In New York, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Rania Al-Mashat will address the UN Security Council on Thursday, 17 September, at a session titled: "Safe Seas, Shared Security: Protecting Freedom of Navigation in an Evolving Security Environment".
Al-Mashat will participate at the invitation of Bahrain, a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2026-2027 term. Her participation underscores the role of ESCWA as a leading regional institution analysing economic, social and development trends across the Arab region.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary will assess how regional instability and disruptions along vital maritime corridors are affecting sustainable and inclusive development. She will also address the broader economic and development toll, including costs that spill across borders, with particular attention to the recent security developments and heightened tensions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the risks they pose.
The statement will be broadcasted live at 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the following link: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1r/k1r6s6jmtc.
