DIFI holds virtual event entitled ‘Responsive Policies to Low Fertility: Experiences and Best Practices’

Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a Qatar Foundation (QF) member, has taken the initiative by hosting a virtual event entitled 'Responsive Policies to Low Fertility: Experiences and Best Practices'. This event dealt with various discussion on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) 54th session of the commission on population and development. This virtual event was conducted on April 21, 2021 in order to discuss issues concerning the decline of fertility rates. The event was hosted with joint collaboration with the permanent mission of Qatar to UN in New York and the United Nations Population Fund – Arab states regional office.

As per the UN Department on Economic and Social Affairs, fertility rates in 75 countries have declined below the replacement level, which is 2.1 child per woman, and this number is likely to rise by 120 by the year 2050.

This drop in the fertility levels makes unprecedented and is represented by various obstacles in the countries because it merely not only leads to a decline in the population, it also gives a rise in number of elderly citizens and a diminishing working force, which is very significant for national enhancement and economic progress in the country.

The discussion that was conducted based on DIFI's current research titled 'Social Aspects of Fertility in Qatar', the event also looked upon various factors impacting low fertility in the world, with the focus in identifying worldwide policies and best practices.

The event which was moderated by Dr Ramiz Alakbarov, UN SG’s deputy special representative for Afghanistan, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the panel talks also started with welcoming remarks from HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN.

HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya lauded the work and the vital contributions of DIFI in enhancing scientifically based relevant policy research, which essentially contribute to advancing knowledge on Arab families and also helps in promoting the evidence-based polices at national, regional, and international levels.

The event continued with a presentation by Dr Sharifa Noaman al-Emadi, executive director of DIFI, who said that, “Factors impacting low fertility are diverse, fuelled by structural factors such as increased divorce rates, postponement of marriage, decreasing marriage rates and couples’ preferences to have fewer children.

“Other aspects are related to education, labour market and work-family balance policies. Economic burdens in terms of housing and cost of parenting are also among other influential factors. The emergence of cultural aspects is clear in terms of couple’s preferences, in addition to the health aspects affecting the fertility rates.”

By presenting a statistical mapping of the fertility rates in the Arab countries, Dr Luay Shabaneh, regional director of the United Nations Population Fund – Arab States Regional Office, stated that “for using a human rights approach as a key reference in designing population policies to address low fertility.”

He depicted the statistics from the region and worldwide, including country experiences, that showed that fertility should be treated as an individual right for couples and that the role of governments was to ensure that people practice their reproductive rights based on high-quality information supported by quality health services.

In conclusion, Professor Christopher Murray, director of the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, outlined some of the best practices and policies that respond to the decline in fertility rates.

Prof. Murray said: “Our research suggests that for high-income and middle-income countries with below-replacement fertility rates, the best solutions for sustaining population levels, economic growth, and geopolitical security are open immigration policies and social policies supportive of families having their desired number of children.”

“Countries that promote liberal immigration are better able to maintain their population size and support economic growth, even in the face of declining fertility rates. Supporting families includes protecting women’s freedom and access to healthcare, particularly reproductive health services, as well as maintaining access to childcare and education,” he added.

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