Ministerial delegates participating in the 24th Ministerial Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) called on member countries to make available up-to-date and precise national statistics on youth unemployment; and collect periodic data on all youth-related issues, including employment, education and health, from such sources as administrative records, population censuses, and household and specialized surveys, with a view to establishing national databases on the issues of employment and unemployment and their implications for youth, and for

Beirut, 19 May 2006 (United Nations Information Service)--UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy headed to Sharm El Sheikh to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East to be held on 20-22 May 2006. Mr. Mahmoud El-Hibr, Maritime Transport Team Leader at UNESCWA, and Mr. Bassam Annani, Senior Economic Affairs Officer in the Globalisation and Regional Integration Division of UNESCWA, are part of the UN Regional Commission’s delegation.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) will be hosting the Eleventh Meeting of the United Nations Regional Coordination Group on 19-20 June 2006 at the United Nations House, Riadh El Solh Square, Beirut.

The Meeting, which will be opened by UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy at 5:00 pm on Monday, is intended to coordinate the work of UN Agencies in the region in order to avoid duplication and repetition of their activities.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in cooperation with UNESCWA, is organizing a training workshop for the diplomatic community based in Beirut entitled “Conference Diplomacy” from 21 to 23 June 2006 at the United Nations House, Riadh El Solh Square.