U.N. Economic and Social Council 

Why in News?

• Recently, India has abstained in the U.N. Economic and Social Council on a draft resolution to oust Iran from its principal global intergovernmental body (Commission on the Status of Women) dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.

Highlights

• The draft resolution, introduced by the U.S., on the removal of Iran from the membership of the CSW for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term, citing its oppression of women and girls in the country.
• Iran has been rocked by protests since the September 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by the country’s morality police.
• The resolution was adopted by a recorded vote of 29 in favour to 8 against – Bolivia, China, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Russia, Zimbabwe and 16 abstentions, including by Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mexico, and Thailand.
• It was Established by the UN Charter in 1945, it is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed development goals.
• It has 54 members, elected by the UN General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms.
• It is the UN’s central platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking on sustainable development.
• Each year, ECOSOC structures its work around an annual theme of global importance to sustainable development.
• It coordinates the work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, ten functional commissions and five regional commissions, receives reports from nine UN funds and programmes and issues policy recommendations to the UN system and to member states.