IN BRUNEI Darussalam, issues relating to family and gender equality are seriously viewed with a positive outlook, said the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
Brunei Darussalam, which acknowledges women’s roles and contributions to the family and community development, provides them with more opportunities to avail their rights in all aspects of life – education, employment, business and more, which they utilise wisely, the minister noted at the East Asia Ministerial Forum on Families and Gender Equality (EAMFFGE) held in Bangkok, Thailand with the theme ‘A Friendly Society Family: Contributions to Social Achievement Through Family’.
The theme highlighted the importance of family in providing support to its members and nurturing children through joint productive efforts, he said, adding that “family is the core of a person’s life. The government hopes to see families with moral values contributing to the nation’s development. A reduction in family problems will bring about less social issues to deal with”.
A happy family marks the beginning of creating a solid generation with pious values for the future. Therefore, the government is giving priority towards the stability of the family institution through the national-level Family Day celebration, the minister added.
In conclusion, the minister reiterated the government’s aspiration in reviewing the key result areas of the family institution and gender equality to identify the needs of change in strategies in the past to make them in accordance with current developments. The government also intends to analyse the implementation of development programmes and projects, taking into account women’s education and their role in community activities.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in a group photo with Thailand’s Prime Minister, General Prayut Chanocha and other heads of delegation from the member countries of EAMFFGE during the opening ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand.
The ministerial level meeting was chaired by Police General Sawat Chanittikkul, Vice-Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand.
The main agenda of the meeting was to review the Bangkok Declaration which was approved by member countries of EAMFFGE. The declaration outlines 14 implementation acts in solidifying efforts towards creating a family-friendly social environment through basic family values and gender equality.
The ministerial meeting also welcomed efforts to unite both the East Asia Ministerial Forum on Families (EAMFF) and the East Asia Gender Equality Ministerial Meeting (EAGEMM).
The official opening ceremony was launched by Thailand’s Prime Minister, General Prayut Chanocha, and officially closed by Police General Adul Sangsingkeo, Minister of Social Development and Human Security.
The meeting was also attended by Haji Ismail bin Haji Abdul Manap, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Thailand and officers from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
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