ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment 2023

Since 1998, the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS) has been an essential platform for discussing the activities and issues related to strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of the humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. The HAS provides a key opportunity for Member States, the United Nations system, development actors, the private sector and other humanitarian partners to discuss current and emerging humanitarian challenges and priority themes and share experiences and lessons learned.

The 2023 HAS took place from 21 to 23 June in Geneva. The HAS was chaired by His Excellency Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York, in his capacity as the ECOSOC Vice-President for the HAS. On the basis of the ECOSOC decision agreed on 5 April, the theme for this year’s HAS was “Strengthening humanitarian assistance at a time of unprecedented global humanitarian needs: driving transformation and solutions to address the urgent challenges of rising food insecurity and the risk of famine, protection risks and climate change” (E/2023/L.11).

Four high-level panel discussions were held during the HAS under the following themes:

1. “Addressing the unprecedented global challenge of food insecurity and the risk of famine: scaling up prevention, response and resilience”;
2. “Addressing protection risks, needs and challenges in humanitarian emergencies, particularly the disproportionate impact on women and children”;
3. “Preparing for the future: reinforcing and expanding partnerships at the global, regional, national and local levels”;
4. “Strengthening humanitarian assistance in the face of climate change: humanitarian implications, lessons and recommendations for future action”

In addition to high-level panel discussions, the organization of the HAS included opening and closing sessions, including a general discussion and action on the annual ECOSOC humanitarian resolution on Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, which was adopted by consensus. A limited number of side events was held on the margins of the HAS from 19 to 23 June.

The ECOSOC meeting to discuss the transition from relief to development was held immediately preceding the HAS on 20 June in Geneva, under the theme “Transition from relief to development: taking action to promote resilience, sustainable solutions and recovery in climate-related disasters and crisis contexts” (E/2023/L.10). The meeting was co-chaired by His Excellency Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations in New York, in his capacity as the ECOSOC Vice-President for the Operational Activities for Development Segment, and Ambassador Maurizio Massari, in his capacity as the Vice-President for the HAS. The meeting was held pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/290 A.)

For further information on the HAS, please contact ochaecosochas@un.org.