Difi explores support systems to safeguard marriage
Mutual respect, understanding, support, commitment, trust, affection, and transparency are the ingredients for a happy marriage, said speakers during the second day of the Doha International Family Institute International Conference (Difi).
“To achieve marital happiness, we need two aspects. One is pre-marriage – this is parents’ approval, over choice of spouse, and that the couple intending to marry get to know each other. The other is post-marriage. Spouses must engage in a lot of dialogue, have effective communication and tolerance. Additionally, the couple ought to be aware of their rights and duties within the marriage institution,” said family consultant, Sheikh Ahmed al-Buainain, during the first plenary session titled, Foundations of a Happy Marriage.
The session’s speakers also included Dr Sharifa Khalfan alYahyai, former minister of social development, Oman; Rosa Pich, family coach and speaker, Spain; and Olivier Yao, world president, International Federation Family Development, Ivory Coast. The discussion was moderated by Raymond Mutura, director, Centre for Research on Organisations Work and Family and Chair Programme for Family Development, Strathmore University Business School, Kenya.
The debate identified the challenges married couples from all over the world face and highlighted how partners can overcome such challenges.
Titled, Marriage: Formation and Constituents of Stability, the second day of the three-day conference included three other sessions covering critical conditions that impact marriage and the family, such as technology, disability, and displacement.
A trio of speakers, Mohamed Mattar, clinical professor of law, Qatar University; Hamad alAmari, comedian; and Khaled alMohannadi, psychologist, Daam Healthcare Behavioural Centre, Qatar, explored the Experiences and Challenges of Cross-Border Marriages in another discussion session moderated by Nada alSaadi, life coach.
While in another plenary session titled, Is Technology the Doom of Modern Marriage?, Wee Min Lee, chairman, Focus on the Family, Malaysia, advised the audience to keep devices away and “make it a point each day to spend uninterrupted time with your spouse.”
“If we select our mobile devices, tablet, TV, computer over our loved ones, it can alienate affection, leaving our spouse feeling unappreciated. Stretch over months, it can lead to conflict and dissatisfaction and affect the relationship.”
Moderated by Khalid al-Naama, family policy director, Difi, Raian Ali, professor, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University; and Aisha Rosalie, vlogger, joined Lee in the discussion.
Takashi Izutsu, associate professor, University of Tokyo, Global Co-ordinator for the Unitar, University of Tokyo Forum on Disability and the Sustainable Development Goals, Japan; Moussa Charafeddine, president, Friends of the Disabled Association, Lebanon; and Mostafa Attia, disability and inclusion researcher and international consultant, led the discussion in the final plenary session of the day titled, ‘Overcoming the Challenges of Disability and Marriage.’ The discussion was moderated by Akiko Ito, chief of the United Nations Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Ask the Expert, now a popular component of the conference, featured Dr Mostafa Aboussaad, educational and social expert in Kuwait, who answered questions about the challenges of a happy marriage.
He said, “Arab families are characterised by stability, and are nowhere near fragmented, violent, and neglectful. The Arab family does, however, face challenges, including reluctance to marry and lack of preparation to couples entering into marriage. Challenges also include being addicted to social media, which in turn impacts marital stability. What the Arab family is going through is the same as what families all over the world are going through, but we derive our notions of affection, compassion, and intimacy from our Islamic religion.”
Complementing the advice and insight of the speakers, Difi – a member of Qatar Foundation – presented its research report on perceptions and experiences of long-lasting marriage among youth in Qatar. It highlighted the importance of respect, love, responsibility, and communication as essential factors for a successful and enduring marriage.
Dr Azza O Abdelmoneium, director of research, Difi, said: “There are challenges in marriage such as financial problems, interference from extended families, competition, and jealousy. A preliminary recommendation from the study regarding finances is to have shared responsibility between married couples, reduce the expenses, and have a longer period of engagement for the couples to know each other.”