1. 1 Youth and Development: A Perspective from the Arab Region Economic and Social Commission For Western Asia اللجنة الإقـتـصاديـة والإجـتـماعيـة لغـربـي آسـيـا Ms. Rima Khalaf Executive Secretary - UNESCWA

2. Outline 2 Youth Bulge: A Challenge or a Window of Opportunity? Needs and Priorities of Youth A region in Transition Looking into the future: Harnessing the Potential of Youth.

3. The Youth Bulge: Challenge or Opportunity 3 Data Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Youth as a Percentage of Population

4. Multiple Exclusions 4 Addressing the Development Needs of Youth EducationWork Health / Social Wellbeing Participation in Public Life ESCWA Population and Development Report 4 – Youth in the ESCWA Region: Situation Analysis and Implications for Policy Development, 2009

5. Youth Policy Mainstreaming or Youth Centric Policies? 5 YOUTH Social Development Policy Macroeconomic Policy Health Security Employment Policy Education Policy

6. Multiple Responses from the Region 6 Youth Employment Programs Social Protection for Vulnerable Youth Youth Engagement in Decision-making Youth-Centric Policies and Program Political develop ments

7. A National Experience (Palestine) 7 Youth in Palestine in the context of Israeli occupation and lack of opportunities. Main challenges: violence and displacement; property confiscation; restrictions on mobility and economic activity; lack of economic opportunities Holistic policy response: increased participation in state building, empowerment, capacity development, investing in youth

8. What the Youth Want 8

9. Concerted Efforts 9 To address the multiple layers of exclusion Harness their potential in shaping their own futures

10. UN Support to Youth 10 POLICYADVOCACY CAPACITY BUILDING

11. Let their voices be heard 11 Organized a series of discussion forums and dialogues with the youth of the revolution Outcomes of forums to feed into a flagship publication on the Arab Region 2025: Prospects for the future written by the youth of the region

12. 12 They have shown that they truly can

13. 13 Thank you.