On the sidelines of the 2026 High-level Political Forum (HLPF), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 7 to 15 July, ESCWA participated in a series of high-level events and bilateral meetings, contributing to international discussions on sustainable development.
On 14 July, Minister of Economy and Planning of Tunisia Samir Abdelhafiz brought the Arab regional perspective to the HLPF by relaying the messages that had emanated from the 2026 Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, in his capacity as its Chair. Without peace and compliance with international law, there is no sustainable development, he stressed.
On 10 July, for the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rania Al-Mashat called for stronger collective action as the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms began, speaking at a special event co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, and Senegal, together with ESCWA and ESCAP, as Co-Chairs of the United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms.
