Geneva, June 19 (QNA) - The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, in cooperation with the Doha International Family Institute, organized a side event today entitled "Family Well-being and Resilience in Times of Conflict."

The event was held on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and was attended by representatives of diplomatic missions in Geneva, international and regional organizations, and civil society organizations concerned with family and social development issues.

In her opening remarks at the event, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah stated: "The State of Qatar has been keen to keep the issue of the family and its empowerment to fulfill its responsibilities in society among the priorities of multilateral action."

She noted Qatar's initiative, in partnership with other countries, of proposing a resolution, adopted periodically by the Human Rights Council since 2014, entitled "Protection of the Family." This resolution is considered one of the important initiatives that reflects states' obligations under international human rights conventions to support and protect the family, and highlights the family's role in promoting the enjoyment of human rights by its members.

Her Excellency emphasized that protecting the family and strengthening its role must remain at the heart of national and international policies and sustainable development agendas. She added that, based on this approach, the State of Qatar has continued to support research and knowledge-based efforts aimed at understanding the challenges facing families and promoting evidence-based policies.

Her Excellency also highlighted that supporting affected families in the Gaza Strip is one of the core humanitarian programs undertaken by the State of Qatar through its various governmental and non-governmental humanitarian and development institutions. Qatar is currently hosting a large number of wounded Palestinians and their families from the Gaza Strip to receive healthcare and social services.

She emphasized the contribution of Qatar's humanitarian initiatives to supporting millions of refugee, displaced, and conflict-affected families around the world.

Furthermore, HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva affirmed Qatar's pivotal humanitarian role in reuniting Afghan families and children. Qatar has hosted, cared for, and sheltered a large number of them in Doha, reuniting them with their families. She further noted Qatar's success in reuniting a number of Ukrainian and Russian children with their families in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In his keynote address at the event, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, Khalifa bin Issa Al Kubaisi stated that the State of Qatar believes that building more resilient societies begins with supporting families and enhancing their well-being. He added that the most effective social and humanitarian policies are those that place the family at the heart of protection, recovery, and development efforts.

He noted that this approach is a cornerstone of Qatar National Vision 2030 and is reflected in the Ministry of Social Development and Family's strategy, "From Care to Empowerment," which aims to strengthen the capabilities of individuals and families, support their independence, and empower them to actively contribute to development.

For her part, Executive Director of the Doha International Family Institute, Dr. Sharifa Al Emadi stated that, according to official UN statistics, more than 473 million children currently live in conflict-affected areas worldwide, equivalent to one in five children globally. She noted that child displacement rates in these areas have nearly tripled in recent years, bringing the number of forcibly displaced children to approximately 48 million. These figures reflect the profound impact of conflicts on family cohesion and well-being.

She explained that traditional aid often focuses on temporary and isolated solutions, while a child's security and safety are inextricably linked to the security of their family environment.

Speakers at the side event included HE UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Farida Shahid; Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Dr. Philippe Jaffe; and Director of Family Research and Policy at the Doha International Family Institute, Dr. Ahmed Aref. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Hafez Al Hashemi, UN Policy Director at Family Watch International.

The event highlighted the social and humanitarian impacts of conflicts and crises on families, and the pivotal role of the family as the primary environment for care, support, and social and emotional stability during times of crisis and upheaval.

It also discussed the importance of adopting integrated, evidence-based, and family-centered approaches and policies that promote family well-being and resilience, thereby contributing to strengthening social cohesion and supporting communities in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. (QNA)