The Family Affairs Council held its second session on Wednesday, Rabi’I 4, 1439 H corresponding to November 23, 2017, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Labor and Social Development, Dr. Ali Nasser Al-Ghufais, and the Secretary General, Dr. Hala Mazeed Al-Tuwaijri, in the presence of the members of the Council, and praised the efforts made by all members during the committee meetings, and then presented the topics included in the agenda.

They are as follows: First: The Council’s framework for monitoring the performance of government agencies. II: The Rights of the Elderly Law. Third: The Day Centers Project. Fourth: Proposals submitted by the representative of the Ministry of Interior for initiatives within the role of the Council. Fifth: Agreements and areas of cooperation with regional and international organizations. VI: Duties of committee chairpersons: Internal organization. First topic: Dr. Thaar Al-Mahia suggested adding the family role indicator among the indicators of the performance measurement according to specific criteria, and Ms. Ghada Al-Subaie pointed out the importance of measurement compared to the global and local level. Recommendation: Working with the Ministry of Economy and Planning to develop the family index by studying the three pillars, namely: Global Benchmarking – Government Entity Performance Standards – Satisfaction of the beneficiaries of services. It was agreed to finalize the index and submit it to the Family Affairs Council in the next session.

The second topic: Regarding the system of the rights of the elderly, it was approved by the President of the Council, Dr. Ali Al-Ghufais, who stressed the importance of executive regulations and that the opinion of a group of elderly people should be taken about the executive regulations and in cooperation between the Family Affairs Council and the concerned ministries. And then submit it to the Family Affairs Council for adoption. Recommendation: The Council Secretariat shall submit the system to His Excellency the President of the Council to complete the necessary. The third topic: During the meeting, the Family Affairs Council discussed the Day Centers project, and Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri pointed out that the Council’s task is only to set the specifications and the implementing party from the different sectors must adhere to them. Dr. Ali Al-Ghufais stated that there are good centers that can be used to establish new centers around the Kingdom, such as the King Salman Social Center in Riyadh and the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman Center in Aniza, and that the third sector should be a contributor to the establishment and activation of these centers. Recommendation: The Committee on the Elderly shall complete the review of the specifications and standards of the day centers project and include the views of His Excellency the President of the Council in making use of good centers as a standard reference. Fourth topic: The representative of the Ministry of Interior presented a presentation of initiatives proposed to the Family Affairs Council, including (Safe Horizons for the Family), including security and safety. His Excellency the President indicated the need to form a team consisting of Her Excellency Dr. Maha Al-Muneef, representative of the Family Safety Program, His Excellency Dr. Thaar Al-Mahia, representative of the Ministry of Interior and His Excellency the Secretary General of the Council to discuss the development of initiatives and present them for adoption as part of the Council’s executive plan.

Recommendation: The General Secretariat of the Family Affairs Council shall coordinate the formation of the team according to the directives of His Excellency the Minister, and submit the recommendations for adoption at the next session of the Council, God Almighty willing. Fifth topic: The Secretary General of the Family Affairs Council reviewed the agreements and cooperation programs with the following local, regional and international organizations: – The agreement with the General Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Drugs (Nibras) – the joint cooperation program between UNICEF for the Arab Gulf States and the Council – cooperation with ESCWA – joint cooperation with the United Nations Organization for Women – cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation: The General Secretariat’s proposal to choose the chairpersons of the committees by voting, provided that the chairperson will formulate the committee’s objectives for the next year and all the work agreed upon by the members and submit it at the next meeting of the committee for approval by the Council.

Recommendation: Implement the recommendations in the first meeting of each committee and complete the necessary work to form the committees. The session concluded with the praise of the President of the Council, H.E. Dr. Ali Al-Ghufais, for the valuable efforts and initiatives presented by all members and those in charge of the General Secretariat of the Family Affairs Council, which we hope – God willing – to be at the forefront of councils locally and internationally in order to achieve the desired goals in serving religion and the nation. The members of the Council, as stated in the first minutes.