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The forum was held on the sidelines of the 11th meeting of the Committee of Undersecretaries of Social Affairs and Social Development in the GCC States on Tuesday (September 2, 2025), in Kuwait City, in the presence of Her Excellency Dr Amthal Hadi Al Huwaila, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs in the State of Kuwait, and the Undersecretaries of Social Affairs and Social Development of the GCC States.

At the beginning of his speech, HE the Secretary General, on behalf of all the participants, expressed the highest thanks, appreciation and gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, for his kind patronage and continuous support for the process of joint Gulf action, and for hosting this important forum. He stressed that this support reflects the keenness of His Highness and Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC States, to strengthen the status of the Gulf family in various fields.

HE the Secretary General also expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to Her Excellency Dr Amthal Hadi Al Huwaila, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs in the State of Kuwait, and to all the staff of the Ministry and the Supreme Council for Family Affairs for their outstanding efforts in hosting the fourth edition of the forum.

Moreover, His Excellency affirmed that Gulf family values are a safeguard and a steadfast identity in the face of contemporary challenges, and a fundamental pillar to enhance belonging and loyalty and ensure the stability of societies. He noted that the Gulf family today faces increasing challenges in light of digital and technological openness, which requires intensifying efforts to protect children and youth and raise their awareness on the safe use of modern technologies. 

He also referred to the joint digital initiative launched by the GCC on digital safety for Gulf children, which was approved by Their Excellencies, the Ministers of Information of the GCC States, at their 27th meeting in the Sultanate of Oman in 2023. The initiative aims to train children aged 5 to 18 years on the safe use of the Internet and to confront cyber risks.

HE the Secretary General underlined that the GCC States have given special attention to children as the basic foundation of society, providing schools with all essential services free of charge, such as the Internet, schoolbooks, computers for educational purposes, health facilities, and suitable infrastructure for people with disabilities, at a rate of 100% across all GCC States. He also affirmed that the GCC States are equally keen on empowering women, considering them the backbone of the family, and on providing support and care to the elderly to ensure them a dignified life.

During his speech, HE the Secretary General reviewed special booklets for children issued by the GCC Statistical Centre, designed in an entertaining and objective manner to instill a spirit of belonging to Gulf unity. He highlighted that statistics showed that the number of children under the age of 15 reached 12.6 million in the GCC States, of which 51.1% were male and 48.9% female. 

He further explained: “The statistics also indicated an increase in the proportion of youth and adolescents proficient in information and communication technology skills, a sign of the success of the GCC in creating an enabling environment for building an empowered generation capable of serving their homelands.”

Moreover,  HE the Secretary General stressed that dedicating the 14th of September of each year as the Gulf Family Day to celebrate the family is an important opportunity to discuss evolving challenges and find innovative solutions to protect and stabilise the family, and to review the best national and Gulf practices. 

He also emphasised that the family is the true and sustainable wealth of nations, and that instilling moral and religious values in children from an early age is the greatest guarantee to preserve Gulf identity and confront social challenges.