The dynamics of protracted conflict in the Middle East; the Impact of conflict and occupation on development outcomes; the exacerbated vulnerabilities and mitigation options related to the conflict affected Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the Arab region; and building blocks towards resilience and transformation are the main headlines of the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) organized by the Beirut based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in partnership with the West Asia-North Africa Institute (WANA) on “Protracted Conflicts Dynamics and Resilience in the Arab Region” on 21-22 May 2015 at the Kempinski Hotel.
The opening session of the EGM, which will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Thursday the 21st of May 2015, will witness a keynote statement by HRH Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan.
Other high-level personalities will be also addressing the opening session, namely Mr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCWA; Professor Alexander Betts, Director of the Refugee Studies Centre and Leopold Muller Associate Professor in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford; and Professor Sir Paul Collier, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
The meeting is intended to provide a platform for all stakeholders to examine and debate current thinking on conflict dynamics in order to deepen understanding of the impact of conflict and violence in the region as well as the role of underdevelopment in amplifying the repercussions of conflict. The meeting will review existing policies, theories, and methodological tools in use for understanding, quantifying and responding to conflict fragilities while attempting to address the building blocks for resilience and, significantly, transformation out of protracted conflict.
The meeting will be an occasion to build broad participatory coalitions around conflict mitigation in the Arab world; provide tools for “peace advocators” through the quantification of the impact of conflict and violence on development and vice versa; and build networks among the actors involved in the discussions to establish an Expert Reference Group on the impact of conflict and violence in the Arab region, including its LDCs that will continue to support and advocate for regional and international support measures beyond the consultation phase.
Session I, will examine the causes and drivers of protracted conflict in the Middle East and how, through the Neighborhood Effect, conflict patterns are reinforcing themselves throughout the region, creating spillover effects. This session will conclude by focusing on a number of significant spillovers such as refugees. Session II, will discuss the cost and the impact of conflict on development outcomes while analyzing various conflict quantification methods. Session III is dedicated to examine the vulnerabilities of the LDCs in the Arab region. It will particularly look at the Istanbul Plan of Action for LDCs (May 2011) and attempt to highlight areas and support measures, which conflict affected LDCs could benefit from. Session IV will highlight the building blocks that are essential for resilience and transformation, out of the down ward spiral of conflict.
ESCWA Communication and Information Unit (ECIU) kindly requests that media colleagues in Amman who would like to cover the opening session of the meeting should confirm their attendance by contacting:
Ms. Alexandra Trevor, Head of Communications, WANA, at the following email: atrevor@majliselhassan.org
In Beirut, please contact:
ESCWA Communication and Information Unit (ECIU) on either of the following numbers/emails:
Mr. Nabil Abu Dargham: +961-70-993144, dargham@un.org;
Ms. Maryam Sleiman +961-03-910 930, sleiman2@un.org;
Ms. Mirane Abi-Zaki +961-76-04 64 02, abi-zaki@un.org.
Please direct your emails to: escwa-ciu@un.org
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