The UAE and Serbia sign a cooperation agreement to enhance family empowerment and child protection

Belgrade, 26 May / WAM / The Ministry of Family signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography of the Republic of Serbia, regarding the preservation and empowerment of the family and child protection, within the framework of enhancing bilateral cooperation and exchanging experiences and best practices in the areas of family and demographic policies, in a way that supports family stability and enhances the quality of community life in the two countries.

This came during the participation of Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, in the international conference of experts “One Heart More”, which was held in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on May 24 and 25, with the participation of an elite group of decision-makers, representatives of international institutions and organizations, and international specialists and experts in the fields of health care, family and community policies.

The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Sanaa bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, and Her Excellency Jelena Zaric Kovačević, Minister of Family Welfare and Demography of the Republic of Serbia, in the presence of His Excellency Ahmed Hatem Bargash Al Menhali, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, and a number of officials and representatives of relevant authorities from both sides.

This step comes within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement concluded between the UAE and the Republic of Serbia in 2022, and based on the keenness of both sides to enhance cooperation in issues related to the family and community development, reflecting the common belief in the pivotal role of the family as the basic pillar for building a cohesive and sustainable society, and confronting the accelerating social and demographic challenges by adopting innovative policies and initiatives that support the family and its members.

The agreement aims to establish a framework for joint cooperation between the two sides in the areas of population and demographic policies, enhancing initiatives that support fertility and the balance between professional life and family responsibilities, and supporting early childhood development, in addition to enhancing community participation in caring for children and the elderly, supporting family well-being and cohesion, monitoring the effects of aging on family life, enhancing solidarity between generations within the family and society, and cooperation in areas related to reproductive health and demographic capacity.

Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail stressed that the signing of the agreement reflects the UAE’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships aimed at developing the family and community work system, and exchanging expertise and successful experiences in the areas of family empowerment, child protection and demographic policies, which contribute to building more stable, cohesive and sustainable societies, noting that this trend comes within the framework of the forward-looking vision of the wise leadership that places the family at the heart of its national priorities as the basic pillar of society’s stability and development.

Her Excellency said that the UAE continues its efforts to develop an integrated system to support the family and enhance the quality of community life, through specific policies and initiatives aimed at raising the efficiency of social services and expanding the scope of innovative solutions to keep pace with rapid social and demographic changes, in line with the goals of the “Year of the Family” and the National Agenda for Family Growth 2031, which constitutes a national framework for integrating efforts and directing policies towards enhancing family stability and empowerment, noting that the Ministry of the Family is working to establish an approach based on innovation, integration and local partnerships. And international, which contributes to building a sustainable family system that reflects the country’s aspirations and supports its competitiveness in social indicators.

Her Excellency added that the agreement opens new horizons for joint cooperation in the fields of social innovation, and work to employ international knowledge and expertise to find innovative and sustainable solutions that enhance the quality of life of families and support their ability to face future challenges, noting that these efforts are embodied through constructive cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of Serbia in this field, in a way that enhances the exchange of knowledge and the development of joint initiatives with a sustainable impact.

For her part, Her Excellency Jelena Zaric Kovačević, Minister of Family Welfare and Demography of the Republic of Serbia, said that the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the UAE represents a new beginning and a promising chapter in the path of bilateral relations between the two countries, based on investing in the most valuable possessions of societies, such as families and children, and working to build a sustainable demographic future for future generations.

Her Excellency stressed that this step comes at a time when the UAE continues to consolidate its global position and leadership in developing innovative solutions and building advanced systems to support family development, in parallel with the intensive efforts made by the Republic of Serbia to develop strategic population policies and create a supportive and stimulating environment for parents.

She said that this agreement provides a framework for unifying efforts, exchanging experiences, and joint work to develop policies that directly contribute to enhancing the economic security of families, achieving a better balance between professional life and family life, and supporting the sustainable demographic renewal of our societies in the long term.

She explained that exchanging knowledge and experiences in the areas of demographic development and supporting parents constitutes one of the basic pillars of this partnership during the next phase, based on our firm belief that the cohesive family remains the true foundation stone for building stable and prosperous societies.

Under the agreement, the two sides will work to implement joint programs and initiatives by exchanging knowledge, experiences, best practices and innovative solutions, organizing conferences, specialized forums and academic visits, in addition to cooperating in international events and within organizations concerned with family and demographic issues, in a way that contributes to developing sustainable solutions to confront modern family and societal challenges, and benefiting from advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics and digital solutions in supporting family policies and initiatives.

In a related development, Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail met during the visit with His Excellency Dr. Goro Matsut, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, in the presence of His Excellency Ahmed Hatem Al Menhali, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Belgrade.

During the meeting, the two sides stressed their mutual commitment to continue strengthening the strategic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Serbia, and praised the strong friendly relations between the two countries, which are based on cooperation, respect and trust.

The two parties noted the distinguished relations between His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” and His Excellency Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. They stressed the importance of expanding the scope of cooperation between the two countries, with a special focus on enhancing cooperation in the areas of family policies and empowering women in family and social affairs.

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