Cairo – Ashraf AboArafe
Qatar’s Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, H.E. Ambassador Tareq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, delivered the opening address at the inaugural **Arab Regional Policy Forum on the Doha Declaration: “The Family and Major Contemporary Transformations”**, hosted by the State of Qatar through the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), in collaboration with the Arab League and Qatar’s mission in Cairo.
In his speech, Ambassador Al-Ansari emphasized that the forum builds on Qatar’s long-standing commitment to family-related issues both regionally and globally. He referenced the 30th Anniversary Conference of the International Year of the Family, held in Doha in October 2023, where the **Doha Declaration** was adopted with over 30 key recommendations aimed at strengthening family resilience and enhancing social policies.
“This forum takes the next step by moving from theory to action,” Al-Ansari stated. “It provides a high-level platform for dialogue among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to develop informed, effective, and institutionally supported family policies.”
The ambassador highlighted the growing complexity of challenges facing Arab families — from global shifts such as economic, technological, and demographic changes to regional issues including conflicts, economic pressures, migration, and the digital divide. He noted that cultural and social transformations also pose risks to traditional family structures and their ability to ensure emotional and social stability.
Ambassador Al-Ansari strongly condemned the destructive impact of the Israeli occupation on Arab families, particularly in Palestine, the occupied Syrian Golan, and Lebanon. He cited policies of forced displacement, home demolitions, family separations, and collective punishment as direct assaults on family unity. “Any strategic vision for family empowerment must recognize occupation as a structural threat to the family unit,” he said.
He stressed that effective responses to these challenges require more than short-term fixes — they must be part of a comprehensive strategy that places families at the heart of public policy. “Family empowerment is no longer a luxury. It is a foundation for societal stability and an investment in a more just and cohesive future,” he said.
The ambassador affirmed that family well-being is a central pillar of Qatar’s **National Vision 2030**, which recognizes cohesive families as the cornerstone of prosperous and stable societies. He pointed to Qatar’s leadership in addressing family-related challenges through research, inclusive policies, and support for sustainable development.
In closing, Ambassador Al-Ansari expressed deep appreciation to the Doha International Family Institute, the Arab League, and all stakeholders involved in organizing the forum. He reaffirmed Qatar’s unwavering support for all regional and international efforts aimed at empowering families, preserving their dignity, and enhancing their resilience in the face of rapid global changes.
