Reaffirming and promoting rights during transition: development results 2012-2013

By looking at a narrow set of indicators, such as the rate of privatization, trade openness, debt, inflation and foreign direct investment, most analysts had concluded that Arab countries were on the right track economically in the lead up to the Arab uprisings.

Rising unemployment and informal employment, pressure on wages, deteriorating working conditions, and rising child labour are among the many challenges that Arab States have to contend with. In the coming years, economic growth in the Arab States is expected to remain among the lowest worldwide, and much too low to reduce unemployment.

For these reasons the Arab States require a new development model grounded in social justice: one that creates prosperity through equal opportunities, productivity gains, and decent work that expands social protection and reinforces social dialogue.