Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Regional Office for the Arab States of the United Nations Development Program issued the Arab Human Development Report for the year 2009, which addresses the “challenges of human security in the Arab countries”, stressing that human security is a necessary condition for achieving human development, and that the absence of its presence in Arab countries undermines the choices of people living in them. This report is the fifth in a series of reports issued by the office. It should be noted that the first report, “The Arab Human Development Report for the year 2002” was entitled “Creating Opportunities for Future Generations.” It is the first regional report on human development in the Arab countries from Morocco to the Gulf, and it ended with urging Arab countries to overcome three main obstacles: respect for human freedoms, empowering women, and acquiring knowledge. Knowledge Society” and concluded that despite the existence of human capital in the Arab region, there are still crippling restrictions that hinder the acquisition, dissemination and production of knowledge in Arab societies. He stressed that knowledge helps the countries of the region to expand the space for human freedoms and enhance the ability to guarantee these freedoms through good governance, and the realization of the highest human moral principles related to justice and human dignity. He also stressed the importance of knowledge for Arab countries as a powerful engine for economic growth by achieving higher productivity. The third report, “The Arab Human Development Report for the year 2004”, was issued, entitled “A Call for Freedom and Good Governance in the Arab World.” He presented a quick and in-depth treatment of the lack of freedoms and good governance and called for reform in the political and legal field. As for the fourth report, the Arab Human Development Report for the year 2005, it was entitled “Towards the rise of women in the Arab world.” It provided conclusive evidence that the full realization of Arab women’s potential is an essential requirement for development in all Arab countries.
Softcopies of these reports can be obtained through a special site for these reports
http://www.arab-hdr.org/arabic/reports/regionalarab.aspx