Doha International Family Institute (Difi), a member of Qatar Foundation, has attended the 73rd session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which is currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, and set to conclude on July 19. 
Difi participated in a closed NGO meeting and attended a discussion of the second periodic report of Qatar on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 
Dr Sharifa Noaman al-Emadi, executive director of Difi, said: “Women are considered to be at the centre of the evolved family that serves as the basis for society, and we consider women’s rights and empowerment at the top of our priorities. Difi recently conducted many studies and important activities aimed at strengthening the family, and combating discrimination against women.
“For example, this year we published a study titled ‘Work-Family Balance’ based on quantitative and qualitative data that sought to investigate the challenges confronting working women and the family as a whole. One of the challenges we identified was the lack of achieving a work-family balance, and the negative effects this can have on family members, such as health.
“We are honoured to attend this conference, reaffirming our commitment to support women. Indeed, in March 2019, Difi organised an event titled ‘Gender-Responsive Social Protection for Adolescent Girls to Enable Aspirations and Reach the SDGs in the Arab Region’ at the 63rd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.”
Difi is a global policy and advocacy institute working to advance knowledge on Arab families through research and promote evidence-based polices at a national, regional and international levels. The institute has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
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