Pakistan elected to lead principal UN organ ECOSOC
Munir Akram said legacy of colonialism and racism is a major systemic cause of inequality
NEW YORK (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram was on Thursday unanimously elected as the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the world body’s economic arm, for a year (2020-2021).
It will be the second time for Ambassador Akram to head the 54-Member EOSOC, which is the third principal organ of the UN, along with the General Assembly and Security Council. Ambassador Akram last served in that capacity in 2005. The only other Ambassador to have had this distinction was Juan Somavia of Chile, the former Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
ECOSOC was established in 1945 under the UN Charter to promote international economic cooperation and oversee the work of all international economic organizations. Pakistan has been elected as ECOSOC President six times.
In his acceptance speech, Ambassador Akram, outlining the objectives of the Pakistan’s residency of the Council, said UN Member States face three simultaneous challenges: the coronavirus health and economic crisis, the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the existential threat of climate change. The commitments made in each area must be implemented, he said.
Quoting the UN Secretary-General, he said, “Inequality defines our times”. The legacy of colonialism, foreign occupation and racism is “a major systemic cause of inequality”, among and within nations. Ambassador Akram hoped that a COVID-19 vaccine will be developed soon. “Everyone, everywhere – rich or poor – must have equal access to the vaccine”.
He proposed that in the coming year, ECOSOC should focus on three area — financing of the COVID-19, SDG and climate change goals; sustainable infrastructure investment; and application of advanced science and technology for development. He would convene special meetings to advance action in these areas.
Noting that the IMF Managing Director has estimated that developing countries will need over $2.5 billion to recover from the current COVID induced recession, the Pakistani envoy recalled the early call by Prime Minister Imran Khan for a “Global Initiative on Debt Relief”.
