The meeting was chaired by HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad, the chairperson of the current session of the meeting, with the participation of the GCC ministers and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
During her speech at the meeting, HE al-Misnad said that the meeting is of great importance as it carries the aspirations and hopes of the GCC peoples for social development in accordance with a comprehensive vision for a Gulf society united behind its identity and its sustainable moral and value-based legacy.
She considered the adoption of the GCC Social Development Strategy (2021-2025) a big step and a leap within the joint efforts to achieve comprehensive social development for the peoples of the region and to implement the innovative initiatives.
Stressing the importance of considering the issue of adopting policies that support the cohesion and stability of the Gulf society and enhance the spirit of citizenship and Arab and Islamic identity as well as co-operation between Gulf brothers to deepen co-operation and joint work, she said that the family was and still is the true wealth of the nations, pointing to the identity and the uniqueness of our Gulf, Arab and Islamic history, which is rich in the ethics of human advancement, tolerance and integration. Today Gulf countries and societies are united in facing the dangers of diluting national identities, including the identity of the family, she added.
Highlighting the great importance attached by Qatar to supporting pioneering community projects within social protection policies, including empowering productive families and enhancing community awareness of the concepts of family cohesion and building families based on Islam, justice and benevolence, she stressed that Qatar will continue to support these social development projects at the national, regional and international levels and express its welcome to the recommendations concerned with building development partnerships between various sectors in which social and technical innovation is employed to advance the societies of the GCC countries.
She pointed out that Qatar supports Gulf brothers and stands together with them to achieve more co-operation, in addition to implementing the committee's decision taken at the previous meeting on the joint Gulf action strategy for women's affairs in the GCC countries (2024-2030) and following up on what has been achieved in this regard to enhance the role of motherhood in society and achieve harmony between the roles of men and women and enhance the concept of partnership and integration of roles between men and women within the family and marriage to strengthen the bonds and ties within the system of the Gulf families.
She affirmed Qatar's determination to continue its efforts to complete the implementation of social development strategies and plans in the GCC, noting the hosting of the International Family Conference to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family from October 29 to 31.
She said Qatar will host the 7th Gulf Theatre Festival for Persons with Disabilities from November 27 to December 3.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Ministry of Social Development and Family signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kuwait's Ministry of Social Affairs to enhance and strengthen their fraternal relations and achieve mutual goals regarding social affairs.
Furthermore, the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities also signed an MoU with Kuwait's Ministry of Social Affairs to promote co-operation in the development, support, and encouragement of charitable and humanitarian work, as well as regulating and supervising these activities in both countries.
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