The Committee on Social Development was established pursuant to Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) resolution 198 (XVII) of 31 May 1994 concerning the establishment of a committee on social development in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, which was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in its resolution 27/1994 of 26 July 1994.  It was established with the aim of promoting regional cooperation through the effective participation of relevant parties in member countries in planning the ESCWA programme of work in the field of soc

In the context of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the Statistics Division and the Sustainable Development Policies Division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) are organizing a regional Preparatory Meeting of the Arab Working Group on Sustainable Development Indicators in cooperation with the League of Arab States (LAS), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), the Islamic Education, Sciences and Culture Organization (ISESCO) and the Cente

The EGM on "Participatory Community Development"(Manama, 12-14 October 2009) was merged with the Arab League workshop on "Local Community Development", and held under the patronage of Bahraini Minister of Social Development HE Fatima Mohammed Al Belushi, and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development in Bahrain.

Over the past few years, many Arab countries have witnessed popular uprisings in which ordinary men and women have demanded freedom, social justice and dignity. Political transitions as a result of these uprisings have brought to the fore a number of short term challenges that will have a decisive impact on the long term prospects of these countries and the region as a whole.