The Arab region is aware today that the path to democracy is long because of the upheavals that changed their political landscape and led to gross violations of human rights, lack of rule of law and suppression of civil liberties and freedoms.

This Bulletin aims at providing detailed data on industrial statistics for Arab countries to be used for evidence-based analysis and policymaking. The publication includes time series data and indicators for the period 2004-2010. It is divided into two parts.

This Survey assesses the economic and social developments in the ESCWA region using data that became available by the second quarter of 2012. It finds that growth in gross domestic product (GDP) seems to diverge between major oil-producing countries and the rest of the countries of the region.

This brochure analyses the exclusion of people with disabilities in the Arab region. It highlights the challenges facing policymakers in their efforts to achieve social inclusion.

Discussions and ongoing debates on Arab women’s rate of economic participation, which is lower than any other region of the world, have emphasized the failure to turn educational gains of the past decade or so into increased participation in the labour force.