The New Challenges Facing Western Asia and their Impact on UNESCWA Work is the one of the priorities listed on the agenda of the 24th Ministerial Session being held under the auspices of Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri at the UN House, Beirut, on 10-11 May 2006.

On 25 February 2014, UN Undersecretary General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf launched from Tunis a remarkable report entitled “Arab Integration: A 21st Century Development Imperative” with the participation of Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and a crowd of political, economic, intellectual and public figures. Media representatives who took part in the ceremony received a press kit, which we will re-publish over five parts, in view of the importance of the issues the Report addresses.

At the beginning of this week, the United Nations Secretary-General issued an appeal to stop violence everywhere including violence in the home. As Directors of the four United Nations Agencies who have been working together to highlight the importance of Gender Justice and Equality before the law1 as a clear path towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, we call upon states in the Arab states region to respond to the Secretary-General’s appeal.

Beirut, 23 April 2017 (Communication and Information Unit) – Two weeks ahead of parliamentary elections in Lebanon, a panel discussion at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) today gathered activists and experts in the field of political participation to discuss ways of ensuring electoral justice for women and youth in the Arab region.