Our discussion with Dr. Ayesha Al-Qahtani about “The role of the father in instilling language, values, and religion in children.”
The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) called on the international community to unite against the controversial issue of child marriage, during the recent World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha.
During a presentation at the Summit, Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, Executive Director of DIFI, revealed poverty to be a common thread linking many cases of child marriage. Noor also showed case studies depicting the realities of child marriage and the challenges of combatting it. “Poverty is a main cause of child marriage, and it is poverty that nourishes and perpetuates this practice”, said Noor.
Discussing the negative impacts child marriage has on a girl’s health, well-being, and education, Noor said: “Evidence shows that complications, which occur during pregnancy and child birth, are the main causes of death in children under the age of 18 in the developing world. In addition, millions of girls drop out of school each year because of early marriage and teen pregnancy”.
She called on various stakeholders, including those vested in the education sector, to unite in the fight against early marriage by highlighting potential policy reforms that could help re-engage married girls and mothers into education.
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The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) has launched the OSRA research grant in its sixth cycle which is a research grant on Arab families and family policy related issues.
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