The month of February kicked off the ECOSOC season with the inaugural Coordination Segment and the Partnership Forum. The two meetings provided ideas and solutions to inspire and guide the work of the work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies in the coming five months leading up to ECOSOC high-level segment in July. The overall theme for the 2022 cycle of ECOSOC is “Building back better from the corona disease (Covid-19) while advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
Kicking off the ECOSOC season
Inaugural Launch of the Coordination Segment of ECOSOC
The new Coordination Segment of ECOSOC (3-4 February) underscored the importance of theECOSOC systemin responding to COVID-19 and promoting a sustainable and balanced recovery. The Segment identified key areas for the Council, its subsidiary bodies and the UN system to deepen policy reflections, identify innovative solutions or work more closely together throughout the ECOSOC cycle in the lead up to the ECOSOC high-level segment and the high-level political forum (HLPF). (OpeningandClosingStatements /Details)
ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2022
At the ECOSOC Partnership Forum on 2 February 2022, stakeholders from a wide range of sectors, including IFIs, civil society, private sector, academia exchanged new ideas, proposals and priorities on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the recovery from the pandemic. Along with the Coordination Segment, the ECOSOC Partnership Forum aims to inspire the work of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies in the coming months leading up to the high-level segment of ECOSOC. UNDESA published a summary report of the global online stakeholders forum, which preceded the Partnership Forum.(Summary - Global Online Stakeholder Consultation ; Statement / Details)
Other Events in February 2022
60th Session of the Commission for Social Development
The 60th Session of the Commission for Social Development (7-16 February) focused its discussions on the thematic issues of poverty and hunger to enable an inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19 and to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The Session was opened by H.E. Ms. María del Carmen Squeff, Chair of the Commission for Social Development, H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly and H.E. Mr. Collen V. Kelapile, President of ECOSOC, highlighting the need for multilateralism and international cooperation to achieve the 2030 Agenda. (Statement / Details)
Call for International Support for Haiti
The ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti issued a statement on 15 February 2022, urging all partners to contribute to ongoing post recovery efforts after the devastating earthquake of 2021. The Statement was issued the day before the International Conference on the Southern Peninsula of Haiti which took place in Port au Prince, Haiti on 16 February 2022.(Statement / Details)
Galvinizing Momentum for Universal Vaccine
Globally, the pace and reach of Covid-19 vaccines has been uneven and considered as an example of inequality in access to healthcare. H.E. Mr. Collen Kelapile, President of ECOSOC, who participated in the opening of the High Level Meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly, highlighted the urgency of acting now to achieve vaccine equity. (Statement)
Some countries do not have equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines. We are in a race against time and we all must do more, faster. No one is safe until we’re all safe. #VaccinEquity (From WHO YouTube)
24th Session of the Committee for Development Policy
The 24th Session of the Committee for Development Policy-CDP (21-25 February) addressed the current challenges for recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic, in the context of industrial policy. The CDP also analysed the development progress of graduating and recently graduated Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and analyzed the Voluntary National Reviews as part of its support to Governments and Stakeholders in improving their effectiveness. (Statement / Details)
From Commitment to Action - Artificial Intelligence Solutions to the SDGs
The President of ECOSOC participated in a side event, "From Commitment to Action – Presenting the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions for the SDGs" organized by the Permanent Mission of Slovenia and UNESCO’s International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRACI) on 18 February 2022. The side event addressed the benefits of AI in helping countries to achieve the SDGs. (Statement)
Upcoming ECOSOC Events in March
66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
The 66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 14 to 25 March 2022 under the priority theme "Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes". During the session, the theme "Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work" will be reviewed. (Details)
The pandemic has threatened the reversal of progress towards gender equality. We can’t move forward when half the world is held back - here’s what needs to happen to get the World’s To-Do List for gender equality done. (From The GlobalGoals YouTube)
65th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
The Commission of Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policy-making body for the UN drug control system, which meets on an annual basis. The sixty-fifth Session of CND is scheduled for 14-18 March 2022 in Vienna, Austria, as a hybrid meeting. The Session will focus on the thematic issue of "Ensuring access to and availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes". Participants can register online until March 9. (Registration / Details)
25th Session of the Commission on Science, Technology and Innovation
The 25th session of the Commission on Science, Technology and Innovation will take place from March 28 to April 1 in Geneva. The discussions will include the first priority theme "Industry 4.0 for inclusive development" and the second priority theme "Science, technology and innovation for sustainable urban development in a post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) world". (Details)
SDG Actions
Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever you do, you have the power to change things. The climate emergency is humanity’s greatest opportunity to FlipTheScript, the UN SDG Action Campaign, bringing together actions from around the world: https://act4sdgs.org/stories/
Message
I welcome the launch of the #IPCC#ClimateReport. We need to strengthen multilateralism, amplifying voices of vulnerable countries and engaging stakeholders to increase ambition for sustainable development and #ClimateAction to ensure no one is left behind. https://bit.ly/3hrAzWd
(From @UNECOSOC President Collen Vixen Kelapile)
