In the presence of civic activists, civil society organizations, academics, social researchers, local leaders and politicians from Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Syria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, and Yemen, ESCWA launched today its new publication entitled “Promises of Spring: Citizenship and Civic Engagement in Democratic Transitions”.
The launching ceremony opened with a welcome note by Director of the ESCWA Social Development Division Frederico Neto, followed by a presentation on the said study by Chief of the Participatory Development Section Maha Yehya.

Because economic and social development would not be achieved without the human and artistic aspect, ESCWA today received Lebanese renowned diva Majida El-Roumy who got briefed on the the Regional Commission and its work. From ESCWA Headquarters El-Roumy called for giving the youth adequate importance "because they are the future and the crucial means for change." She also invited young generations to consider refined arts as a part of sustainable development. El-Roumy began her visit at with an audience with UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf.

The Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), Mr. Bader Omar Al Dafa, heads today to participate in the high level symposium on “Trends in Development Cooperation: South-South and Triangular Cooperation and Aid Effectiveness“organized by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 19-20 January 2008 in Cairo.