DIFI discusses realities of GCC women married to non-nationals

The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) participated in a panel discussion on the rights of GCC women married to non-nationals, organized by the faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kuwait on 22 May 2013 in Kuwait.

Organized by the University of Kuwait’s Faculty of Social Sciences, the expert panel session provided a fundamental platform to discuss the long-disputed subject.

The faculty recently established a research centre for women’s studies, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning in Kuwait, and aims to build a comprehensive database on research pertaining to women in the Arab world.

H.E. Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, Executive Director, DIFI, took part in the expert panel comprising notable members of parliaments from Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Al Jehani presented the case of Qatari Women married to non-nationals. The event provided a fundamental platform for GCC women to share insights on this long disputed subject. The panel tackled the legal rights of GCC women married to non-nationals in comparison to the present day situational realities that these women face as well as other cultural trends.

Since its inception, DIFI has been supporting research, policy and outreach programs on factors impacting Arab families today. The Institute actively contributes to international, regional and local initiatives on the family by providing research-based insights that support positive development. It also aims to build a network of regional and international experts and NGOs who are invested in affecting positive change for families in the Arab world.

DIFI’s participation in these regional events are part of its on-going effort to build a regional network of stakeholders relevant to the family, including governments, NGOs, and policymakers. It keeps abreast emerging trends and issues that impact the family in the Arab world and invests in specific research that contributes to positive change for the Arab family.