Engagement Opportunities in the lead up to WSSD2 2025

Organized by the League of Arab States in collaboration with ESCWA and other UN partners.
Ministerial discussion that will focus on the priorities of the Arab region within the framework of WSSD2, and on the most pressing social development issues facing the region in light of the geopolitical developments

The next Prep Com meeting held on 10 to 14 February. iii) advocacy and stakeholder engagement iv) link between financing for development, role of international cooperation, financial reform and sustainable development crucial for WSSD2.

Organized by ESCWA with a focus on social protection and its impact on the SDGs in the context of lead-up to WSS2. Multiple preparatory meetings of the Arab working group on social protection will be engaged on WSS2 preparations (February in Riyadh and June in Algiers).

Organized by ESCWA and UNRISD, the meeting will bring together a wide range of stakeholders such as experts, activists, researchers, and academics to present Arab perspectives on inclusive development, justice, poverty eradication, decent work, climate adaptation, digital transformations, social contract renewal, and other pressing development issues. The outcomes of this dialogue will contribute to the Summit through a policy brief summarizing regional insights and proposals, in line with similar consultations in other world regions.

Organized by ESCWA in collaboration with partner UN agencies and the League of Arab States . The Forum will include a high-level ministerial discussion “On the road to WSSD2”, actionable recommendations for the region will derive from the session

Organized by the Arab NGO Network for Development, Engaging CSOs and youth in WSSD2 regional preparations

Organized by the Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs of the GCC States in cooperation with ESCWA. Meeting among representatives from ministries of labour, social development and foreign affairs of the GCC countries to discuss the Food for Thought paper.

The panel discussion will cover the challenges faced by workers in the informal economy to enjoy their rights to work and to social security, particularly in the context of the changing world of work due to new technologies and climate impact, exploring ways to improve their access to decent job opportunities and decent working conditions, to extend social security coverage to them, and to support transitions to the formal economy, based on the experiences of States, civil society, including trade unions and professional associations, relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders; Panel will also discuss the effective ways for the workers in the informal economy to have their concerns heard and to meaningfully participate in the development of legislation and policies relating to their rights to work and social security.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will prepare a summary note on the discussion, which will inform an analytical report on the realization of the rights to work and to social security in the informal economy, based on the panel discussion, and to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its sixtieth session.

High level speakers from OHCHR, ILO and other relevant partners will deliver high-level messages that can be linked to WSSD2 and UN advocacy. The 58th session will also include a presentation on the work mandated by the Human Rights Council on care and support economy and systems (RES/54/6).

The multi-stakeholder regional consultation was organized as an associated event of the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (25-28 February 2025). The consultation focused on social development priorities in Asia and the Pacific, emphasizing inclusive and people-centered development. Thematic areas of particular interest included the need to strengthen social protection systems, preparing for an ageing population, while strengthening intergenerational solidarity and relations, meeting increasing care demands, while also taking into account gender equality considerations and how governments can ensure inclusive development to reduce poverty and inequality and create opportunities across all groups of society.

ESCWA’s Executive Secretary briefed Arab Permanent Representatives on the various regional preparatory processes for WSSD2 during CsocD63.

Engaging school children in five countries across the region in WSS2 themes and raising awareness of impact at community level. The challenges facing the Arab region, including conflicts, food shortages, widespread poverty, low rates of education and the consequent problems such as displacement, brain drain, food insecurity and aggravated pollution, among others, have been the main topics of "The ESCWA Stories", Volume 4.