Ministry of Social Development and the Family, in cooperation with Family Consulting Center (Wifaq) and Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), organized a lecture entitled "A Marathon or a journey" by Dr. Jassim Al-Mutawa. This was part of the activities of the First-year Marriage Program, in the presence of Her Excellency Mrs. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, members of the Shura Council, and Her Excellency Sheikha bint Jassim Al-Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs.

This lecture aims to clarify the mechanisms of dealing with marital disputes, especially those that occur during the first years, and how to be patient and compassionate while dealing with them as a natural part of marital life.

Dr. Jassim Al-Mutawa started his lecture by defining the program and the importance of managing dialogue between spouses, especially during the first-year marriage. During the discussion, he stressed that most of the marital disputes that occur can be resolved through dialogue if the spouses can apply the correct method of talking during the dispute and use the correct method to solve the problem.

Moreover, Dr. Al-Mutawa added that the advantage of building a good relationship between the spouses includes a mutual sense of strong commitment towards each other, their response to each other's needs, support for each other, achieving a mutual level of enjoyment of their married life, and the feeling that the partner is happy and satisfied in their relationship.

Mrs. Reem Al-Ajmi, Director of the Community Welfare Department, stated that the Ministry is keen on family cohesion, so this program was launched. She added that the ministry pays great attention to the family. It also works to protect and support it, as it is the natural and basic unit in building society, according to the set strategic plan. It seeks to launch several initiatives and projects that enhance family cohesion.

Experts often view the first year of marriage as the “most difficult stage”, as many local statistics indicate that most divorce cases take place in the first-year marriage. stable and successful.

“First-year Marriage” program aims at family cohesion, reducing divorce rates in Qatari society, identifying its causes, treating the factors leading to it, supporting emerging families to achieve a stable and successful family life, qualifying new and soon-to-be married couples to overcome the obstacles of marital life, and raising community awareness of the rights and duties of spouses within the framework of Islamic law, which calls for the consolidation of the bonds of partnership between spouses, affection and mercy. 

This program includes four main axes: the educational and educational axis, the applied training axis, the counseling axis, and the creative axis which are responsible for attracting young people of both sexes to raise awareness about plans for success and safe passage from the first-years marriage. It also invests in scientific research, field, and survey research, to study marriage and divorce issues in Qatari society, in cooperation with the competent authorities, with the aim of understanding the roots and causes of divorce, and then drawing supportive policies to bring about societal change.

“First-year marriage” program also includes a digital platform that combines electronic content and practical training, and is concerned with qualifying those who are about to get married and providing them with scientific content by a group of experts and specialists, and providing young people with knowledge, skills and values that enable them to establish stable and cohesive families, which will generally be reflected in reducing divorce rates.

The workshop included interactive discussions between the attendees, during which their questions and inquiries were answered. In conclusion, Her Excellency Sheikha bint Jassim Al-Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs, handed over the commemorative shield to Dr. Jassim Al-Mutawa. Her Excellency thanked the doctor, the attendees, and those in charge of the success of the workshop.