Fransman in Geneva for ECOSOC session

South Africa assumed its membership of ECOSOC in January for the 2013-2015 term.

"South Africa's three year term on the ECOSOC presents an opportunity to strategically position South Africa's leadership on development issues and reinforce the country's role as a consistent and effective player in multilateralism, while ensuring that the ECOSOC is further strengthened and reformed to better meet evolving global challenges and the needs of developing countries," the department's spokesperson Clayson Monyela said.

Fransman is expected to make a statement on the theme of the Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) as well as participate in the thematic debate and panel discussions.

The 2013 ECOSOC Substantive Session will incorporate the AMR and will have a focus on the theme: "Science, technology and innovation (STI), and the potential of culture for promoting sustainable development and achieving the MDGs".

Additionally, a thematic debate will be held on the contribution of the ECOSOC to the elaboration of the development agenda post-2015.

Panel discussions on international cooperation in the development, transfer and diffusion of technologies in Africa and least developed countries, as well as one on universal health coverage, will also be held.

ECOSOC is the principal UN body tasked with the co-ordination of the economic and social activities of the UN.

It is thus the main body for policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social development and for the follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The council consists of 54 member countries, elected on a rotational basis, by the UN General Assembly.