Beirut, 22 June 2010 (UN Information Service) — The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) signed on 20 June a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC). This MoU represents a statement of intent by the parties to work together and outlines the basis, collaboration and joint activities in fields of mutual interest. In the signing ceremony held in Qatar, ESCWA was represented by its Executive Secretary Bader Omar AlDafa, and GOIC by its Acting Secretary-General Loulwa Bint Abdullah Al Musnad.

Beirut, 23 July 2010 (UN Information Service) — The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is holding a Regional Workshop for Arab Parliaments on implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and ending violence against them, at the UN House in Beirut from 27 to 29 July.

Beirut, 1 September 2010 (UN Information Service) — ESCWA is pleased to invite you to participate in the discussions of the third and last e-forum on social policy entitled “Social Integration: towards achieving inclusive participation in Western Asia” (http://pdwa.escwa.org.lb/forum-social.php), through the portal “Towards an inclusive Participatory Development in the ESCWA region”.

Beirut, 30 September 2010 (UN Information Services) -- UN Undersecretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Bader AlDafa has left the Regional Commission’s quarters in Beirut this afternoon upon the completion of his mission. In the presence of all Directors of ESCWA Divisions and staff members, UN Security guards performed the traditional parade for AlDafa, as is the case in the farewells of all executive secretaries.