ESCWA WEEKLY NEWS No. 32

15 July 2019



	Combating violence against women in Syria ESCWA, in cooperation with the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs and Population, held a national workshop to discuss international instruments and best practices to address violence against women (VAW) in Syria on 2-3 July 2019 in Damascus. Several recommendations were brought forward to concerned authorities. The workshop focused on international standards and best practices to address VAW, and relevant national mechanisms, including legislation, policies, strategies and services, as well as the role of various governmental and non-governmental stakeholders and service providers therein. Participants also discussed the survivor's help-seeking behaviour and her needs in terms of health, shelter, psycho-social rehabilitation, legal and security/ protection services. Read more

	Improving energy statistics for sustainable development in Lebanon ESCWA, UN-DESA and UNSD, conducted a 4-day meeting to provide “Technical Assistance to Lebanon on Improving Energy Statistics for Sustainable Development” for Lebanon on 2-5 July 2019 at the request of the Petroleum Directorate at the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW). An action plan for institutional framework and for energy balances compilation and dissemination and a detailed matrix on energy data gaps were presented to the MoEW during a meeting with Energy Minister, Nada Boustani, and her advisors on 5 July 2019 for their review. ESCWA has implemented two projects on energy statisitcs and balance (ESAB) to guide evidence-based economic and sectoral policies. This comes at a time where Lebanon’s energy strategy for demand and supply is at a turning point. Partners in this endeavour include mainly the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) and the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in Lebanon. Read more


	Digital transformation strategy in Syria Based on an advisory request received from the Ministry of Communications and Technology (MoCT) in Syria, ESCWA conducted, in partnership with MoCT, a national workshop on 8 July 2019 to discuss the draft document of digital transformation strategy with national stakeholders and to agree on the future steps to finalize the strategy. The workshop stressed the importance of selecting the appropriate projects and initiatives related to digital government services according to national priorities. It also highlighted the needs to accelerate socio-economic recovery and then transit to economic growth phase, and to foster innovation ecosystem in the country. The team of ESCWA underpinned that it is also important to upskill public sector officials to contribute efficiently in the digital transformation strategy. Read more

	Open data to promote transparency in public sector ESCWA, in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Technology (MoCT) in Syria, organized a workshop on open data in Damascus on 9 July 2019 with the participation of representatives from several ministries and public institutions, universities, NGOs and civil society. The workshop focused on open government as a way to promote transparency and participatory approaches in the public sector. It discussed the legal dimensions of open government, the concept of open data and its various applications, as well as the strategic and technical aspects of open data, open data applications and their impact on economic, social and environmental development. Discussions also tackled the status of e-government in the Syrian Arab Republic and mechanisms to develop them in order to move towards open data. Read more


	Did you know... … that more than half of the world’s population lives in cities? Between 2000 and 2014, the proportion of the global urban population living in slums dropped from 28.4% to 22.8%. However, the actual number of people living in slums increased from 807 million to 883 million. As of 2014, while the regional average was 32%, the proportion of Arab populations massively affected by slum dwellings ranged from as high 92% to less than 10%. Read more