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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
The three-day international conference titled ‘Marriage: Formation and Constituents of Stability’ organised by Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), opened on Tuesday with discussions on developing policies suitable for helping youth who are facing pressure and challenges in entering matrimony to construct healthy marriages.
The virtual event which gathered nearly 1,000 people from around the globe kicked off with an opening plenary which set the tone for the discussion around the different perceptions of policymakers, experts and youth on the topic, and highlighted the advocacy measures needed through policies and programmes to address such issues.
Speaking on the occasion, Amina J Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, reiterated the call of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for governments to prioritise preventing and ending gender-based violence in the COVID-19 response plans.
“Some 146 member states and observers are answering the call on increasing resources and taking innovative action to protect women and girls. Also emphasised is the need to target women in economic stimulus plans and to invest in the care economy as key path to recovery to inclusive and equal societies.
“When we invest in women, we see exponential gains for the family and community. Our health and economic responses must be attentive to securing the rights and protection of every individual within whatever family unit they choose. Healthy family relations are important component of mental health and community prosperity. Efforts like yours today can help us formulate policies and programmes which respond to this need,” she said.
Queen of Malaysia Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskanda Al-Haj, Raja Permaisuri Agong, said maintaining a stable family is one of the most profound challenges in our present age as society has become much more complex. She raised the need for fundamental change in mindset given the changes in the society including the increasing participation of women in all aspects of the society.
The guest speakers were joined by HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports; Dr Sharifa Noaman Al-Emadi, DIFI executive director; and Reem Al Bannaw, alumnus of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in a panel discussion moderated by Shaikha Al Marri, member of the Youth Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Culture and Sports in Qatar.
Another plenary session on Marriage and Socioeconomic Challenges focused on wedlock and the socioeconomic challenges that accompany it, and explored the costs that occur prior to marriage formation and its impact on marriage rates.
The speakers included Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, member of Britain’s Upper Chamber of Parliament, The House of Lords; Dina Douay, director of Women, Family and Childhood Directorate, League of Arab States; and Dr Bouchra Tawfiq, director, National Institute of Social Action, Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family, Morocco. Dr Amal Mohammed Al Malki, founding dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, HBKU, Qatar moderated the session.
Dr Tawfiq said, “Delay in marriage will ultimately lead to a society with less young people and more elderly people. We have to work together to connect with our Arab and Islamic culture to keep pace with the occurring changes and support marriage policies and programmes, so we can bridge this gap and keep societies young and vibrant.”
Another highlight of the programme was DIFI’s presentation of its book on ‘The State of Marriage in the Arab World’. Ahmed Aref, editor of the book and Planning and Institutional Development Manager at DIFI, said the book presents a full portrait of the state of marriage across the 22 Arab countries from multidisciplinary perspective.
Other notable speakers at the event were Dr Luay Shabaneh, regional director, UNFPA ASRO, who shared statistics relating to the age of marriage across the Arab region; Prof Humoud Fahad Alqashan, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Kuwait University; and Kevin Skinner, American-born marriage and family therapist, who delivered a keynote address on Building the Case for Marriage
Skinner said, “Marriage is an institution that will strengthen our entire economies. It strengthens not only couples but the next generation.”
DOHA
The three-day international conference titled ‘Marriage: Formation and Constituents of Stability’ organised by Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), opened on Tuesday with discussions on developing policies suitable for helping youth who are facing pressure and challenges in entering matrimony to construct healthy marriages.
The virtual event which gathered nearly 1,000 people from around the globe kicked off with an opening plenary which set the tone for the discussion around the different perceptions of policymakers, experts and youth on the topic, and highlighted the advocacy measures needed through policies and programmes to address such issues.
Speaking on the occasion, Amina J Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, reiterated the call of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for governments to prioritise preventing and ending gender-based violence in the COVID-19 response plans.
“Some 146 member states and observers are answering the call on increasing resources and taking innovative action to protect women and girls. Also emphasised is the need to target women in economic stimulus plans and to invest in the care economy as key path to recovery to inclusive and equal societies.
“When we invest in women, we see exponential gains for the family and community. Our health and economic responses must be attentive to securing the rights and protection of every individual within whatever family unit they choose. Healthy family relations are important component of mental health and community prosperity. Efforts like yours today can help us formulate policies and programmes which respond to this need,” she said.
Queen of Malaysia Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskanda Al-Haj, Raja Permaisuri Agong, said maintaining a stable family is one of the most profound challenges in our present age as society has become much more complex. She raised the need for fundamental change in mindset given the changes in the society including the increasing participation of women in all aspects of the society.
The guest speakers were joined by HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports; Dr Sharifa Noaman Al-Emadi, DIFI executive director; and Reem Al Bannaw, alumnus of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in a panel discussion moderated by Shaikha Al Marri, member of the Youth Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Culture and Sports in Qatar.
Another plenary session on Marriage and Socioeconomic Challenges focused on wedlock and the socioeconomic challenges that accompany it, and explored the costs that occur prior to marriage formation and its impact on marriage rates.
The speakers included Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, member of Britain’s Upper Chamber of Parliament, The House of Lords; Dina Douay, director of Women, Family and Childhood Directorate, League of Arab States; and Dr Bouchra Tawfiq, director, National Institute of Social Action, Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family, Morocco. Dr Amal Mohammed Al Malki, founding dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, HBKU, Qatar moderated the session.
Dr Tawfiq said, “Delay in marriage will ultimately lead to a society with less young people and more elderly people. We have to work together to connect with our Arab and Islamic culture to keep pace with the occurring changes and support marriage policies and programmes, so we can bridge this gap and keep societies young and vibrant.”
Another highlight of the programme was DIFI’s presentation of its book on ‘The State of Marriage in the Arab World’. Ahmed Aref, editor of the book and Planning and Institutional Development Manager at DIFI, said the book presents a full portrait of the state of marriage across the 22 Arab countries from multidisciplinary perspective.
Other notable speakers at the event were Dr Luay Shabaneh, regional director, UNFPA ASRO, who shared statistics relating to the age of marriage across the Arab region; Prof Humoud Fahad Alqashan, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Kuwait University; and Kevin Skinner, American-born marriage and family therapist, who delivered a keynote address on Building the Case for Marriage
Skinner said, “Marriage is an institution that will strengthen our entire economies. It strengthens not only couples but the next generation.”
