Social Council

Social Council The Economic and Social Council of the UN which has fifty-four members who are chosen for equal geographical representation and serve a three-year term is the central body of the UN for coordinating the economic and social work of the UN and the UN system. Over seventy percent of the UN System is devoted to promoting higher standards of living, alleviating poverty through full employment; economic and social progress; and development. It promotes, economic growth in developing countries, supports human rights, and fosters world cooperation to alleviate poverty and under-development. In order to address specific needs of the council, it has established a number of specialized agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), The World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).