HE Mr Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, Board-of-Directors Chair of Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development delivered an address on the occasion of opening the Colloquium on Arab Family organized by Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development, a branch of Qatar Foundation for Education, Sciences and Family Development, on Thurdsady, May 15th, 2008 at Four Seasons Hotel. At the beginning of his address, HE conveyed the greetings of HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, SCFA, President, indicating that the establishing of the Doha International Institute came as an initiative from HH Sheikha Mozah bin Nasser Al-Missned at the close of the Doha International Conference for the Family, organized by SCFA in November 2004, as HH confirmed the importance of creating the global family and the necessity to bridge the gaps existening among different people all over the world, despite disputes and conflicrts, and this to be achieved by means of a holistic motto that calls for the sacredness of the family. Likewise, HH called for establishing the Doha International Institute which is considered an international pillar that cares for the global family which is established on the natural unit of the family as stated in heavenly religions and confirmed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Doha International Institute has undertaken organizing such meetings like this one, in appreciation of the importance of presenting family issues, especially those that are critical and many-sided, and which are considered a great challenge faced by the family in the new millennium, and discuss and delibearte these challenges with the world's different communities

HE added: Ever since its establishment in 1998, SCFA , by instructions of HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, has launched a number of initiatives and implemented numerous programs and activities aiming at upgrading the family, as well as it has had a key role in reviewing and modifying the family law . Moreover, SCFA has just completed preparing a general plan for the family, besides preparing a group strategy for each family group. Therefore, SCFA participates today in this Colloquium with a work paper on its great achievements in the area of upgrading the family

HE confirmed saying: There is a number of issues and challenges facing the family in the world today, the most important of which is the family's traditional role which is deteriorating gradually as a result of the swift and frightening development witnessed by the world in the different areas, especially in electronic communications, and its negative effect on the nature of family life and eventually on the interrelationships within the family, therefore we should stand against anything that affected negatively the extended family which characterizes our society and in accordance with the teachings of our religion and confirmed by our original Arab customs and traditions

HE pointed out that the State of Qatar has witnessed a fast development, therefore, it has been necessary to prepare the family to face the challenges of this development and to ensure its stability in its being an integrated social unit, and that we should learn from the experiences of some states which have witnessed a huge disintegration as a result of the rapid change that occurred in their social structure. Hence, SCFA , among its initiatives, established a number of centers that care for the entire family groups and their rights, with the aim of preserving family identity and enhance the society's developmental movement

At close of his address, HE wished that this Colloquium could define the prominent challenges that threaten families and communities, especially in the Arab world. HE added: I am certain that the entire participants in this Colloquium look forward to creating a bright future for the Arab family thorough establishing an Arab action mechanism to encounter the negative phenomena enforced by the speedy development takling place in the different communities, therefore, I demand that this Colloquium be able to shed light on an action mechanism that is more effective in order to develop family policies and plans and joint strategies to preserve family entity and to face the economic inflation phenomenon which negatively affects the family as a whole. I also hope that peace will prevail in the entire Arab countries that suffer from wars and clashes, and that the family will enjoy stability and security

SCFA's work paper, presented by Mrs Maryam Al-Khater, Media and Public Relations Unit Head, shed light on SCFA's achievements in the area of the family with all its groups on the Gulf, regional and global levels, besides the initiatives SCFA offered, and the instituitions and centers it established by instructions of HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, SCFA President

Mrs Al-Khater, furthermore, reviewed a number of symposia organized by SCFA, as well as the awareness programs and campaigns and initiatives in the family areas which were adopted regionally and internationally. She pointed out the features of the family general strategy which SCFA has just completed, besides laying out a strategy for catching up with the media follow-up and assessment, to implement this strategy and enhance family role and stature in the society

It suffices to say that over 100 governmental bodies and NGOs from all over the world took part in the Colloquium and through which they dealt with the approaches and programs which the different countries have prepared for promoting the family and the establishment of a future vision for the family in the 21st century, besides the role of governmetal organizations in this area