Dubai forum focuses on Arab social policy

Dubai: The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) organised the first Arab Forum on Social Policy in Beirut, Lebanon, recently.

The forum aimed at securing the commitment of member nations for an integrated social policy, promoting dialogue and identifying and sharing lessons learned in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of social policy in the Arab region.

CDA's senior managers participated in the forum headed by Khalid Al Kamda, CDA Director General.

Cooperation

The delegation from CDA chaired two sessions and contributed a paper titled "Analysing Child Protection Policy Gaps". Representatives from the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council also attended the forum.

"Our partnership with ESCWA comes in line with CDA's commitment to enhance joint cooperation in the field of social development and to promote active dialogue and programmes to overcome the challenges faced by society at large. The forum marks the start of a continuous process of active dialogue pertaining to political issues and social security," said Al Kamda.

Widespread interest

UNESCWA member countries and other non-members representing 14 countries participated in the forum.

Civil society organisations, research centres working in the field of social policies and experts from the US, Switzerland, Malaysia, Ireland and Norway also attended the forum.