In the framework of its current focus on extending social protection in Arab countries, the Social Policy Section in ESCWA's Social Development Division, in cooperation with the ILO, is organizing a workshop on labour intensive work programmes for practitioners across the region. The workshop will be held at the Ministère de l’Investissement et de la Coopération Internationale in Tunisia from 25 to 26 September 2013.

The sixth issue of the Annual Review analyses the extent to which Arab countries are integrated into the global economy and the degree of economic integration among those countries. It draws particular attention to foreign direct investment, tourism and World Trade Organization negotiations. The publication concludes with a set of recommendations on how issues related to Arab regional integration and globalization can best be tackled.

The purpose of this ninth issue of the Bulletin on Population and Vital Statistics in the ESCWA region is to present available statistics for ESCWA member countries on registered vital events, including births, deaths, marriages and divorces, with special emphasis on demographic determinants and population changes; present the main indicators for each of these events; compare them with the estimates prepared by the United Nations Population Division; and facilitate comparison across countries and years.