Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has been recognized at a ceremony held on the sidelines of the committee meeting of Ministers of the Council of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in Oman.

DIFI was honored for its annual Family Policy Forum – held every year in Qatar – which was awarded the top pioneering project in the field of social work. The accolade, presented by the Ministerial Committee of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the GCC during its fifth meeting, was received by Dr. Sharifa Al-Emadi, Executive Director, DIFI.

“The Annual Family Policy Forum is one of our most important initiatives - it aims to provide a platform for interaction and discussion about policy issues related to the Arab family, and identify and put them on the priorities of policymakers,” Dr. Al-Emadi said.

“Through three consecutive sessions of the forum, DIFI has discussed important issues such as work-family reconciliation policies, family law in Qatar, custody services, involving experts from legal bodies, government ministries, experts, researchers, NGOs, and social institutions concerned with family issues from Qatar and the region.

“This award encourages institutions of civil society and non-governmental sectors to engage in pioneering projects and initiatives in support of the process of sustainable development in the field of social work to strengthen the family in Qatar and the region.

“We would like to thank Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour, and Social Affairs for their consistent support, and the GCC Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs for this award.”

DIFI held the first family policy forums titled ‘Rethinking the Work-Family Reconciliation Policies in the GCC’ in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour, and Social Affairs and the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs.

The second forum was titled ‘Ten Years Since the Issuance of Family Law in Qatar: Experiences and Aspirations’ and held in partnership with the Legal and Judicial Studies Center of the Ministry of Justice; the Faculty of Law at Qatar University; the Qatar Lawyers Association; and Qatar Social. The last annual family policy forum was held in cooperation with the Qatar Lawyers Association and the Family Consulting Centre (WIFAQ), and was titled ‘The Best Interest of the Child in Qatari Family Law’.

The award, first announced in 2009, aims to recognize GCC entities that work in the social development field, highlighting outstanding projects and achievements.

DIFI is a global policy and advocacy institute working to advance knowledge on Arab families through research and promote evidence-based policies at a national, regional, and international level. The institute has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Source: Press release

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Binu Cherian

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