cultural setting oftheregion. Morespecifically, theobjectives of subprogramme 13are: (a)Tocontinue toprovide information onthesituation ofwomenandtheArab family intheregion through situational analysis basedonthecontinuous updating ofdataonwomenresources available fortechnical assistance services through the continuous updating oftheDirectory ofProfessional ArabWomen; (b)Toidentify acceptable approaches totheeconomic participation ofArab womenthattakeintoconsideration women's familial responsibilities andeconomic contributions; (c)Tocontinue toassess thechanging responsibilities oftheArabfamily andtoidentify theinstitutions thatwouldbenecessary toprovide alternative services andtogivesupport tothefunctions undertaken bythefamily; (d)Toformulate andpromote legislations andadministrative set-ups thatare incongruence withthechanging roleoftheArabfamily andthatwouldprovide legalcontext forthedifferent alternative modalities available towomen; (e)Toemphasize thespecial roleofwomenintheprotection ofthe environment; (f)Toprovide decision makers withrecommendations foradopting innovative alternatives forwomenwithin theArabsocial andcultural context. (b)Course ofaction ofthesecretariat 34.115 Thedevelopment ofhumanresources willcontinue tobethefocusofthe secretariat's activities underthesubprogramme. Threemajorareasofactivities willbeundertaken. Thefirstwillcontinue tobethecollection anddissemination ofdataonwomenthrough thedatasheets andthepjre~ ofArabProfessional Womenandthepublication oftheresults ofdifferent studies inESCWASeries on ArabWomeninDeyelopment. Thesecond areaofactivities willcontinue toexamine thechanging roleoftheArabfamily andwillassess theinstitutions thatprovide services thataresupportive and/or areplacement offamilyservices. Studies in thisareawillbeundertaken. Thethirdareaofactivities willdealwiththe identification ofalternatives thatareavailable toArabwomenwithin thesocial context oftheregion. Thesewouldinclude: increasing theparticipation ofwomen inoccupations inwhichtheyalready participate inbignumbers, sincedemand by faroutstrips supply; accelerating theintroduction ofwomen's employment in occupations inwhichonlylittle headway hasbeenachieved inthisrespect; and increasing theeconomic participation ofArabwomenintheESCWAregion through a culturally acceptable approach whichtakesintoaccount women's familial responsibilities andeconomic contribution. Thesetaskswouldalsoentail the -29- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryidentification ofexisting requirements thataimatadapting workmethods tothe needsofwomen, assessing theiradaptability totheESCWAregion, and,basedonthe above, proposing policies onappropriate modalities andthenecessary prerequisites fortheirsuccessful adaptation andadoption. Inessence, underthissubprogramme thesecretariat willbeimplementing theStrategy ofArabWomeninWestern Asia: A ThirdChoice, whichwasformulated during thepastmedium-term plan. 34.116 Feasibility studies willbeundertaken whichwouldbefollowed bypilot activities demonstrating innovative alternatives thatcanbeadopted bythe region. Thesepilotactivities wouldbewithin thescopeoftechnical assistance activities provided regionally ornationally totesttheviability ofsomeofthe modalities. SUBPROGRAMME 14.STATISTICS (a)Objectives 34.117 Thelegislative authority forthissubprogramme derives fromGeneral Assembly resolution 42/5,paragraphs 5,6and7;Economic andSocial Council resolutions 1985/7, paragraph 1;1985/8; and1988/59, paragraphs 1and3; Commission resolution 13(XI);andCommission resolution 155(XIV). 34.118 Theshortage oftrained personnel instatistics and.dataprocessing hashad aserious effect onthedevelopment ofstatistical services inmostESCWA countries. Training should address theevolving needsofstatistics anddata processing intheregion andcompensate forthelossoftrained stafffrom
**Analysis**
The text discusses the objectives and activities of the Secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in promoting the economic and social development of women in the Arab region. The text highlights the importance of providing information on the situation of women and the Arab family, identifying acceptable approaches to the economic participation of Arab women, and formulating and promoting legislation that supports the changing role of the Arab family.

**Category**
Culture, Employment