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The Doha Declaration
Doha International Conference for the Family
Dec. 6, 2004
Introduction
Representatives of governments and members of civil society
met in Doha, Qatar, on November 29-30, 2004, for the Doha
International Conference for the Family, in commemoration of
the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the
Family.
The conference was convened under the patronage of Her
Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His
Highness the Emir of Qatar and President of the Supreme
Council for Family Affairs, State of Qatar.
The preparatory proceedings of the Doha Conference for the
Family gathered the views of government officials,
academicians, faith-based groups, non-governmental
organizations and members of civil society.
The Conference recalls regional meetings in Cotonou, Benin;
Mexico City, Mexico; Stockholm, Sweden; Geneva, Switzerland;
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and other venues; and notes the
proposals and views expressed during the Conference by all
participants.
Preamble
Reaffirming that the family is the natural and fundamental
group unit of society, as declared in Article 16(3) of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Noting that 2004 marks the 10th Anniversary of the United
Nations’ 1994 International Year of the Family and that the
Doha International Conference for the Family was welcomed by
UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/15 (December 15,
2003);
Acknowledging that the objectives of the 10th Anniversary of
the International Year of the Family include efforts to (a)
strengthen the capacity of national institutions to
formulate, implement and monitor policies in respect of the
family; (b) stimulate efforts to respond to problems
affecting, and affected by, the situation of the family; (c)
undertake analytical reviews at all levels and assessments
of the situation and needs of the family; (d) strengthen the
effectiveness of efforts at all levels to execute specific
programmes concerning the family; and (e) improve
collaboration among national and international
nongovernmental organizations in support of the family;
Taking into consideration the academic, scientific and
social findings collected for the Doha International
Conference, which collectively demonstrate that the family
is not only the fundamental group unit of society but is
also the fundamental agent for sustainable social, economic
and cultural development;
Recognizing the need to address the challenges facing the
family in the context of globalization;
Realizing that strengthening the family presents a unique
opportunity to address societal problems in a holistic
manner;
Reiterating that strong, stable families contribute to the
maintenance of a culture of peace and promote dialogue among
civilizations and diverse ethnic groups; and
Welcoming the announcement by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint
Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar
and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs,
State of Qatar, to create an international Institute for
Study of the Family.
In this regard, we reaffirm international commitments to the
family and call upon all governments, international
organizations and members of civil society at all levels to
take action to protect the family.
Reaffirmation of Commitments to the Family
1. We reaffirm international commitments to strengthen the
family, in particular. We commit ourselves to recognizing
and strengthening the family’s supporting, educating and
nurturing roles, with full respect for the world’s diverse
cultural, religious, ethical and social values.
2. We recognize the inherent dignity of the human person and
note that the child, by reason of his physical and mental
immaturity, needs special safeguards and care before as well
as after birth. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to
special care and assistance. Everyone has the right to life,
liberty and security of person.
3. We reaffirm that the family is the natural and
fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to the
widest possible protection and assistance by society and the
State.
4. We emphasize that marriage shall be entered into only
with the free and full consent of the intending spouses and
that the right of men and women of marriageable age to marry
and to found a family shall be recognized and that husband
and wife should be equal partners.
5. We further emphasize that the family has the primary
responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children
from infancy to adolescence. For the full and harmonious
development of their personality, children should grow up in
a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love
and understanding. All institutions of society should
respect and support the efforts of parents to nurture and
care for children in a family environment. Parents have a
prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be
given to their children and the liberty to ensure the
religious and moral education of their children in
conformity with their own convictions.
Call for Action
Taking into account the above commitments, we call upon all
governments, international organizations and members of
civil society at all levels to:
Cultural, Religious and Social Values
1. Develop programs to stimulate and encourage dialogue
among countries, religions, cultures and civilizations on
questions related to family life, including measures to
preserve and defend the institution of marriage;
2. Reaffirm the importance of faith and religious and
ethical beliefs in maintaining family stability and social
progress;
3. Evaluate and reassess the extent to which international
law and policies conform to the principles and provisions
related to the family contained in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and other international commitments;
Human Dignity
4. Reaffirm commitments to provide a quality education for
all, including equal access to educational opportunities;
5. Evaluate and reassess government policies to ensure that
the inherent dignity of human beings is recognized and
protected throughout all stages of life;
Family
6. Develop indicators to evaluate the impact of all programs
on family stability;
7. Strengthen policies and programs that will enable the
family to break the cycle of poverty;
8. Evaluate and reassess government population policies,
particularly in countries with below replacement birthrates;
9. Encourage and support the family to provide care for
older persons and persons with disabilities;
10. Support the family in addressing the scourge of HIV/AIDS
and other pandemics, including malaria and tuberculosis;
11. Take effective measures to support the family in times
of peace and war;
Marriage
12. Uphold, preserve and defend the institution of marriage;
13. Take effective measures to strengthen the stability of
marriage by, among other things, encouraging the full and
equal partnership of husband and wife within a committed and
enduring marital relationship;
14. Establish effective policies and practices to condemn
and remedy abusive relationships within marriage and the
family, including the establishment of public agencies to
assist men, women, children and families in crisis;
Parents and Children
15. Strengthen efforts to promote equal political, economic,
social and educational opportunities for women and evaluate
and assess economic, social and other policies to support
mothers and fathers in performing their essential roles
16. Strengthen the functioning of the family by involving
mothers and fathers in the education of their children;
17. Reaffirm that parents have a prior right to choose the
kind of education that shall be given to their children;
18. Reaffirm and respect the liberty of parents and, when
applicable, legal guardians to choose for their children
schools, other than those established by the public
authorities, which conform to such minimum educational
standards as may be laid down or approved by the State and
to ensure the religious and moral education of their
children in conformity with their own convictions.
We request the host country of the Conference, the State of
Qatar, to inform the United Nations General Assembly of the
proceedings of the Conference, including the Doha
Declaration, in particular during the celebration of the
10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family to
be held on 6 December 2004.
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