Organization of the work of the Economic and Social Council

Publisher	UN General Assembly
Author	UN General Assembly
Publication Date	17 December 1974
Citation / Document Symbol	A/RES/3341
Reference	Twenty-ninth Session
Cite as	UN General Assembly, Organization of the work of the Economic and Social Council, 17 December 1974, A/RES/3341, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f0443b.html [accessed 17 September 2023]

XXIX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE
3341. Organization of the work of the Economic and Social Council

The General Assembly,

Emphasizing the responsibilities assigned, under the Charter of the United Nations, to the Economic and Social Council as the central organ for comprehensive policy formulation and co-ordination of the activities of the United Nations system in the economic, social and human rights fields,

Recalling its resolution 2626 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, containing the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, and its resolutions 2801 (XXVI) of 14 December 1971 and 3178 (XXVIII) of 17 December 1973 on the review and appraisal of the Strategy,

Recalling further its resolution 3172 (XXVIII) of 17 December 1973 on the special session of the General Assembly devoted to development and international economic co-operation,

Recalling also its resolution 3201 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974, containing the Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, and its resolution 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974, containing the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order,

Recognizing the need for an adequate machinery which, through the effective planning and programming of the activities of the organs of the United Nations system, will ensure a higher degree of coherence and co-ordination and thus respond to changing, and emerging needs in the field of economic and social development,

Reaffirming the conviction expressed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1768 (LIV) of 18 May 1973 that both short-term and long-term measures for rationalization are required to strengthen the role of the United Nations in international economic and social co-operation,

Recognizing the extraordinarily heavy programme of work facing the Economic and Social Council in general in the years to come and in 1975 in particular, taking into account the follow-up action on the sixth special session of the General Assembly, the World Population Conference, the World Food Conference as well as the forthcoming mid-term review and appraisal of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, the Second General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the preparations for the special session of the General Assembly devoted to development and international economic co-operation and the responsibilities of the Council in connexion with the International Women's Year and the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, as well as with regard to other human rights questions,

Noting that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1907 (LVII) of 2 August 1974, requested the Secretary-General to submit to the Council at its organizational session in January 1975 a report containing recommendations for an improvement in the arrangements for meetings of the Council, taking into account the need for a better distribution throughout the year of questions included in the Council's programme of work each year, together with an assessment of the possible financial implications of such measures,

1. Expresses its conviction that the Economic and Social Council, in order to discharge all its responsibilities, particularly those of co-ordination, in a satisfactory manner, should reorganize its work in such a way as to enable the Council to face up to the new emerging challenges which require urgent, efficient and well-co-ordinated attention and action on the part of the United Nations system;

2. Requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the report requested by the Economic and Social Council in resolution 1907 (LVII), to make specific recommendations as regards the logistical support that the Council requires in the light of its current workload, including, in addition to the regular sessions of the Council, the possibility of arrangements for meetings of the Council to be convened as necessary throughout the year, together with an analysis of the administrative and financial implications of such arrangements;

3. Requests the Economic and Social Council, taking fully into account the report of the Secretary-General referred to in paragraph 2 above, to take at its organizational session for 1975 the necessary action allowing the Council to carry out its work in 1975 in the most efficient way possible, if necessary by convening intersessional meetings;

4. Further requests the Economic and Social Council, taking due account of the provisions contained in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1622 (LI) of 30 July 1971, to examine new alternatives for organizing its work, including new approaches to the formulation of its agenda, the consideration of the reports of the subsidiary organs as well as such modifications as may be necessary in the existing pattern of interagency co-operation, and to make provisions for the gradual adaptation of its subsidiary organs to such a new system and to submit a progress report to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session;

5. Urges the Economic and Social Council, when undertaking the review referred to in paragraph 12 of Council resolution 1768 (LIV), to streamline its subsidiary machinery, with a view to furthering the achievement of the goals set forth in paragraphs 1 and 4 above.

2323rd plenary meeting
17 December 1974

Organization of the work of the Economic and Social Council

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