In growing influence, India elected to four international bodies

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has elected India by acclamation to four international bodies recognizing its growing global contributions and influence.

The elections Wednesday cap India's reelection to the influential UN Human Rights Council in October and the General Assembly unanimously endorsing in December New Delhi's proposal for an International Yoga Day.

"India's election by acclamation is an indication of the high standing of India in the international community," said Asoke Kumar Mukerjee, India's Permanent Representative, who has led New Delhi's efforts to raise its diplomatic profile and grow its influence at the world body. "These results are due to India's significant role in the diverse areas of human activity which these UN bodies deal with, and demonstrate India's substantive contribution to the purposes of the United Nations."

India was elected to all these four subsidiary organisations of the ECOSOC for which it was a candidate Wednesday:

-- The Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the 2016-18 term. UNICEF runs programmes focusing on children in areas of health, nutrition, education, environment, child protection, gender issues

and development.

-- The Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP) for the 2016-2018 term. WFP's food assistance program in 80 countries covers 90 million people.

-- The Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the 2016-2019 term. UN-Habitat is committed to providing shelter for all by promoting socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.

-- The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) for the 2016-2018 term. The CCPCJ is in charge of the UN crime prevention programmes.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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