For her part, HE Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad emphasized that the State of Qatar gives foremost priority to familial values and crafts policies accordingly, underlining that when Qatar set the Third National Development Strategy familial policies were the key pillar of this strategy, in addition to enacting numerous existing laws, such as the mandatory education law and family law, as well as many familial and social services.
Her Excellency cited the ethical family charter crafted last August, which encompasses numerous familial values that reflect those adopted by the State of Qatar, primarily honesty, cooperation, solidarity, dialogue, and mutual respect. She highlighted those previous civilizations succeeded in maintaining awareness of the value and importance of family by invoking a combination of values and laws, primarily familial values.
HE Al Misnad stated that the work now focuses on ensuring a tight-knot family in the community to be the bedrock
of the community’s success in general, in addition to cementing the spirit of responsibility, underlining that shifting toward individualism may lead to a lack of focus on the common good of society and a shift towards individual interests. In this context, she stated, Therefore, we must take sincere and serious steps to understand the causes of these phenomena.
Her Excellency highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the roles of social units in Qatari society, such as the tribe, family, religion, and identity, noting that awareness of these various social units ensures that Qatari individuals possess a sound understanding of how to interact with them, emphasizing the need for constant review of the objectivity of legislation related to social issues to study its economic, educational, psychological, and social impacts and consequences, aiming to achieve the best legislation that can keep pace with and address challenges.
For her part, President of the World Family Organization Dr. Deisi Kusztr
a emphasized the importance of familial policies in light of the significant changes and pressing challenges facing families across all regions of the world, pointing out that the decline of traditional systems, economic instability, and the dispersal caused by migration, displacement, and refuge, along with major technological developments and climate change, beget problems and challenges that prompt the international community and local governments to support policies and develop strategies that make families connected, as they are the first line of defense for their member, notably youth, girls, and children.
For her part, Director of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University in the United States, Prof. Jennifer E. Lansford, explained that a UN report revealed a very high percentage of children worldwide facing environmental risks, noting that many problems have not arisen from children’s exposure to the internet and use of technology, adding that there are many positive aspects of technol
ogy when it is approached positively and in a way that benefits children and society as a whole.
In terms of urban migration, she highlighted the many problems that drive people to migrate to cities, including the availability of educational and job opportunities, among other factors, not to mention displacement due to natural disasters or armed conflicts.
Regarding how parents can support children in facing the challenges posed by technology, Dr. Deisi Kusztra said that from a policy perspective concerning the protection of children from the internet, parents should set limits on the time their children spend on screens and engage in dialogue about what they are watching.
She noted that parents also spend significant time on screens, emphasizing the need for discussions between parents and their children. Parents should put down their phones and give children more time to talk and interact with one another. This calls for raising family awareness about the risks associated with artificial intelligence and
rapid developments in the world, and their impact on values, ethics, and community culture.
Source: Qatar News Agency
