DIFI experts spread awareness on family bonding and social issues

Doha: Studies have shown that the majority of divorce cases occur during the first five years of marriage. These figures prompted experts at Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) to underscore the importance of making premarital education programmes mandatory within school curricula, with the aim of strengthening marital relations, and ensuring the causes of imbalance in marital relations and the early collapse of the marriage institution are addressed.

This was highlighted during a recent five lecture series aimed at promoting family bonding, titled ‘Towards Strong and Cohesive Families’, and organised by the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the lectures took place both virtually and in-person in the Minaretein building (Education City Mosque). 

Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director of DIFI, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), gave two lectures. She said, “During the lectures, we focused on various family and social matters, such as issues related to the effects of intellectual and behavioural deviations on the family and society, best practices for caring for the elderly, protecting children and adolescents, the status of marital relations in the Arab world during the early years of marriage, and policies for balancing work and family in Qatar and the Gulf.”

Dr. Al Emadi spoke of scientific evidence, as well as study findings and recommendations, that can contribute to strengthening family cohesion in the future.  DIFI experts also pointed out the need for increased employee benefits, the right to flexible hours at work, and extended paid maternity leave. 

They also focused on the need to issue a law obliging private and public institutions to establish children’s nurseries, and allocate affiliated high-quality nursing rooms for female employees’ children to help them reconcile family and work requirements to enhance family cohesion and strengthen family values in society.

In addition to the two lectures given by Dr. Al Emadi, Dr. Azza Abdel Moneim, DIFI Director of the Family Research Department, gave a lecture on ‘Family Needs: Caregivers of Elderly People in Qatar’; Khaled Al Nama, DIFI Director of the Family Policies Department, gave a lecture on ‘Protection of Children and Youth in Qatar’, and Ahmed Aref, DIFI Director of Planning and Content, spoke on ‘Strategies for Work-Family Balance in Qatar and the Gulf Region’.

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