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Proposal to Establish the Arab Council for Population and Development within the Arab League Approved
Proposal to Establish the Arab Council for Population and Development within the Arab League Approved
Sunday, 9 September 2018

At its recent 102nd ordinary session, the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League approved a proposal to establish the Arab Council for Population and Development. The proposal was submitted by Jordan during the 18th meeting of heads of national population councils and committees in the Arab countries held late last year in Jordan.

According to the decision, which the Higher Population Council received a copy of, the Arab League Secretariat has been assigned to develop the draft articles of association of the Arab Council for Population and Development to present it to the member states and the Economic and Social Council.

The aim of the Arab Council for Population and Development is to strengthen cooperation and communication, sharing of information, and expertise in the field of population and development among Arab countries and will have a mandate to facilitate joint efforts in this field.

HPC Secretary General, Engineer Maysoon Al Zoubi, indicated that the Arab Council for Population and Development will enhance, formalize and coordinate national and regional efforts to achieve sustainable Arab population development and will strengthen cooperation in developing national and regional policies, strategies and programs to overcome difficult living and demographic conditions. She also noted that given the challenges and difficulties which Arab countries are facing, it is necessary to cooperate to develop joint, scientific, realistic and informed plans and solutions to overcome these challenges. Al Zoubi added that these efforts will help Jordan to advance population issues and policies and ultimately realize and benefit from the demographic dividend which is expected to reach its peak in 2040. She also recognized the efforts of Arab countries and the Population Studies Unit at the Arab League in supporting the proposal to establish the Arab Council for Population and Development and stressed that the approval is the result of joint cooperation of national Jordanian agencies including the Policies and Strategies Directorate of the Ministry of Social Development, the Foreign Trade Policies Directorate at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Arab League Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the secretariat of the Higher Population Council, as well as the support of Jordanian mission at the Arab League lead by Jordan’s ambassador to Egypt Ali Al Ayed.