ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council)

Issues:

Healthcare Humanitarian Aid

Members:

Members

Directors:

Under the authority of the General Assembly, ECOSOC coordinates the economic and social policies of the United Nations. The 54 members of ECOSOC are elected by the General Assembly for three year terms; 18 are elected each year. ECOSOC meets yearly, alternately between New York and Geneva, for a four– to five-week plenary period. Among the many well-known organizations encompassed by ECOSOC are the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Economic and Social Council is one of the most advanced simulations in the Hope College Model United Nations. It consists of two committees, an Economic Committee and a Social Committee. These committees will hold separate sessions on Thursday evening, and a combined plenary session of the entire ECOSOC will be held on Friday afternoon. There will be 54 delegations, representing the 54 members of the Council, with two students per delegation. Each delegation will have one member involved in the Economic Committee and the other member in the Social Committee. Each delegation should research their issues thoroughly. In addition, each delegate should be familiar with the other committee’s issues.

On Thursday night, delegates will meet for a general meeting, then divide into four subcommittees: two Economic and two Social Subcommittees. One member of the delegation will serve on an Economic subcommittee and the other on the Social subcommittee. Each subcommittee will have approximately two hours to debate and approve one to three resolutions dealing with its particular issue. Resolutions may also be drafted during this first meeting.

On Friday morning, the four subcommittees will combine to form separate Economic and Social Committees. The two Economic subcommittees will form the Economic Committee and the two Social subcommittees will form the Social Committee. Each committee will discuss the resolutions approved the previous evening. The best one to two will be selected and brought to the combined ECOSOC Council.

On Friday afternoon, the two main committees will form the ECOSOC Council. The resolutions from each main committee will be presented before the Council. Each will be discussed for approximately 1.5 hours; if more than two resolutions are to be discussed, time will be reapportioned accordingly.

The ECOSOC simulation requires a considerable amount of research, speaking, writing, and diplomatic skill in comparison to the rest of the Model UN. It is advised that the more experienced students be registered for the ECOSOC simulation.

Microfinance

Helpful Sources:

United Nations Year of Microcredit:
http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org/

United Nations Capital Development Fund:
http://www.uncdf.org/english/microfinance/index.php

Grameen Bank Official Website:
http://www.grameen-info.org/

Kiva Official Website:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php

International Security Network:
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/

Violence Against Women

Helpful Sources :

U.N. Development Goals: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.shtml

UNIFEM web site: http://www.unifem.org/resources/

U.N. Advancement of Women: http://www.un.org/esa/progareas/women.html

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

Maternal Health Fact Sheet: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/pdf/newsroom/Goal%205%20FINAL.pdf

Gender Equality Now. Accelerating the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals:

http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=123

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health. Rep. 25 Sept. 2008. UN Department of Public Information. 4 Jan. 2009 <http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/pdf/newsroom/Goal%205%20FINAL.pdf>.