The Minister of Family confirms that integrated family policies are the basis of quality of life and societal stability
Abu Dhabi, 28 January / WAM / Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of the Family, confirmed that the family represents the true starting point for building humanity and maintaining the cohesion of society, pointing out that the slogan “Year of the Family – Growth and Belonging” reflects a comprehensive national vision that stems from the belief that investing in people and the family is the true basis for sustainability and long-term development, and the embodiment of a system that begins with the family and whose effects extend to the entire nation.
This came in her speech in the “Attitudes” session entitled “Towards Stable, Prosperous Families”, within the activities of the third edition of the “Emirati Thinkers…2071 with Emirati Minds” forum, which was organized by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in partnership with the Ministry of the Family, under the slogan “The Emirati Family: National Values and Modern Transformations,” in conjunction with the Year of the Family.
She stressed that the strategic partnership between the Ministry of the Family and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research reflects the integration of national efforts aimed at supporting the Emirati family and enhancing its position, in light of the rapid social transformations, noting that choosing the family as a main focus for this year’s edition embodies a firm national conviction in its role as a pillar of sustainable development, a pillar of community cohesion, and a pivotal element in society’s readiness for the future.
Her Excellency the Minister of Family said that the Year of the Family is not a temporary initiative, but rather represents an integrated national path that places the family at the heart of public policies and development trends.
She added that the concept of development is not limited to economic growth, but rather includes human development and capabilities and the expansion of opportunities over time, while belonging embodies a system of values, identity and a sense of shared responsibility towards society and the nation.
Her Excellency pointed out that the family is no longer treated as a separate social file, but today it has become a national strategic issue directly linked to the quality of life, societal stability, and building human capital, stressing that the approach of the wise leadership since the establishment of the Union has been based on a firm belief that the human being, with his dignity, psychological stability, and ability to give, is the basic pillar of the paths of social and economic growth in the country.
Her Excellency explained that the UAE is witnessing a qualitative transition from separate family initiatives to a system of integrated family policies that view the family as an integrated life path, within the framework of designating the year 2026 as the Year of the Family and launching the National Agenda for Family Growth 2031, noting that this transformation reflects a deeper understanding of the family life cycle, starting from the stage of marriage, through early childhood, and reaching a balance between work and family life, stressing that international best practices have proven that comprehensive policies that Taking into account this sequence achieves a double effect compared to individual or fragmented initiatives.
Her Excellency the Minister of Family stressed that benefiting from global experiences does not mean copying them, but rather using them as sources of learning, and adapting them in accordance with the specificity of Emirati society, its values, and the nature of its family relationships, especially since modern and successful family policies are based on an in-depth scientific understanding of the family’s paths and transformations, noting that this understanding is based on the integration of three main elements that cannot be separated: longitudinal data that allows tracking family conditions over time, and experiences that enable decision makers to test policies before Its generalization, in addition to behavioral analysis, which focuses on understanding the actual decisions taken by families and individuals regarding childbearing, family growth, and work-life balance, away from theoretical assumptions.
Her Excellency pointed out that what is not measured cannot be managed, improved, or sustained, noting that the UAE builds its future policies on accurate data, scientific analysis, and a realistic understanding of society’s needs. Her Excellency highlighted the “Quality Standardization” program as a national model that reflects this approach, as its results showed that adopting family-supportive policies contributes to enhancing the balance between work and family life, without negatively affecting productivity, but rather supports it in the medium and long term.
At the conclusion of her speech, Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail stressed that belonging is not created by one party, but rather by an integrated system that begins with the family, where a sense of security and identity is formed, strengthened in the school, and supported by fair public policies that create a supportive environment for the family, noting that investing in the family is an investment in population sustainability, the quality of human capital, and enhancing community cohesion and shared responsibility.
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