By H.E. Mr. Bob Rae, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council – 2025 session
Eight decades have passed since the founding of the United Nations, a momentous chapter in global governance. Though eighty years may seem brief in the sweep of history, it represents a significant era of international collaboration and institution-building.
In 1945, in the aftermath of two catastrophic world wars, nations came together to establish the UN, driven by a shared determination to prevent future conflicts and foster peace. Embedded within its Charter was the creation of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), tasked with advancing economic well–being, social progress, and sustainable development across borders.
Despite being a relatively young body, ECOSOC has played a central role in guiding the international response to post–war recovery, steering the Millennium Development Goals, and now supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its ability to adapt to shifting global dynamics has been key to its continued relevance.
Today, ECOSOC — along with its subsidiary entities and the High–Level Political Forum — serves as a platform where global ambitions are shaped and translated into action. The Sustainable Development Goals are not merely statistical benchmarks; they embody our common values and mutual obligations as members of a shared human community.
The Council unites not only national governments but also civil society groups, youth organizations, Indigenous communities, business leaders, and other vital actors. This broad inclusion of diverse perspectives strengthens the legitimacy and effectiveness of multilateral efforts.
During my tenure as President of the Council for the 2024–2025 session, I witnessed firsthand how transformative ECOSOC can be when it embraces inclusivity, responsiveness, and long–term vision. It has the power to align the work of the UN system and elevate voices that are too often excluded from high–level discussions.
We now live in a period when demands for reform within the United Nations are growing. There is increasing pressure for the organization to deliver tangible results and demonstrate its value. In this context, ECOSOC must continue evolving. It should enhance coordination within the UN development network, streamline its processes to better serve member states, and recognize that stakeholder participation is not an add–on — it is fundamental to achieving lasting progress.
The Charter we uphold today is not flawless. Yet it provides us with the instruments needed to build a more just and equitable world. ECOSOC remains one of those instruments: a mechanism for listening, learning, and leading.
As we commemorate ECOSOC’s 80th anniversary, let us do so not only by looking back, but by recommitting to its mission. Let us honor its achievements by investing in its future. And let us remember that our work is not theoretical — it is deeply personal.
It concerns the child who deserves a life free from poverty, the community striving to withstand the impacts of climate change, and the innovator using artificial intelligence to create positive change.
— news from Economic and Social Council
— News Original —
ECOSOC AT 80
By H.E. Mr. Bob Rae, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council – 2025 session n nEighty years is a milestone. Yet in the long arc of human history, it is only a small window. n nIn 1945, determined to chart a new path after two devastating wars, Member States created the United Nations. As part of its Charter, they also established the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), designed to support a universal vision of peace, economic prosperity and social development. n nDespite its relative youth, ECOSOC has guided the international community through post-war reconstruction efforts, the Millenium Development Goals, and now the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has always adapted alongside a changing world. n nToday, the ECOSOC system – including its subsidiary bodies and the High-Level Political Forum – exists as a place where the world’s aspirations are shaped and advanced. It is where the Sustainable Development Goals become more than metrics; they reflect our shared humanity and collective responsibility. n nECOSOC brings together not only governments, but also civil society, youth, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector, and other stakeholders. This diversity of lived experiences is essential for effective and legitimate multilateralism. n nReflecting on my Presidency of the Council during the 2024–2025 session, I saw firsthand ECOSOC’s transformative potential when it is inclusive, responsive, and forward-looking. It can drive coherence across the UN system and amplify voices too often left unheard in global decision-making. n nWe live in a time when the UN is being called upon to reform, to deliver, and to prove its worth. In this landscape, ECOSOC must once again evolve. It must sharpen its coordination of the UN Development System, align its cycles and structures to better support Member States, and reaffirm that stakeholder engagement is not optional – it is essential to achieving sustainable development. n nThe Charter we celebrate this year is not perfect. But it gave us the tools to build a better world. ECOSOC is one of those tools: for listening, for learning, and for leading. n nSo let us mark ECOSOC’s 80th anniversary not only with retrospection, but with recommitment. Let us honour its legacy by investing in its future. And let us never forget that our task is not abstract; it is profoundly human. n nIt is about the child who deserves a future free of poverty, the community that seeks resilience in the face of climate change, and the technologist harnessing AI for good.