The International Comparison Program (ICP) Regional Office, which is a part of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Statistics Division, has launched a periodic newsletter as a forum to exchange information and experiences, and making users of statistics aware of the ICP. This newsletter aims at highlighting ICP activities and expectations for the end of the 2011 ICP round.

The global community was proud to announce in 2012 that the global drinking water target articulated in the Millennium Development Goals had been met five years ahead of schedule. However, the countries of the water-scarce Arab region still face the continuing challenge of providing safe and sufficient water, and improved sanitation to its growing population.

This regional study examines the legislative and policy requirements for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 in seven Arab states, namely Tunisia, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen. The study concluded that most of these states have indeed established the needed institutions for the advancement of women and human rights broadly speaking. The study also proposes a range of recommendations on the responsibility of states in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325.

Within the context of its work on sustainable energy the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia is organizing four sub-regional training of trainers’ (TOT) workshops on "Mainstreaming Appropriate Renewable Energy Technology in the Rural Productive Sectors of the Arab Region" in the member countries, the third workshop is to be held in Oman (14-15 June 2015).