Council of family affairs holds 1st meeting, chaired by Dr. Al-Ghafis

The Council of Family Affairs held its first meeting chaired by H.E. Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Ali bin Nasser Al-Ghafis on Thursday in Riyadh. At the meeting, the board of directors explored a number of topics aiming to prepare the strategy for Saudi families, create databases that serve their issues in cooperation with related entities and empower government and private entities to assume their roles and coordinate their efforts in a bid to unify their vision for family. They discussed ways to spread awareness of rights and obligations of family members, pinpoint problems and dangers that surround the family, as well as lay out suitable solutions and educate the society with the importance of family issues and how to prevent them. The participants also addressed the Council of Ministers’ approval last week on forming the boards of directors of the council with taking into account five items that include defining of priority topics, designing the council’s organizational structure, inaugurating its taskforce through enhancing framework of committees for children, elders, women and family protection and developing strategic objectives (strategic plan of Saudi Vision 2030). The last one targets initiatives and projects relating to the council. The council consists of several representatives of various government and private entities and experts in the fields of family, women and children including HRH Princess Lolwah Al Faisal Al Saud, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salamah, Sheikh Saad Al-Saif, Sheikh Saad Al-Yaya, Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Haya Al-Awad, Ghadah Al-Suabaie, Dr. Bandar Al-Suwailem, Dr. Amal Fatani, Dr. Lana bin Saeed, Dr. Maha al-Muneef, Dr. Raja Bahaziq, Dr. Sami Aldameqh and Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri. Meanwhile, the council seeks to be a formal entity representing women, families and children in international organizations. Additionally, it unifies the efforts of all public sectors in tackling issues pertaining to them as it is supported by various ministries, specialists and experts alongside representative of the Human Rights Commission and the National Family Safety Program. The organizational structure of the council has the general secretariat with four technical committees aiming to follow up on the issues of children, women and elders and social protection. These committees are also tasked to propose systems and awareness programs and monitor the implementation of recommendations and agreements which were ratified between the Kingdom and labor organizations. They conduct studies that serve the development of Saudi families and enhance their roles.