Guterres urges swift UN Economic and Social Council reform

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a pressing call for member states to reform and reinforce the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), citing a perilous global landscape of conflict, inequality, and eroding multilateral cooperation.

Addressing a 'Divided and Unequal World'

Speaking at an event marking ECOSOC's 80th anniversary on Friday, Guterres contrasted soaring military expenditures with plummeting development aid. "Conflicts rage, as military spending goes through the roof. Inequalities grow, while development funding is in free fall," he stated. He argued that such interconnected crises require collective solutions, a role ECOSOC is positioned to lead. "ECOSOC has a vital role to play in our divided and unequal world — and we must waste no time in strengthening it," Guterres emphasized.

An 'Indispensable Platform' Needing Renewal

While praising ECOSOC's historical role as an "engine of progress" and an "indispensable platform" for dialogue since 1946, Guterres stressed that its modern mandate is far more demanding. He noted that the council's continued relevance "requires something more," particularly as international solidarity frays. He identified the implementation of reforms under the recently agreed Pact for the Future as the essential next step.

The Path Forward Through the Pact for the Future

Guterres urged governments to act swiftly on the reform agenda outlined in the Pact for the Future to ensure ECOSOC remains an effective body. As one of the UN's six principal organs, ECOSOC is central to coordinating global economic, social, and environmental policies and bridging development gaps between nations.