Beirut, 9 September 2011 (UN Information Services) — Main challenges to developing high-performing and sustainable social security systems in most member countries of ESCWA include the lack of data on social protection, political will and good governance, a meeting of the 14-member UN regional commission concluded today.

Participants in the 8-9 September ESCWA meeting on “Social Security in Western Asia: Accessibility and Sustainability”, held at the UN House in Beirut, agreed that there was the urgent need to improve the collection, analysis and availability of such data and that both political will and good governance were essential for effective and sustainable social security systems in most regional countries.

Experts participating in the meeting also stressed the need to have social security systems accessible and financially sustainable and that the development of these systems in the ESCWA region must be adapted to national contexts that take into account four categories of regional countries. These are high-income oil producers, middle-income and more diversified economies, least developed countries, and countries in conflict or post-conflict.

Conferees also called on governments to seriously consider setting up unemployment insurance schemes along the Bahraini model, with contributions from the State, employers and employees. Participants highlighted the importance of giving a greater attention to gender dimensions of social security provision, including the goal of boosting women’s empowerment.

Discussions in the two-day meeting revolved around social protection issues within two main topics: financial sustainability of social protection systems in ESCWA member countries, and universal provision of social security in these countries. The meeting also aimed at identifying policy options to strengthen the role of social security systems in promoting social development.