The World Jurist Association has had Special Consultative Status at the United Nations since 1967 through the UN Economic and Social Council ECOSOC.
ECOSOC, established under the United Nations Charter, is the principal organ that coordinates economic, social, and related work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, functional commissions and five regional commissions. It also received reports from it’s subsidiary bodies. It serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system. ECOSOC has several responsibilities including:
- To promote higher living standards , full employment, and economic and social progress;
- To identify 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.
It has the power to make or initiate studies and reports on these issues. It also has the power to assist the preparations and organization of major international conferences in the economic and social and related fields and to facilitate a coordinated follow-up to these conferences. With its broad mandate the Council’s purview extends to over 70 per cent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system.