SPA — The activities of Arab Council for Population and Development (ACPD), headed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was concluded here today.
Held at the headquarters of King Abdullah Center for Petroleum Studies and Research in Riyadh, the session was chaired by the Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, and was attended by ministers concerned with population and development and heads of delegations from 21 Arab countries.
During the session, the Council discussed recent regional and international population trends, and issues related to population and development, with the aim of strengthening efforts to develop national population strategies, providing technical support, improving coordination, and exchanging knowledge among member states. A number of proposals and recommendations were presented on the best ways to address the developmental challenges facing Arab peoples nowadays.
In his speech at the session opening, the Minister of Economy and Planning stated that with the increase in global changes and economic and social challenges and opportunities, population and development issues will become more important in terms of public policies, and that it is important to focus on developing human capital and strengthening institutions and developing human capital must be the focus in our discussions so as to take advantage of changing demographic trends.
He said, “We are confident that through this council and cooperation among our countries, and by building knowledge and exchanging lessons learned, we will be able to benefit from the demographic dividend and ensure sustainable economic growth.”
Attending as a guest of honor at the ACPD’s fourth regular session, the President of Human Rights Commission (HRC), Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri stated that the Kingdom has developed a comprehensive strategy for the family that takes into account men, women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and others with special needs, and there is a special focus on early childhood, being one of the most important stages of building demographics and the largest investment in human capital.
Al-Tuwaijri indicated that HRC works in cooperation with all relevant authorities in the three sectors to support, enhance and monitor the human rights aspect, so that the individual and society enjoy a greater opportunity to participate in development, and to achieve the objects of sustainable development that are in harmony with human rights, noting that spreading the culture of human rights, activating tools for monitoring and responding to any human rights abuses, and communicating with the international community through governmental and non-governmental organizations, all of which are important channels that the Commission invests for human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and abroad.
