Civil society

Children were the true heart of the Utsav, bringing the stage alive with soulful dance performances, a spirited judo demonstration, a heartfelt song, and a powerful drama on the meaning of freedom.

The Nobel Laureate vowed that the next election would be the best in the country’s history. Yet uncertainty looms large, particularly over whether the Awami League, the party led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will be allowed to participate.

Tourism accounts for 6.98 percent of the state’s GDP and is considered a key sector of Kashmir’s economy; 80 percent of Kashmir’s population, which is 12.5 million, is directly or indirectly dependent on it.

CSR provides an important platform for cross-sector collaboration, with non-profits, companies, and the government working together to create lasting change.

Meena’s work has not only built a thriving local economy but has also contributed to a 70 percent reduction in forest fires over the past year. What began as survival has become stewardship, and a local economy built leaf by leaf.

As birth rates fall and rural migration slows, cities are aging and – in some cases – beginning to shrink.

Traffickers use fake online job advertisements and social media posts to deceive vulnerable individuals into forced labour, sexual exploitation, and other abuses.

Deliberations at the session are informed by findings of a new ESCAP study Urban Transformation in Asia and the Pacific: From Growth to Resilience which offers policy solutions and showcases cities in the region that are already pioneering change.