Changes to family life and well-being post COVID-19 and the role played by NGOs in supporting the employment challenges families face were the focus of two side events organised by the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) at the 61st session of the Commission for Social Development.
Both events were held in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations (UN) in preparation for the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2024.
The Doha Briefing event, organised in partnership with Permanent Mission of the League of Arab State to the UN, was held under the theme, “Recovery from COVID-19: Consequences on employment and decent work among Arab families and its implications on achieving SDG8 in the Arab world”.
It focused on changes caused by COVID-19 which have affected the health, social, economic, physical, and psychological well-being of families, while experiences were exchanged on new evidence and innovations targeted at families.
Ambassador H E Majid Abdel Fattah Abdel Aziz, Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States to the UN, gave opening remarks, saying: “The COVID-19 pandemic has left a profound effect on our Arab society, and we are now dealing with these intertwined crises, especially the challenges facing families in the Arab world and the social impacts on children.”
Expressing concern about the impact of the pandemic on family cohesion, Ambassador H E Alya Ahmed Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN, who also gave opening remarks, said: “We want to empower families in order to continue to thrive, which is why it is important to continuously participate in international platforms such as the Committee on Social Development at the UN.”
Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director, DIFI, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), presented evidence and findings of the institute’s studies, including a study conducted in 2020 on “Overcoming Crises: The Impact of the Coronavirus on Family Cohesion in Qatari Society”, saying: “Producing and advocating for evidence is critical in supporting families in dealing with work challenges, especially post- pandemic.”
Dr. Nader Kabbani, Director of Research, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of the critical role that families play in promoting the social, economic, and psychological resilience and wellbeing of their members.”
Commenting on the pandemic’s effects, Beate Andrees, Head of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office in NY and ILO Special, said: “Although the COVID-19 pandemic marked a reversal of the gains made on gender equality at work, it also created new opportunities to promote women’s participation in the labor market, in line with the ILO’s mandate and normative framework.”
