Doha, September 30 (QNA) – A two-day forum on alternative care and the sustainable wellbeing of children without parental care has opened in Doha, bringing together child protection experts and officials from Qatar and abroad.
The forum, organized by Qatar’s Dreama Orphan Care Center in cooperation with UNICEF, is being held at the Qatar National Convention Center under the patronage of HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi.
The event focuses on strengthening child protection and care systems, with particular attention to children living without family support. Participants are discussing international standards, evidence-based approaches and regional experiences in alternative care.
Organizers said the best interests of the child should remain central to policies and practices, with family environments given priority wherever they can provide a safe and supportive setting for children.
Efforts to keep children with their biological families, or reunite them with their families when appropriate safeguards are in place, are also being discussed. Where this is not possible, participants are examining ways to provide safe, suitable alternative care that protects children’s rights and supports their development and wellbeing.
Dreama Executive Director Najla bint Ahmed Al-Thani said the center was committed to developing alternative-care systems and strengthening partnerships with national, regional and international organizations.
She said the center believed that a safe and stable family environment was fundamental to children’s sense of security and belonging, as well as to protecting their rights and supporting their development.
Meanwhile, Lana Wreikat, UNICEF Gulf Area Office representative, said Qatar had demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening the role of families, supporting vulnerable groups and promoting social cohesion.
She said UNICEF was committed to working with the Qatari government, Dreama and other partners to expand access to quality family-based care and help children without parental care reach their full potential.
The forum also examines the role of social workers and alternative-care providers, family stability and preventive measures, and the challenges faced by children and families in custody and guardianship disputes.
Other sessions cover social inclusion and stigma, child development, the role of communities and institutions in child protection, and the contribution of the media and social media influencers to public awareness of issues affecting children without parental care.
Participants will also discuss funding for child-care systems before presenting recommendations at the conclusion of the two-day event.
The forum is part of Dreama’s wider efforts to provide care and support for orphans and children in similar circumstances, strengthen their stability within foster families and support their integration into society. (QNA)