Equality, inclusion and empowerment

The events of the Arab Spring and its difficult aftermaths have brought inequality to the centre of recent discussions on the future of the Arab region, which is the most unequal region in the world, according to numerous studies and reports. High levels of inequality are conducive to violent conflict, extremism and terrorist recruitment and mobilization, which pose long-term threats to sustainable development and the provision of public goods, including access to natural resources and education. Global and regional lessons from the linkages between inequality, conflict and development indicate that redistributive Governments implementing policy trade-offs between private-sector development and public-sector reform are more likely to be politically stable and generate higher growth rates. Inclusion can be construed as equal access to economic and social services and socioeconomic opportunities, political representation and participation, security and justice for all, and natural resources for the benefit of citizens without exclusion or favouritism. It is a multidimensional indicator of how a society is sharing resources, power and revenues of growth in order to reduce existing inequalities, and structural inequalities of conditions, and therefore of opportunities, at all levels, whether along gender, youth, ethnic, racial, political, religious, regional, or urban-versus- rural divides.17 In the political sphere, inclusion can refer to an institutional structure whereby power is shared. It relates to the ability of individuals to effectively participate in political and public decision-making processes.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions