It has been almost two years since ARMSS was granted with the consultative status in ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council), UN. During this time, we have already participated in a competition, organized by the UN, shared experiences and opinions and even made working visits to each other. However, the time has come for us to exercise our right of the ECOSOC consultative status and make a change in the work of this UN structure, which has been done by ARMSS President, Yan Vlasov.

  On the 7-11 of July, the 2014 Annual Ministerial Review will be convened in New York as part of the ECOSOC High-level Segment. The theme of the 2014 AMR is “Addressing on-going and emerging challenges for meeting the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and for sustaining development gains in the future”. President Yan Vlasov developed a statement for 2014 AMR attendees, which suggests initiating under the auspices of the UN a discussion platform between NGOs in the ECOSOC consultative status from all over the world.

On behalf of the All-Russian Public Organization of Disabled People with Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Yan Vlasov submitted to the ECOSOC an oral statement and a written one, approved by the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The President of ECOSOC approved our statement and invited ARMSS to address the audience of the 2014 Annual Ministerial Review. The invitation was surely accepted. The statement will also be circulated among the session attendees and is already available on the UN Official Document System.

This is a unique opportunity for NGOs in the ECOSOC consultative status to be heard in the most authoritative organization in the world, as well as make their own contribution to the most important issues on the international stage. The United Nations agenda for 2015 is still under elaboration and is subject for discussions during the July session in New York.

The 2014 ECOSOC High Level Segment Week will comprise the High-level Political Forum, the Annual Ministerial Review and the Development Cooperation Forum. Here you can get acquainted with the preliminary programme for the week.

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs, working to support and coordinate ECOSOC at the UN, which recommended to grant the consultative status to ARMSS in 2012, thanks our organization for its interest and involvement in the High-level Segment and congratulates Dr. Yan Vlasov on the success in his continuous efforts in working with ECOSOC, UN.

 Pavel Zlobin
Vice President, International Affairs
All-Russian MS Society
Translated by Anastasya Savchenkova