Accommodating people's growing demands for their inclusion in society;; for respect of their ethnicity;; religion;; and language;; takes more than democracy and equitable growth. Also needed are multicultural policies that recognize differences;; champion diversity and promote cultural freedoms;; so that all people can choose to speak their language;; practice their religion;; and participate in shaping their culture—so that all people can choose to be who they are. In recent years the Human Development Report has argued strongly that this is as much a question of politics as economics—from protecting human rights to deepening democracy. Human development is first and foremost about allowing people to lead the kind of life they choose—and providing them with the tools and opportunities to make those choices. The 2004 Report builds on that analysis;; by carefully examining—and rejecting—claims that cultural differences necessarily lead to social;; economic and political conflict or that inherent cultural rights should supersede political and economic ones. Instead;; it provides a powerful argument for finding ways to “delight in our differences”;; as Archbishop Desmond Tutu has put it. It also offers some concrete ideas on what it means in practice to build and manage the politics of identity and culture in a manner consistent with the bedrock principles of human development.

أُجري هذا التقرير على مدار أربعة أشهر في لبنان والأردن;; ويركز على التحديات المؤلمة التي تواجه أطفال اللاجئين السوريين كل يوم. والهدف من هذا التقرير هو إعداد تقرير قائم على الأدلة من زاوية إنسانية;; تستهدف قاعدة عريضة من الجماهير لرفع الوعي بشأن التحديات التي تواجه حماية الأطفال;; وإعطاء فكرة عن كيفية استجابة وكالة الأمم المتحدة وشركائها;; وتسليط الضوء على بعض الفجوات التي تتطلب اهتماماً عاجلاً من جانب المجتمع الدولي. وتم اعتماد منهجية تتألف من مراجعة مكتبية للتقارير والتقييمات القائمة;; إلى جانب جمع البيانات وإجراء بحث ميداني في كل من المواقع الحضرية والريفية وفي المخيمات. وقد تم جمع المعلومات من خلال مناقشات مجموعة التركيز والمقابلات التي أجريت مع الأطفال اللاجئين وعائلاتهم;; إلى جانب اللاجئين العاملين مع الأطفال داخل مجتمعاتهم وموظفي المفوضية وغيرها من المنظمات العاملة مع الأطفال اللاجئين.

The report is based on the study designed to conduct a communications assessment of Aqaba Water Company;; one of the key water utilities in Jordan and to examine how its communications department collaborates with other areas of the organization. As part of the Public Action for Water;; Energy and Environment Project (PAP);; a public education and behavior change communication program developed to support USAID’s technical and policy investments in the Jordanian water and energy sectors;; the report finds that the effective communications can save the utility money by improving operations;; increasing efficiencies and reducing customer complaints. The report suggests that the strategic communications can be the key to a sustainable future for the kingdom during the times of critical resource constraints and presents some guiding principles and recommendations for the Aqaba Water Company’s communication efforts.

This report concerns the results of a survey on children’s literature and the promotion of reading in Syria. Emphasis is placed on a number of axes regarding children’s literature;; including policies and legislation;; programs and institutions;; libraries;; elementary schools and universities;; and general information regarding children’s books. Upon analysis of the state of children’s literature in Syria;; this report identifies certain trends regarding children's literature. It also identifies a number of problems facing the promotion of reading among children and makes a number of recommendations for the development and improvement of children’s literature.

This report surveys children’s literature in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the promotion of child literacy. The survey examines the promotion of children’s literature through various axis;; including official state policies;; the role of the private sector;; and the role of institutions and national programs in promoting child literacy. The report also examines Egypt’s childhood education system;; the quality and distribution of public libraries throughout Egypt;; and the nature of the publishing industry. Finally;; this report makes a number of recommendations which aim to further promote literacy among children in Egypt.

تعتبر هذه الدراسة مبادرة للإسهام في توفير قاعدة معرفية أكثر علمية للنظم والممارسات السائدة في القطاع العام بشأن عمليات دمج النوع الاجتماعي وآلياتها;; إضافة إلى أناه تسعى إلى القضاء على كافة أشكال التمييز ضد المرأة وتحقيق مشاركة فعالة لها تضمن لها حق العمل وااتخاذ القرار وتحقيق فرص متساوية ومتكافئة بين الجنسين بحيث تتلائم وطبيعة أدوارهم واحتياجاتهم. واعتمدت الدراسة على اسلوب المقابلات الفردية شبه المهيكلة والمقابلات الجماعية المركزة;; وتكون مجتمع الدراسة من الموظفين والموظفات العاملين في وزارة العمل والمديريات التابعة لها فيالمحافظات والبالغ عددهم 634.

This research study aims to investigate child labor in Irbid to provide a deep understanding of and knowledge about the socio-economic and cultural context of working children in Irbid. It also aims to propose intervention programs that maximize the effectiveness of the Family and Childhood Protection Society (FCPS);; an NGO in Irbid that works on issues related to children. Various study results have shown that children often work in dangerous and hazardous conditions where they are exposed to physical and psychological abuse;; in addition to exploitation in terms of minimal pay and long working hours. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to conduct the research presented in this report. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from all organizations working on child-related issues and from working children and their family members.

This report examines social development in Jordan with respect to childhood education and literacy. The survey presented examines the status of children’s literature and encouraging reading in Jordan. The report assesses the promotion of children’s literature in Jordan through various axes;; including the quality and prevalence of libraries;; the effectiveness of policies;; and the existence of civil institutions active in the field of children’s literature. The report also identifies various trends with respect to children’s literature through concentrated discussion groups with families;; teachers;; children;; and writers of children’s literature.