H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad (centre), Minister of Social Development and Family, with their Excellencies the Arab Ministers of Social Development and Family during the High-Level Arab Forum for Multidimensional Social Development.
Doha, Qatar: The Arab Ministers of Social Development and Family along with the Secretary-General of the Arab League yesterday signed the Doha Pledge for the Established Arab Family, which comes as an extension of Qatar’s efforts to embed the principles and identity of the Arab family and protect it from risks that threaten its unity and cohesion.
Titled “Doha Pledge on Promoting Integrated Social Protection and Consolidating the Principles and Customs Related to the Established Arab Family,” the pledge was signed on the second day of the two-day Arab high-level forum for multidimensional social development.
The pledge emphasised adherence to Arab principles and customs related to family and natural social relationships without compromise. It aims to confront unhealthy trends and attempts to change natural human principles and norms, leading to dangerous behaviors that threaten the institution of family and marriage.
Additionally, the pledge included the development of plans and programs aimed at enhancing the fabric of the Arab family, preserving the institution of marriage, and eliminating unacceptable interventions that constitute behavioral human diseases that threaten human society as a whole.
The ministers also pledged to continue efforts to develop societies and reconsider the shift from an individualistic to a collective style represented by the family. This shift is intended to safeguard against threats of deviation and enhance the role of the nuclear family in the social fabric.
The pledge included promoting collective patterns to broaden the scope of efforts against the tide of individualistic values. This approach aims to foster rapprochement and integration of regional agreements that the natural, value-based, and innate practice of the family, and repel all attempts to threaten our Arab societies and future generations, preventing deviation and returning to the essence of the family institution.
The pledge reflected the unified Arab regional stance, based on the directions of Arab leaders in numerous Arab Summit resolutions, decisions of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers, the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, and relevant Arab and international resolutions. This reiterates the Arab countries’ commitment to the essence and natural disposition of the family, rejecting any unhealthy classifications that contradict human nature and religion, while emphasizing the Arab countries’ pride in their values and morals, and the necessity to respect Arab principles, culture, and customs.
The ministers pledged to maintain a strong, cohesive family committed to religious and moral values, raising children to love their country and serve their community to contribute to its prosperity and progress, preserving unity and solidarity. This commitment stems from the understanding that the family is the foundation of society, which is based on religion, morality, and patriotism.
The signing comes as a support for the Qatari efforts represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, which launched the Family Charter on Monday. The pledge complements those efforts, serving as a roadmap for Arab countries to follow the natural state of the family, supporting its unity and coexistence based on tolerance, kindness, and mercy.
The Arab high-level forum for multidimensional social development discusses several important files that are priorities for joint Arab social development work, including the Second Arab Decade for Persons with Disabilities 2023-2032, the Second Arab Multidimensional Poverty Report, in addition to highlighting the sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life of Arab individuals and communities.
The outcomes and recommendations of the forum on the discussed topics are expected to be presented at the upcoming Arab Summit.
