The Statistical Committee was established under ESCWA resolution 179 (XVI), of 2 September 1992, which was adopted by the Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/2 of February 2, 1993. The objective was to establish a committee to follow up the progress of member states in developing their statistical systems, and to provide technical advice, propose training programs and organize workshops and seminars to strengthen their statistical capacity. It also assists member states in the standardization of national statistics for more comparability at the regional and international levels, and supports them in coordinating statistical data and information with the UN Statistical Commission and with other member countries, particularly in surveys and censuses. The Statistical Committee holds its session once every two years. Its twelfth session was held in Beirut, Lebanon, on 4 and 5 April 2017, and it will hold its 13th session in Beirut on 29 and 30 January 2019.