2020: H.E. Munir Akram (Pakistan)

His Excellency Munir Akram was elected the President of the 2021 session (July 2020 to July 2021) of the Economic and Social Council on 23 July 2020. Ambassador Munir Akram is the seventy-sixth President of the Council. Ambassador Akram is currently the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York.

Biography

Seventy-sixth President of the Economic and Social Council

His Excellency Munir Akram was elected seventy-sixth President of the Economic and Social Council on 23 July 2020. Ambassador Akram is currently the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador Akram assumed his position as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, on November 1, 2019.

Ambassador Munir Akram previously served as Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York for six years between 2002 and 2008, after serving as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva for seven years from 1995 to 2002.

Between 1988 and 1992, Munir Akram was Pakistan’s Ambassador to the European Council, Belgium and Luxemburg.

During his term at the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram served twice as President of the Security Council in May 2003 and in May 2004; President of the Economic and Social Council in 2005; Chairman of the Group of 77 and China (developing countries) in 2007, and Facilitator on UN Administrative Reform in 2006.

Among the positions he held in various intergovernmental organizations were: Member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament; Chairman of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body; President of the Conference on Disarmament (June 1996). 

Ambassador Akram joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1967, holding various positions in the Foreign Ministry as Additional Foreign Secretary and Director-General dealing with the United Nations.

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Karachi. He is a prolific writer and has lectured and published several articles and papers on various strategic, political and economic issues.

In recognition of his selfless service and outstanding performance in the field of diplomacy and foreign policy, he was conferred the Award of Hilal-i-Quaid-e-Azam by the President of Pakistan.

Statements
23 July 2021Handover Remarks at ECOSOC Organizational Session
16 July 2021Statement at the Closing of the High Level Segment of the ECOSOC
15 July 2021Closing remarks at 2021 HLPF of the ECOSOC
6 July 2021Opening remarks at the Opening of the 2021 High-level political forum on sustainable development 
21 May 2021Remarks at General Assembly High-Level Event on Culture and Sustainable Development
18 May 2021Opening Remarks at ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment
17 May 2021Remarks at the 30th Anniversary Session of Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
6 May 2021Opening Statementat the 2021 High-level Meeting of the Development Cooperation Forum
5 May 2021Closing Remarks on Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum)
4 May 2021Remarks to the Virtual Innovation Exhibit
4 May 2021Speaking at the Virtual opening session of the Multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology, and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
3 May 2021Closing statement at the Virtual 2021 ECOSOC Partnership Forum “Partnership as a Game Changer for a Sustainable Recovery from COVID-19”
3 May 2021Opening Statement at the Virtual 2021 ECOSOC Partnership Forum “Partnership as a Game Changer for a Sustainable Recovery from COVID-19”
30 April 2021Statement at the Virtual UN Global Compact’s Strategy High Level Briefing
29 April 2021Opening Remarks to the ECOSOC Special Spring Meeting on International Cooperation in Tax Matters
28 April 2021Opening Remarks at the SDG 16 Conference 2021
28 April 2021Statement at the Virtual Side Event of the 77th UNESCAP Session, "Debt Relief in the Aftermath of the Pandemic”
27 April 2021Statement to the High-Level Thematic Debate on Digital Cooperation and Connectivity
26 April 2021Opening Remarks at the 77th Session of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific
26 April 2021Opening Remarks on High-level Round Table on Major Forest-related Developments Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
23 April 2021Closing Statement on the Special Virtual Meeting of SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs
23 April 2021Opening Statement on the Special Virtual Meeting of SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs
16 April 2021Closing Statement at Special High-level Meeting on “A Vaccine for all”
16 April 2021Opening Statement at Special High-level Meeting on “A Vaccine for all”
15 April 2021Closing Remarks at the Financing for Development Forum
7 April 2021Opening Statement at ECOSOC Youth Forum 2021 – commemorating its 10th Anniversary
17 March 2021Opening Statement at the 5th session of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region
16 March 2021Statement on Fourth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development
22 February 2021Statement at 23rd session of the Committee for Development Policy
22 February 2021Statement at the Virtual Plenary of the 5th session of UNEA
18 February 2021Statement on Reimagining Equality: Eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all in the Decade of Action for the SDGs
10 February 2021Statement on World Pulses Day
9 February 2021Welcoming Remarks at Economic and Social Council Side Event: Women’s human rights and environment sustainability: challenges and opportunities
8 February 2021Statement at Opening Session of Commission for Social Development，Priority Theme: “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all”
27 Januray 2021Statement at the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development: Session 5: Towards a more coherent and consistent multilateral system: Priority policy proposals
23 Januray 2021Statement on the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the UN Economic and Social Council
10 December 2020Statement on the High-level Virtual Panel “AU Silencing the Guns initiative – the role of illicit financial flows in fuelling instability in Africa”
7 December 2020Statement on the World Soil Day
3 December 2020Statement on Special Session of the General Assembly in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
2 December 2020Statement on Transforming Agrifood systems and fostering inclusive rural development in the context of COVID-19 to end rural poverty
1 December 2020Statement at the Joint High-Level Informal meeting of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council to Commemorate the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD)
24 November 2020Statement on IDLO Assembly of Parties Meeting
19 November 2020Statement on Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)
13 November 2020Statement on “A Universal Vision for a Global Threat” Virtual Ministerial Event Commemorating 20 Years of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols
9 November 2020Statement on 15th Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
3 November 2020Remarks on Security Council Debate: Contemporary Drivers of Conflict
2 November 2020Statement on UN Civil Society Meeting of Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond
29 October 2020Remarks on Global Online Dialogue Series ‘Technological and Science-based Solutions to the COVID-19 Challenge’
26 October 2020Statement at the Observance Ceremony in Commemoration of the United Nations Day (delivered by Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, H.E. Ambassador Collen Vixen Kelapile (Botswana) on behalf of the President of the Council)
16 October 2020Statement on World Food Day 2020
14 October 2020Statement on Joint meeting of the Second Committee of the General Assembly at its 75th session and the Economic and Social Council
30 September 2020Statement on Opening of the United Nations Summit on  Biodiversity
29 September 2020Statement for High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the ERA of COVID-19 and Beyond
28 September 2020Statement at the Webinar “Forest at the heart of a green recovery from COVID-19”
28 September 2020Statement on Virtual Dialogue with CARICOM countries
24 September 2020Closing Remarks on Launch of the Interim Report of the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrityfor Achieving the 2030 Agenda
22 September 2020Briefing to the UN Human Rights Council on the UN High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda
21 September 2020Statement at the HL meeting to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the UN
18 September 2020Statement at the SDG Moment
17 September 2020Statement at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the LDC
16 September 2020Statement at Virtual Symposium, “Multilateralism Matters to Business”
11 September 2020Statement at Virtual Interactive Dialogue between the President of the ECOSOC and Permanent Representatives of the PSIDS (Pacific Small Island Developing States)
10 September 2020Statement at the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
23 July 2020Inaugural Speech at ECOSOC President Handover Ceremony
Letters
10 August 2021Summary of the ECOSOC High-level Policy Dialogue on “Strengthening ECOSOC at its 75th Anniversary for Sustainable and Resilient Recovery from COVID-19 and Advancing the 2030 Agenda” 
27 July 2021Summary of the Joint Thematic Event on LDCs
14 July 2021Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the 2021
28 June 20212021 High-level Segment of ECOSOC 
24 June 20212021 High-level Segment of ECOSOC 
18 June 2021Joint Thematic Event on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – List of speakers
17 June 2021Joint Thematic Event on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – Final programme
11 June 2021Joint Thematic Event on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – Provisional programme
19 May 2021UN General Assembly and ECOSOC Joint Event on LDCs – Concept note
11 May 2021Invitation to the 2021 High-level political forum on sustainable development, convened under the auspices of ECOSOC 
6 May 2021Invitation to  the 2021 United Nations high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF)
15 April 2021Invitation to Special Event on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
14 April 2021Forum on Financing for Development follow-up
18 March 2021Special segment of the 2021 Financing for Development Forum
19 March 20212021 ECOSOC Youth Forum - Update
23 February 2021Summary of the Joint Briefing of the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 
16 February 2021Briefing on the ongoing preparations for the ECOSOC multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
15 February 2021Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development (Informal Summary) 
12 February 2021Launch of the Report of the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda 
9 February 2021Invitation to the 2021 SDG Investment Fair
4 February 2021Invitation to the 2021 ECOSOC Youth Forum
4 February 2021Appointment of co-facilitators for the preparation of the ministerial declaration for the 2021 High-level segment of ECOSOC and 2021 HLPF
2 February 2021Invitation to the 2021 Multi-Stakeholder on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs
22 January 2021Invitation to the Special Meeting on Reimagining Equality
18 January 2021Meeting with the Chairs of the ECOSOC Functional Commissions and Expert Bodies
15 January 2021Invitation to the Joint Briefing of the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Economic and Social Council
31 December 2020Appointment of Co-Facilitators for the preparation of draft conclusions and recommendations of the 2021 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up
10 December 2020Appointment of Co-Chairs for the 2021 Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum)
3 December 2020Letter to the Chairs of ECOSOC subsidiary bodies regarding consideration of implications of COVID-19-related limitations on in-person meetings 
30 November 2020Informal High-Level Meeting to Commemorate the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the World Summit on Social Development (Risk Assessment and Programme)
19 November 2020Commemoration of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the World Summit on Social Development 
28 October 2020Consideration of Suspend In-person Meetings
19 October 2020Informal Group of Friends of the Voluntary National Reviews, Follow-up and Review of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 
22 October 2020Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be conducted at the 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC  – Update
28 September 2020Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be conducted at the 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 
11 September 2020Modalities for the first meeting of the Economic and Social Council at its 2021 session (in-person)
9 September 2020First meeting of the Economic and Social Council at its 2021 session (in-person)
18 August 2020Report of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management on its ninth session and provisional agenda and dates of its tenth session
13 August 2020Report of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management on its ninth session and provisional agenda and dates of its tenth session
30 July 2020Passing of the silence procedure on the draft decision entitled “Extension of the procedure for taking decisions of the Economic and Social Council during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic until the end of August 2020”
30 July 2020Voluntary National Reviews to be conducted at the 2021 high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC
30 July 2020Elections to subsidiary bodies through silence procedure
24 July 2020Draft decision on the extension of the procedure for taking decisions of the Council during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic until the end of August 2020