DIIFSD Spearheads a Series of workshops to Address Role of Marriage in Islamic Societies

Doha, January 23 (QNA) - The Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development (DIIFSD) today announced the launch of a series of lectures and workshops that aim to bring to light real issues, trends and developments facing Arab families in today s world. The first Lecture, entitled The "Flight from Marriage": Has it Come to the Arab World", will feature Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, a political economist and a demographer who is an advisor at the American Enterprise Institute and National Bureau of Asian Research. The lecture will take place on 27 January at George-Town University from 12.00pm to 1.30pm and is open to the public. It will provide key insights and trends into the factors impacting the role of marriage amongst Muslim families in the Arab speaking world. Studies have shown that certain patterns in marriages that first began emerging in post war Europe in the 1940s and more recently evident in modern East Asian societies are now also beginning to emerge within the Muslim world. These patterns, dubbed as "flight from marriage" include: the rise in the singulate female age at marriage (the average length of single life expressed in years amongst those who marry before age 50); fall in the total first marriage rates and rise in total divorce rates. Thus far, the "flight from marriage" within the Muslim world appears to be occurring largely amongst lower income level and less educated sects of society, yet the pace at which these incidences are occurring is alarming. The lecture by Dr. Eberstadt, who is also a renowned author of numerous monographs and articles on North and South Korea, East Asia, and countries of the former Soviet Union, will address this phenomenon at greater length, sharing crucial insights and projections. Mrs..Noor Al Malki Al Jehani, the Executive Director, DIIFSD, "We are very optimistic about the upcoming series of lectures and workshops that will feature such prominent and highly respected professionals from all over the world. DIIFSD is committed to encouraging knowledge exchange on issues related to the Arab family across an international and interdisciplinary network of researchers, policymakers, and service providers. Transparency in such vital areas of social sciences is key and therefore we strongly encourage people to attend this lecture and be a part of this important dialogue", said Al Malki Al Jehani. The series of lectures and workshops by DIIFSD is a testament to the institution s commitment towards building a well-rounded, healthy and ultimately a more sustainable Arab society. In keeping with its vision to be the global authority in issues facing the Arab family, DIIFSD is paving the way through research, policy, and outreach programmes that address hard-hitting, real-life developments in family matters. On January 28, DIFFSD will be conducting a workshop led by DrEberstadt for a panel of experts on the subject of fertility decline in the Muslim World. (QNA)