Policy  /  International Organizations

Latvia in the elected UN system bodies

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UN system encompasses the UN principal organs, subsidiary bodies, specialised agencies, programmes and funds, as well as related organizations. Organizational chart of the UN system.

Broader representation in the elected bodies of international organizations is a prerequisite for the implementation of interests of Latvia’s foreign policy. Active participation in the work of international organizations also contributes to the awareness of state. Currently Latvia has been elected as a member to the UN Economic and Social Council and to the ECOSOC two functional commissions – Sustainable Development Commission and Commission on Science and Technology for Development.


Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

ECOSOC consists of 54 Member States and it serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues in order to promote economic and social progress, to find solutions to international economic, social and health problems, to facilitate international cultural and educational cooperation and to encourage universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In October 2010 Latvia was elected as a member of the ECOSOC for the term 2011-2013. Latvia acknowledges importance to the role of ECOSOC in the economic, social, humanitarian and human rights field and Latvian membership in ECOSOC gives opportunity to contribute to these questions of great importance using its own experience of development. Latvia has served in ECOSOC also during the term 1997-1999.


Functional Commissions of ECOSOC

Functional Commissions are subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC mandated to address specific topics of ECOSOC agenda. The subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC play important role in ensuring that the development agenda coincides with the interests of the UN member states.

Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) consists of 43 Members. CSTD acts as forum for examining science and technology questions and their implications for development, it also mandated to review of progress in the implementation and follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) as well as addressing the substantive themes of development oriented policies for information society, science, technology and research. Latvia has been an elected member of the CSTD since 2007 and has been re-elected at the elections in April 2010 for the term 2011-2014. Membership in the CSTD gives the opportunity to participate in the decision making process on development of the latest and the most effective information technologies. Latvia attaches great importance to the information technologies and science in order to achieve development goals.

Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) has 53 Members. The CSD was established as a forum for international discussions of sustainable development issues, including environmental, social and economical aspects in the context of development. In May 2009 Latvia was elected as a member of the CSD for the term 2010-2013. During its membership Latvia strongly supports waste management, biodiversity and forestry issues.