2.3 The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
The Economic and Social Council was established by the United Nations Charter as the principal organ to coordinate the economic and social work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies. The Council has 54 mem- bers elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly. Voting is by simple majority, each member having one vote.

a. Powers and functions
Some of the main powers and functions of the Economic and Social Council are as follows:
• to serve as the central forum for the discussion of international economic and social issues of a global or an inter-disciplinary nature and the formu- lation of policy recommendations addressed to Member States and to the United Nations system as a whole;
• to promote respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
• to make or initiate studies and reports and make recommendations on international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters;
• to call international conferences and prepare draft conventions for sub- mission to the General Assembly on matters falling within its competence;
• to make recommendations and to co-ordinate activities of specialized agencies;
• co-ordinate, rationalize and, to some extent, programme the activities of the United Nations, its autonomous organs and the specialized agencies in all of these sectors through consultations with and recommendations to the General Assembly and members of  the United Nations.