League and UN continue Social Committee proceedings at 17th General Cooperation Meeting.

​The League of Arab States and the United Nations convened a meeting of the Social and Cultural Committee on 28 July, continuing discussions between the two organisations within the framework of the 17th General Cooperation Meeting, held at the United Nations Office in Geneva. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Minister Plenipotentiary Inas Al-Farjani, Supervisor of the Social Affairs Sector, and Dr. Luay Shabaneh, representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the participation of representatives of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, United Nations agencies, and specialised Arab organisations.

The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional cooperation and coordinate positions on priority social issues at the regional and international levels.

The Committee held a series of specialised dialogue sessions to explore ways of strengthening cooperation between the League of Arab States and the United Nations system across a range of social and cultural issues of common interest, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of multilateral action and supporting efforts to advance sustainable development and social stability in the Arab region.

The Committee began its proceedings by discussing enhanced cooperation in the fields of human rights and cultural heritage protection, as well as efforts to foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and peace.

It also reviewed mechanisms for strengthening social cohesion and promoting the role of civil society organisations as key partners in supporting development efforts and advancing social stability.

A significant part of the Committee's discussions was devoted to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, a key area of cooperation between the two organisations.

Participants examined ways to strengthen implementation of the Agenda in the Arab region and intensify cooperation to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and girls through the exchange of expertise, capacity-building, and support for relevant regional initiatives and programmes.

Discussions also addressed the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda and the importance of empowering young people and enhancing their participation in peacebuilding and sustainable development efforts.

The Committee further considered ways to develop resilient and sustainable education systems capable of adapting to regional and international developments, while expanding access to inclusive, quality education.

During its concluding sessions, the Committee discussed a range of current social and humanitarian issues, including implementation of the Doha Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development (Doha 2025), and enhanced cooperation in health and humanitarian assistance, including emergency preparedness and response.

Discussions also covered population dynamics and strengthening resilience in the Arab region, as well as the growing challenges associated with migration and refugees and ways to enhance Arab-UN cooperation in addressing them through a more integrated and sustainable approach.

These discussions reflect the commitment of the League of Arab States and the United Nations to further developing their strategic partnership by formulating shared visions and initiatives that respond to the priorities of Arab States and strengthen complementarity between regional and international efforts in the social and humanitarian fields, with the ultimate objective of advancing comprehensive development and enhancing security and stability across the Arab region.