India’s diplomatic triumph: Wins elections to four UN bodies

Affirming India’s growing global standing and contributions, India has been elected to four key bodies of the United Nations- the ECOSOC, UNICEF, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), and the Governing Council of UN-Habitat.

In the ECOSOC (The United Nations Economic and Social Council, which has 65 members), India has been reelected for a three year term. The ECOSOC has the mandate to coordinate activities of various special agencies at the UN working on social and economic issues under the rubric of sustainable development for all. The countries at the UNGA have chosen India by acclamation, (a form of election that doesn’t use a ballot). Acknowledging the positive outcome, India’s Permanent Representative to UN, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, who has led New Delhi’s efforts to raise India’s diplomatic profile and influence at the world body, said that it was an indication of the “high standing” of India in the international community and a recognition of the country’s significant role in the diverse areas of contribution to the purposes of the United Nations.

The second win was India’s election (along with 13 other countries) to the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for a three-year term beginning January 2016. The UNICEF focusses its efforts on wellbeing of children, especially in the developing world, working on issues relating to health, nutrition, education and environmental concerns, as well as gender issues and development.

India was also amongst the twenty countries to get elected to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). The CCPCJ sets policy guidance for the UN member states on crime prevention and criminal justice in order to develop, monitor and review implementation of the UN’s crime prevention programme. Apart from India, other nations who made it into the CCPCJ included Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Austria, France, Sweden and the United States.

Lastly, India was re-elected as a Governing Council member at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for a three year term beginning in 2016. The body works at promoting socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

India was also re-elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP) for a three year term starting 2016, along with five other nations. WFP is the food assistance arm of the UN which works on issues of food security, providing food assistance to around 90 million people in 80 countries in a year.

Author Profile

India Writes Network: India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) is an emerging think tank and a media-publishing company focused on international affairs & the India Story. Centre for Global India Insights is the research arm of India Writes Network. To subscribe to India and the World, write to editor@indiawrites.org. A venture of TGII Media Private Limited, a leading media, publishing and consultancy company, IWN has carved a niche for balanced and exhaustive reporting and analysis of international affairs. Eminent personalities, politicians, diplomats, authors, strategy gurus and news-makers have contributed to India Writes Network, as also “India and the World,” a magazine focused on global affairs.