General Assembly ECOSOC

The ECOSOC council of the United Nations deals with the economic and social issues confronting the world today. It serves as the central forum for discussing and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the UN system. Among others, it is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, indentifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Following topics will be on the agenda:

Evaluating the progress reaching the Millennium Goals

The Millennium Goals were outlined at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. The document called the Millennium Declaration contained 8 statements which were set as goals for 2015. These Millennium Development Goals (or MDGs) were agreed by all member states of the United Nation. To reach these goals, states have to make strong efforts to improve the world’s living standards. Even though critics have called the MDGs unrealistic, all governments are working together to do as much as they can.

The 8 Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development.

Each goal is divided up in different segments, or ‘targets’. Each target is again divided in separate indicators. These indicators determine whether or not a target is being met.

For example:

In Goal 1, there are two targets and five indicators. One of the targets is ‘to cut in half the number of people who earn less than a dollar a day’. Indicators are used as statistical figures to see if this is met.

Even though the Millennium Goals were set for 2015, not all targets share this deadline. Some are set to be achieved before 2015. This is done because some targets have more importance, or because it can be easier to achieve targets when other targets are achieved first.

During MUNE ‘10, we, as ECOSOC, would like to focus on the progress that has been made, and the work that has to be done in the future. If the delegates decide so, we can make new agreements, or look what can be done about countries that are lacking behind. Make sure you know what your country has done and some things where we should have improvement or extra focus.

Elaborating disaster risk reduction and preparedness: Global warming and its effect on natural disasters

Global warming is not a new topic. It has been debated (and still is) for some time, but only in past 5-6 years has the connection been made between global warming and increasingly frequent (and deadly) natural disasters.

For example, in January of this year the earthquake of Haiti killed over 300.000 people, injured another 300.000 and took the shelter of totaling 1.2 million.

“Climate change is a challenge that threatens human wellbeing and sustainable development worldwide, with particularly severe risks for the most poor and vulnerable countries and groups of society.” - Lennart Bage, Chair, High-level Committee on Programmes of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination.

ECOSOC recently completed a session in which many resolutions were passed related to climate change. Also, a guide was published by the Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) titled Towards National Resilience: Good Practices of National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction.

This year’s MUNE is meant to answer the questions of what already has been done and what can still be done to stop climate change. Furthermore it will focus on the humanitarian impact of natural disasters overall in developing countries and how it can be lessened. Risk reductions programs as well as ways to optimize preparation for natural disasters should be developed and compared within the session.

Please prepare your countries opinion on climate change and eventually thereby connected programs your country already has developed.

Make sure you know about your country the following aspects:

- Is it endangered by any kinds of natural disasters?

- If so, what has it done as preparation?

- If not, does it try to support other countries in preparation for natural disasters?

3. Discussing the unprecedented prices and changes on international food commerce

At the 2005 World Summit, Member States called on ECOSOC to better respond to developments in the international economic, environmental and social fields, as well as to support and complement international efforts aimed at addressing humanitarian emergencies. As part of ECOSOC's renewed efforts to be more proactive in forging more coherent responses to emergencies, the Council addressed the issue of the food crisis in 2005 and 2008, calling for, among other things, increased investment in agricultural and rural development, and strengthened food security. A presidential statement was issued in 2008 urging Member States and stakeholders to act urgently.

Every country should be able to serve its citizens with enough nutrition.

But poor countries are facing a big problem: Beginning in 2004, prices for most grains began to rise. Although there was an increase in production, the increase in demand was greater. Furthermore, food production became extremely affected by weather incidents.

As international food prices reached unexampled levels, countries searched ways to avoid themselves from potential food deficits and price shocks. Several food-exporting countries imposed export restrictions. Certain key importers began purchasing grains at any price to maintain domestic supplies.

This resulted in panic and unsteadiness in international grain markets. It also attracted speculative investments in grain futures and options markets. Perhaps as a result, prices rose even higher.

According to this effect ECOSOC has to focus on this problem and try to find useful solutions which support financial fragile countries as well as exporting countries. Find out, whether your country is counted among to a depended importing country or to an exporting one. Then analyze its position about this issue and think of some realizable solutions.


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HOME Join MUNE Main Bodies Participants Programme Staff Chairs Resolutions! Photos Downloads Sponsorships	General Assembly ECOSOC The ECOSOC council of the United Nations deals with the economic and social issues confronting the world today. It serves as the central forum for discussing and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the UN system. Among others, it is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, indentifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Following topics will be on the agenda: Evaluating the progress reaching the Millennium Goals The Millennium Goals were outlined at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. The document called the Millennium Declaration contained 8 statements which were set as goals for 2015. These Millennium Development Goals (or MDGs) were agreed by all member states of the United Nation. To reach these goals, states have to make strong efforts to improve the world’s living standards. Even though critics have called the MDGs unrealistic, all governments are working together to do as much as they can. The 8 Millennium Development Goals are: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development. Each goal is divided up in different segments, or ‘targets’. Each target is again divided in separate indicators. These indicators determine whether or not a target is being met. For example: In Goal 1, there are two targets and five indicators. One of the targets is ‘to cut in half the number of people who earn less than a dollar a day’. Indicators are used as statistical figures to see if this is met. Even though the Millennium Goals were set for 2015, not all targets share this deadline. Some are set to be achieved before 2015. This is done because some targets have more importance, or because it can be easier to achieve targets when other targets are achieved first. During MUNE ‘10, we, as ECOSOC, would like to focus on the progress that has been made, and the work that has to be done in the future. If the delegates decide so, we can make new agreements, or look what can be done about countries that are lacking behind. Make sure you know what your country has done and some things where we should have improvement or extra focus. Elaborating disaster risk reduction and preparedness: Global warming and its effect on natural disasters Global warming is not a new topic. It has been debated (and still is) for some time, but only in past 5-6 years has the connection been made between global warming and increasingly frequent (and deadly) natural disasters. For example, in January of this year the earthquake of Haiti killed over 300.000 people, injured another 300.000 and took the shelter of totaling 1.2 million. “Climate change is a challenge that threatens human wellbeing and sustainable development worldwide, with particularly severe risks for the most poor and vulnerable countries and groups of society.” - Lennart Bage, Chair, High-level Committee on Programmes of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination. ECOSOC recently completed a session in which many resolutions were passed related to climate change. Also, a guide was published by the Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) titled Towards National Resilience: Good Practices of National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction. This year’s MUNE is meant to answer the questions of what already has been done and what can still be done to stop climate change. Furthermore it will focus on the humanitarian impact of natural disasters overall in developing countries and how it can be lessened. Risk reductions programs as well as ways to optimize preparation for natural disasters should be developed and compared within the session. Please prepare your countries opinion on climate change and eventually thereby connected programs your country already has developed. Make sure you know about your country the following aspects: - Is it endangered by any kinds of natural disasters? - If so, what has it done as preparation? - If not, does it try to support other countries in preparation for natural disasters? 3. Discussing the unprecedented prices and changes on international food commerce At the 2005 World Summit, Member States called on ECOSOC to better respond to developments in the international economic, environmental and social fields, as well as to support and complement international efforts aimed at addressing humanitarian emergencies. As part of ECOSOC's renewed efforts to be more proactive in forging more coherent responses to emergencies, the Council addressed the issue of the food crisis in 2005 and 2008, calling for, among other things, increased investment in agricultural and rural development, and strengthened food security. A presidential statement was issued in 2008 urging Member States and stakeholders to act urgently. Every country should be able to serve its citizens with enough nutrition. But poor countries are facing a big problem: Beginning in 2004, prices for most grains began to rise. Although there was an increase in production, the increase in demand was greater. Furthermore, food production became extremely affected by weather incidents. As international food prices reached unexampled levels, countries searched ways to avoid themselves from potential food deficits and price shocks. Several food-exporting countries imposed export restrictions. Certain key importers began purchasing grains at any price to maintain domestic supplies. This resulted in panic and unsteadiness in international grain markets. It also attracted speculative investments in grain futures and options markets. Perhaps as a result, prices rose even higher. According to this effect ECOSOC has to focus on this problem and try to find useful solutions which support financial fragile countries as well as exporting countries. Find out, whether your country is counted among to a depended importing country or to an exporting one. Then analyze its position about this issue and think of some realizable solutions.
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