Arab League, UN discuss joint positions on regional, global social issues

The Arab League and the United Nations held a meeting of the Social and Cultural Committee to continue discussions and consultations between the two sides, as part of the 17th General Cooperation Meeting between the organizations, convened at the UN headquarters in Geneva. The session was co-chaired by Enas Al-Ferjani, Director of the Social Affairs Sector at the Arab League, and Dr. Luay Shabaneh, representative of the United Nations Population Fund, with participation from representatives of the Arab League General Secretariat, UN agencies, and specialized Arab organizations.

According to a statement from the Arab League General Secretariat, the committee explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the Arab League and the UN system on a range of social and cultural issues of mutual interest. The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of multilateral work and support efforts for sustainable development and social stability in the Arab region.

The committee discussed the women, peace and security agenda as a key area of cooperation, focusing on ways to advance its implementation in the Arab region. The talks also addressed intensifying collaboration to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and girls, through sharing expertise, building capacity, and supporting relevant regional initiatives and programs.

The agenda for youth, peace and security was also reviewed, emphasizing the importance of empowering young people and increasing their participation in peacebuilding and sustainable development. The committee examined ways to develop flexible and sustainable education systems that can adapt to regional and international changes, and to improve access to quality, inclusive education.

In its closing sessions, the committee addressed a number of current social and humanitarian issues, including the implementation of the Doha Political Declaration from the Second World Summit for Social Development (Doha 2025), and enhancing cooperation in health and humanitarian assistance, including emergency preparedness and response. Other topics included population dynamics, strengthening resilience in the Arab region, and the growing challenges related to migration and refugees, as well as ways to deepen Arab-UN cooperation for a more integrated and sustainable response.