(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Doha: A conference by Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation, brought together nearly 1,000 people from around the globe to learn about critical issues affecting marriage.
The conference ‘Marriage: Formation and Constituents of Stability,' during the opening plenary session 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.
The session featured special guest speakers Queen of Malaysia, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Al Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskanda Al Haj, Raja Permaisuri Agong; and Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
They were later joined by H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports; Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director, DIFI; and Reem Al Bannaw, alumnus, 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.
Growing up with separated parents, Al Bannaw said she developed a fear that marriage will lead to divorce. 'I started seeing a relationship mentor who helped my perception of marriage and family, she said. 'I learned that each spouse must maintain their privacy and personal space to ensure that neither oversteps the other. This makes them truly partners in the relationship.
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, a member the House of Lords in the UK; 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 programs, so we can bridge this gap and keep societies young and vibrant.
In a session on Age and Marriage: Between Early and Late Marriages, Dr. Luay Shabaneh, Regional Director, UNFPA ASRO, commenced the session with statistics relating to the age of marriage across the Arab region.
Another feature of the event was a keynote address on Building the Case for Marriage by renowned American-born marriage and family therapist, Kevin Skinner, who discussed the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of marriage.
With social experts, policymakers, non-governmental organisations, and hundreds of attendees worldwide, the event served as an ideal stage for DIFI to present its book on The State of Marriage in the Arab World.
The book editor, Ahmed Aref, Planning and Institutional Development Manager, DIFI, said: 'This book presents a full portrait of the state of marriage across the 22 Arab countries from multidisciplinary perspective. DIFI aims by this initiative to increase the knowledge base on Arab families and stimulate discussion and action in response to the challenges facing the institution of marriage today in the Arab world.
The second day of the conference will also see the presentation of DIFI's research report on perceptions and experiences of long-lasting marriage among youth in Qatar.
MENAFN24022021000063011010ID1101651484
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.