Editing United Nations (section)

=== Economic and Social Council ===
{{Main|United Nations Economic and Social Council}}
The Economic and Social Council (or the ECOSOC) assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social co-operation and development.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Economic and Social Council {{!}} UN |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Economic-and-Social-Council |access-date=18 October 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |archive-date=18 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018033325/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Economic-and-Social-Council |url-status=live}}</ref> It was established to serve as the UN's primary forum for global issues and is the largest and most complex UN body.<ref name=":1" /> The ECOSOC's functions include gathering data, conducting studies and advising and making recommendations to member states.{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|pp=103–104}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml |title=About ECOSOC |publisher=[[ECOSOC]] |access-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031070127/http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml |archive-date=31 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its work is carried out primarily by subsidiary bodies focused on a wide variety of topics. These include the [[United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues]], which advises UN agencies on issues relating to [[indigenous peoples]], the [[United Nations Forum on Forests]], which coordinates and promotes sustainable forest management, the [[United Nations Statistical Commission]], which co-ordinates information-gathering efforts between agencies, and the [[Commission on Sustainable Development]], which co-ordinates efforts between UN agencies and NGOs working towards [[sustainable development]]. ECOSOC may also grant consultative status to non-governmental organizations.{{sfn|Fomerand|2009|pp=103–104}} {{as of|April 2021}} almost 5,600 organizations have this status.{{sfn|Fasulo|2004|p=156}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to csonet.org {{!}} Website of the UN DESA NGO Branch. At your service |url=http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=17 |access-date=18 October 2021 |website=csonet.org |archive-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127144255/http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=17 |url-status=live}}</ref>