Doha: The Gulf Family Day Forum kicked off in Doha today, under the slogan “Family is The Treasure of a Nation”. Coinciding with the 10th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Labor, Social Development and Civil Service, it is organized by the Family Affairs Council in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
On this occasion, HE Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the Ministry of Social Development and Family HE Sheikha Sheikha bint Jassim Al-Thani affirmed everyone’s commitment to strengthen and support the family as a fundamental element in building the societies in the GCC countries, noting that the family is not just a social unit but the foundation on which the future of the generations is built. It is the first incubator of values and principles that guide the behavior of individuals and establish strong and sustainable community relations, she said.
She explained in this regard that the slogan of this forum, “Family is The Treasure of a Nation”, i
s not just a slogan but a tangible reality that we live every day, as long as the family is considered the first nucleus of society. Through it, we instill the values of belonging and citizenship and enhance the spirit of cooperation and solidarity among individuals so that supporting the family is an investment in the future of our nations and peoples, she added.
She pointed out that the societies are currently facing many challenges that affect the stability and cohesion of families ranging from economic and social changes to the effects of modern technology, all of which require close cooperation and joint efforts to overcome them, considering that the forum is a golden opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices between the countries to develop innovative strategies that guarantee stability and prosperity for the families.
HE Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the Ministry of Social Development and Family stressed the importance of this forum as a station for thinking and planning
for the future in order to discuss and exchange ideas and initiatives that can contribute to strengthening the role of the family as a source of real wealth in the societies, while hoping for tangible results that translate into policies and programs to support the family and enhance its position in the society.
For his part, HE head of the human and environmental affairs sector at the GCC Secretariate General Eng. Abdullah Bin Ali Al Rubaie praised the efforts of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries, their wise directives and their support and assistance for all matters related to the GCC family, which is the basic building block for preparing and raising a righteous generation that contributes to the advancement and development of the GCC countries.
Al Rubaie appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development and Family in presenting the initiative to celebrate the Gulf Family Day and organizing the Gulf Family Forum 2024, on the sidelines of the 10th meeting of the
committee of undersecretaries of the ministries of social development affairs in the GCC countries.
He pointed out that this forum represents the third edition of the celebration of the Gulf Family Day. At their seventh meeting held via video conference technology in September 2021, Their Excellencies the ministers of social development affairs in the GCC countries approved September 14 of each year as the Gulf Family Day, he said.
Al Rubaie said the leaders of the GCC countries attach great importance to family affairs in all its categories, and they ordered that a study be conducted to evaluate the reality and programs of children’s culture and how to develop them, in addition to their directives to give attention to women who are the backbone of the family entity as well as to pay attention to the elderly and provide all means of comfort that guarantee them a decent life.
He explained that the GCC countries are in continuous development and keep pace with the goals of sustainable development in all fiel
ds, especially in the field of the family in all its categories, noting that the GCC countries have focused on caring for the child who is the basic building block for the advancement of the GCC countries.
He stressed that the GCC countries are keen to provide basic services in their schools for free, including the Internet, textbooks, computers for educational purposes, an appropriate infrastructure for students with disabilities, and basic health facilities, while revealing that the percentage of schools that provide these services reached 100% in all GCC countries and in all services, except for the service of providing infrastructure for people with disabilities, which reached 60 percent of the total schools in the GCC countries.
In the same context, Al Rubaie stressed the keenness of the GCC Statistical Centre to launch special booklets for children in the statistical field, in which it reviews Gulf figures and statistics in an entertaining and objective manner that keeps pace with the targeted age gro
up to instill in children a sense of belonging to Gulf unity.
He added that the latest statistics indicated that the number of children under the age of fifteen in the GCC countries reached 12.6 million, with the percentage of males at 51.1 percent, while the percentage of females at 48.9 percent.
His Excellency explained that the GCC countries recorded very low levels of human trafficking cases because of the deterrent laws and legislation that prevent this type of crime in the GCC countries, noting the high percentage of young people and adolescents who have information and communications technology skills.
Source: Qatar News Agency