Firstly, a key challenge in cooperating for development lies in making the process truly country-driven and inclusive.
Secondly, predictable and stable funding coupled with effective monitoring of aid quality should be seen as essential components of efforts to enhance the impact of development cooperation.
Thirdly, the growing importance of South-South and triangular cooperation cannot be overemphasized.
Finally, broad agreement exists on a number of principles on promoting effective and coherent international development cooperation.
The spirit of partnerships was a defining feature of the substantive session.

The other segments of the Council covered a wide range of issues. Indeed, the 2006 Ministerial declaration has truly mobilized the UN system and governments in making employment and decent work a central objective of their policies and activities.
The Council’s work in the humanitarian segment has moved from strength to strength.
This year is one for TCPR and thus an important policy year for the UN’s operational activities.
Moreover, by extending the mandates of the Ad-hoc Advisory groups on Haiti and Guinea-Bissau, the Council has once again established the unique contribution it can make to the long-term development of such countries.
The Council has had a successful session, and this would not have been possible without the active support of civil society.
Moreover, some of the issues also required urgent action. First, the innovation, energy and dynamism that the council has witnessed in the high-level segment need to permeate other segment as well, particularly the general segment.
Second, the Council needs to decide on the multi-year programme of work for the Annual Ministerial Review.
Third, the Council would welcome early volunteers for the National Presentations during the Reviews. The council take also this opportunity to thank the Netherlands for its offer to make a presentation next year.
Fourth, countries should convene regional consultations for the Annual Ministerial Review and symposia for the Development Cooperation Forum.
To conclude, the Council needs to pursue each of these issues with vigour, intensity and a sense of urgency.



Closing remarks by H.E. Mr. Dalius Cekuolis, President of ECOSOC

There were two possible future scenarios for ECOSOC; one was for the Council to gradually drift towards irrelevance and oblivion, and the other one was for the Council to thoroughly renew itself in order to fully meet the high expectations under which it was established. This session has contributed to promoting the second scenario.
Indeed the Council should be the central platform for realizing the UN development agenda.
The high point of the Annual Ministerial Review was the national presentations by the Ministers of six developing countries, which became an occasion for knowledge sharing and information exchange.
By selecting related themes for the AMR, the Council has effectively tackled one of the fundamental issues of development, “poverty eradication”, from various perspectives.
Moreover, the Ministerial Declaration, adopted by consensus, sends the important message that the international community is united in dealing with the obstacles in the realization of MDG-1.
The agreement to further extend the Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on Guinea-Bissau and Haiti is a clear recognition of the useful contribution ECOSOC can make by promoting an integrated approach in the area of post-conflict peace-building.
But, the positive outcome of this session reflects both the thorough preparations and the full and active engagement by all stakeholders throughout the process.
It is absolutely critical for the success of the next sessions that all stakeholders remain actively engaged in their preparations and the session itself.