SESRIC, in collaboration with the Permanent Observer Mission of the OIC to the United Nations, organised a Solutions Session titled “The Circle of Care: Families Supporting the Young, the Old, and All in Need” on the sidelines of Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) on 6 November 2025 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha.

The session brought together high-level speakers from various institutions that play pivotal role in advancing social development, including the Ministry of Social Affairs of Kuwait, Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC) of UAE, Women and Democracy Foundation of Türkiye (KADEM), and the OIC General Secretariat. The discussions examined how families can be more effectively supported in their caregiving roles throughout the life course as well as recognizing the value of unpaid care work, enhancing social protection frameworks to better support caregiving roles, and strengthening intergenerational bonds.

During her presentation, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK shared key demographic trends and care challenges across OIC countries, as well as policy directions and initiatives that can help build a more responsive and family-centred care ecosystem.

She underlined that the care economy, encompassing childcare, eldercare, disability and health care, whether paid or unpaid, sustains life, nurtures well-being, and ensures the continuity of societies. Yet, despite its vital role, care work remains undervalued, underpaid, and largely unrecognised, particularly the unpaid care performed mostly by women.

H.E. SELÇUK also stressed the importance of the 3Rs: Recognize, Reduce, and Redistribute unpaid care work. Women spend up to five times more hours than men on unpaid domestic and care work, limiting their participation in the labour market and constraining overall economic growth.

H.E. Dr. Amthal Hadi AL-HUWAILAH, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs of the State of Kuwait stated during her remarks that “The family has always been the circle where life begins, and where the values of giving, solidarity, and mercy are instilled”.

In her turn, H.E. Al Reem Abdullah AL FALASI, Secretary General of SCMC of UAE affirmed that “Commitment to mothers and children is not merely policy, it is a foundational creed established by the founding father and championed by the Mother of the Nation, H.E. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Under her cherished guidance, the SCMC ensures that the family is the unshakeable core of our social fabric”.

Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Sharifa Noaman AL EMADI, Executive Director of DIFI, pointed out that “Policies must recognize, support and share care responsibilities if we are to achieve cohesive societies”.

H.E. Dr. Amina AL-HAJRI, Director General of the Cultural Social & Family Affairs of OIC, underlined in her remarks that there is a need for pertinent support strategies that align with the current challenges to ensure optimum utilization of the existing capacities in the family care sector and provide better services for the less fortunate groups of the societies.

In her remarks, H.E. Dr. Canan SARI, LL.D., Atty., Chair of the Women and Democracy Foundation of Türkiye (KADEM) emphasized the importance of equitable sharing of the care burden: “No system that places the burden of care solely on women is fair. Caring for children, the elderly, and the disabled is a shared responsibility of the family, the state, and society”, she stated.

The session helped raise further awareness of the family’s roles in caregiving as a pillar of social protection, share good practices from OIC Member States and global partners, and promote collaborative and people-centered care policies that leave no one behind.

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