Under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) has announced an international conference on families and their role in societies’ development.
The conference will take place on April 16-17 at Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme, “Empowering Families, a Pathway to Development”.  
Noor al-Malki al-Jehani, executive director of DIFI, said: “Doha Conference represents an international initiative that reflects DIFI on a regional and international level as it brings together policy-makers, NGOs, experts and academics to discuss how families can be empowered, revisit challenges faced by families worldwide and highlight the role of effective national policies in promoting family wellbeing. We are truly honoured to host this event in Qatar.”
The report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations issued on December 3, 2013, had emphasised preparations for the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of International Year of the Family and the role played by DIFI at various levels in preparation for the event, referring to efforts made by the institute such as organising the Middle East and North Africa regional expert group meeting titled, “Protecting the Arab family from poverty: employment, social integration and intergenerational solidarity”. The event was held in Doha in June 2013.
The report also tackled some of the findings of the meeting. “The discussions pointed out that despite the rhetoric in support of the family in the region, family allowances as well as adequate maternity leave and childcare provisions are practically non-existent; labour market participation by women remains the lowest in the world, while the rate of unemployment among women is the highest in the world.”
More than 80 prominent speakers from different parts of the world will attend the conference to share their views and experiences regarding the centrality of the family and its role in the society.
Among the distinguished speakers are HE Dr Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Yang Berhormat Dato’ Hajah Rohani binti Haji Abd Karim, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia; and Vincent Meriton, Minister for Community Development, Social Affairs and Sports, Seychelles.