Press release

11 Dec 2014

Beirut

Former SG Special Representative Urges the UN to Put Social Justice
at the Heart of Political Debate

twitter social icon linkedin social icon facebook social icon mail icon

“Is justice a condition for durable peace?” was the question raised today by Tarik Mitri, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Libya, in front of the heads of more than 20 UN agencies operating in the Arab region, representatives from the League of Arab States (LAS) and various embassies who were hosted at the UN House in Beirut by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) for the 20th Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) meeting to discuss development priority agenda items. The meeting also witnessed statements by UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf; Tarik Nabulsi, Head of Coordination and Follow-up, Social Department, LAS, as well as by Sima Bahous, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau of Arab States, UNDP, and Chair of the UN Development Group (UNDG) for Arab States (Middle East and North Africa) delivered by her deputy Murad Wahba. On the sidelines of the RCM meeting, a project on food and water security in the Arab region was announced by ESCWA, in partnership with Sweden. Tarik Mitri, who currently heads the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, delivered a keynote statement, discussing the failures of democratic transition in post-revolutionary and post-conflict settings. He argued that precipitated elections and insufficient attention to development needs allowed issues of national unity and stability to overshadow the potential of democratic transitions. “The United Nation’s role is to push for putting social justice at the heart of the political debate,” he concluded. Mitri’s strong statement was echoed Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf who said, “The past three years have exposed the very instability of ‘systems of stability’ premised on inequity, oppression and exclusion. Thousands have taken to the streets, toppling despotic rulers, and demanding: ‘Freedom, Dignity and Justice’.” Khalaf then cautioned out: “The latest developments do not bode well. Exclusionary and sectarian practices are becoming more widespread. Calls for an Islamic state or for a Jewish state are examples... of the abhorrent concept of ethnic and religious purity of states. Justice and dignity are protected and preserved only through diversity and pluralism.” Nevertheless, Khalaf urged the region’s UN agencies to proceed with renewed hope and a shared vision. “We must reaffirm to our societies that their hopes for a just and equitable world, free from violence, poverty and oppression, were neither misled, nor in vain. Not only do we recognize their hardships and their achievements, but from them we draw inspiration and guidance,” she said. In his statement, Nabulsi said that the developments and change witnessed by the region needed a deeper examination into the reasons behind the current revolutions and the movements, which would become lessons learned to build implementable plans that directly reflect unto the Arab citizen, and shed positive light onto Arab efforts to achieve comprehensive development. “We need further coordination and cooperation, and should activate mutual focal points as well as consider allocating necessary resources to implement our proposals to member States,” he said. As to Wahba, he said that UNDG was committed to continue to prioritize youth across all development work it does. He added: “The Arab states region as well as the Middle East and North Africa are going through a tremendously important point in the demographic arc. Today more than half the population of the region is under 25 years of age, which means that we have an unparalleled opportunity to archive significant positive societal transformation.” To do so, however, Wahba noted, will require new approaches to opening space in society for young men and women to participate more, to contribute more and indeed to lead more across the economic, social, political and cultural spheres. Food and Security Before the closure of the meeting, ESCWA and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), announced the launch of a four-year US$ 3.5 million project to bolster food and water security in the Arab region. The project generate unique national and regional data on the present and future situation of food and water security; design coordinated regional policies to enhance food and water security; and help governments respond to dwindling arable lands and increased water scarcity, while meeting growing food needs. The Arab region, home to 5% of the world population but with less than 1% of global renewable water resources, is one of the most water-scarce regions in the world. Despite its limited availability, the demand for water is increasing, spurred by the region’s high population growth (from 93 million in 1960 to more than 360 million in 2012). Ensuring food security for all is a priority for countries across the Arab region. To achieve food security in a climate of decreasing water resources, however, requires increased regional integration and coordination in policies, strategies and implementation. This important regional project will bring together national and regional partners and global experts to develop a unified framework for good agricultural practices for the Arab region, and a regional monitoring mechanism to identify hotspots. Together, these tools will help Arab countries achieve the 1996 World Food Summit’s goal of ensuring that “all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” The Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) is held annually for UN Agencies working in the Arab region. The forum promotes strategic coordination and collective action, and ensures thematic and policy coherence across UN agencies in the region. **** For more information, please visit: http://www.escwa.un.org/rcm/ ; or http://www.escwa.un.org/divisions/main.asp?division=sdpd ; or http://www.sida.se/english/ Or contact: ESCWA Communication and Information Unit (ECIU): +961-70-993144/76-046402/ 03-910 930 dargham@un.org, abi-zaki@un.org, sleiman2@un.org, escwa-ciu@un.org
ESCWA - Shared Prosperity Dignified Life
Our vision

ESCWA, an innovative catalyst for a stable, just and flourishing Arab region.

Our mission

Committed to the 2030 Agenda, ESCWA’s passionate team produces innovative knowledge, fosters regional consensus and delivers transformational policy advice. Together, we work for a sustainable future for all.

Get the latest updates from ESCWA direct to your inbox.
arrow-up icon
Feedback