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Designated by the UN Charter as one of the UN\'s principal organs, ECOSOC is in effect subordinate to the UN General Assembly, to which it makes recommendations on matters within its remit. Originally made up of 18 UN members, elected by the Assembly, it now consists of three times that number. Each member serves for a three-year term, and is eligible for immediate re-election. The Council acts on the basis of majority voting, each member having one vote. It generally meets once a year, alternately in New York and Geneva, and sits for five weeks. It has an extensive subordinate machinery of functional and regional commissions, standing and expert committees, and is responsible for certain UN bodies such as the Children\'s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. See also consultative status. |
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