Context
India has been elected to several key bodies at the United Nations.
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- About: It is a principal organ of the United Nations and deals with economic, social, cultural and health matters as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms.
- Member: It has 54 Members, elected by the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms.
- Mandate: It coordinates the work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, ten functional commissions and five regional commissions, receives reports from nine UN funds and programmes.
- It issues policy recommendations to the UN system and to Member States.
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Jagjit Pavadia Re-elected to International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected for a third term to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) after garnering the highest number of votes from March 2025-2030.
- Elections to ECOSOC: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held elections to fill vacancies in 17 of its subsidiary bodies. These vacancies were filled through election by acclamation, secret ballot and nomination.
- Elections by Acclamation: India was also elected by acclamation to:
- Commission on the Status of Women for the term 2025-2029
Elections by Acclamation:
- It refers to an uncontested election where the number of candidates equals (or is less than) the number of seats that are vacant and it does not use a ballot.
Quasi-judicial bodies:
- These are administrative or non-judicial entities that possess the authority to adjudicate disputes, make decisions, and impose penalties in specific areas.
- Although not part of the traditional judicial system, they exercise powers akin to courts, thereby providing a more efficient and focused mechanism for dispute resolution.
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- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): UNFPA is an international development agency, created in 1968 to support the execution of projects and programmes in the area of population and sexual and reproductive health.
- United Nations Office for Project Services: It is a UN agency dedicated to implementing infrastructure and procurement projects for the UN System, international financial institutions, governments and other partners around the world.
- UN Women/ United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women: It is committed to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide.
- UN World Food Programme: It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity.
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- Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund for the term 2025-2027 Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services for 2025-2027
- Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the 2025-2027 term
- Executive Board of the World Food Programme for the 2025-2027 term.
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About International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
- Genesis: Established in 1968, the Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is the independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions.
- Members: It consists of 13 members who are elected by the Economic and Social Council and who serve in their personal capacity, not as government representatives.
- Three members with medical, pharmacological or pharmaceutical experience are elected from a list of persons nominated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- 10 members are elected from a list of persons nominated by Governments.
- Mandate: To ensure that adequate supplies of drugs are available for medical and scientific uses and that the diversion of drugs from licit sources to illicit channels does not occur.
- International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) also monitors Governments’ control over chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs and assists them in preventing the diversion of those chemicals into illicit traffic.
Also Read: Lancet Study On Declining Fertility Rate In India
April 12, 2024