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Doha International Family Institute’s (DIFI) upcoming Doha Conference will focus on issues such as family poverty, employment, social exclusion and social integration, organisers have said. |
DIFI is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF) by holding the conference next month where experts, academics, researchers, civil society organisations and policy-makers will be able to discuss key aspects of social policy in an attempt to change existing policies and empower the family.
Under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, conference will take place on April 16-17 at Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme “Empowering Families, a Pathway to Development”.
Key themes for the anniversary of IYF are confronting family poverty and social exclusion, ensuring work-life balance and social integration and inter-generational solidarity.
More than 80 prominent speakers from different parts of the world will attend the conference to share their views and experiences on the centrality of the family and its role in the society.
In preparation for the IYF anniversary, introductory meetings were organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN headquarters, as well as meetings with civil society organisations in many parts of the world. DIFI contributed to this process by organising expert group meetings in Doha in 2011 and 2013 and at the European
Parliament in 2011.
The first day of the conference will focus on the issue of family matters. Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state. Yet, despite their contribution to society and overall development, families are rarely considered when policies are made. The day will focus on family matters and will be split into different panel sessions discussing issues of family poverty, family and work balance, family and intergenerational ties and families in special
circumstances.
During the second day of the conference, the focus will be on family and the post-2015 Development Agenda. A number of sessions will highlight issues of importance to effective family policy design and gender equality. The role of men in the family will also be discussed and considered in relation to designing family policies. The day will attempt to evaluate to what extent these matters have been addressed in family policies around the world.
The conference will look at current family policies and whether they support family functions and explore the need for a more holistic, multidimensional approach.
