(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Arab countries are facing several changes and challenges resulting in delayed marriage of girls, high number of divorces and severe unemployment, opined a leading researcher yesterday.
Speaking at the first annual conference on Family Research and Policy, organised by the Doha Institute of Family Institute (DIFI), Dr Darwish al-Emadi, director of the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute ( SESRI), Qatar University, said that family values are at the forefront of all individual values.
However, he highlighted that Arab families are facing several challenges. "At 11.2 % unemployment rate among the youth, the Mena region has the second highest unemployment in the world. Some unofficial reports suggest the unemployment rate at 17%. Almost 11 million people in the region are earning less than a dollar a day," he said.
Al-Emadi also highlighted the age for marriage of girls has considerably gone up in the Arab countries. "According to the findings of a survey by SESRI, in countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, girls used to get married at the age of 18 in 1970's while the present age for marriage of girls is around 23-24. While the families had an average of seven children in 1970's, the number of children at present is about three or four per family."
The SESRI director also highlighted that divorce rates are also very high in the region. "Statistics indicates that three out of 10 marriages in some of the countries in the region end up in divorce in the first year of the marriage. In addition, there are also increasing burdens of marriage in these countries. If these communities do not take the necessary measures in terms of education, culture, raising awareness, and necessary legislation, the issue would become worse."
The official also highlighted that globalisation has brought in several changes all over the world and the Arab families have to cope with it.
Taking part at a panel discussion during the conference, Dr. Paul Tabar, associate professor of sociology at the Lebanese American University, said that one serious issue that has not yet been focused is about the Arab families that had migrated to a non- Arab country. "There is a methodological error in such research. Migration has become so common and Arab families are also affected by migration. The assimilation that takes place among the Arab families in a non- Arab country is an interesting point for research," Dr Tabar said.
The two day conference has three major themes for discussion.: Political, economic, and cultural challenges facing the Arab family in different countries and regions of the Arab world; Marriage and divorce in the Arab world; and the role of state policies in family formation and stability.
The conference has a good number of participants from most of the Arab countries. There are several workshops and discussions on several issues related to Arab families and the steps to be taken to strengthen the institute of family.
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