The Foundation of Global Happiness: The Role of Family as the Basis of Social Stability and Intercultural Dialogue Was Discussed at the Summit in Amman

The Panel Session “Culture as a Language of Trust” was held on November 10, 2026, in Amman (Jordan) as part of the First World Public Summit: The Arab World “Dialogue, Cultural Heritage and Partnership for a Shared Future”. The event was organized by the World Peoples Assembly and the Arab Peace Group, with support from partners in Jordan, Russia and other countries.

International experts examined the role of the family as a vital public good that serves as the basis of social stability, the development of human capital and intercultural trust. Particular attention was paid to the importance of the family institution in the Arab world, where traditions of kinship, respect for elders and collective responsibility have historically remained an unshakable pillar of society.

Session participants noted that, in the Islamic tradition, the family is a key space for moral education, the transmission of cultural codes and the formation of a sense of security. The opportunity and necessity of conveying these profound meanings into the global agenda of sustainable development and well-being were emphasized.

During the discussion, the following key points were highlighted:

• Family as the foundation of global happiness. Participants agreed that the well-being of each individual family directly determines the resilience of society as a whole and contributes to the formation of humanistic values.

• Contemporary challenges. Experts discussed the impact of digitalization, the atomization of society, transformations in the labour market and migration processes, which create new risks for the preservation of family ties.

• The balance between technology and human relationships. It was emphasized that digital tools should complement, rather than replace, face-to-face communication and the invaluable transmission of experience between generations.

• The role of the state and civil society. Participants noted the critical importance of comprehensive legislative support, targeted social programs and educational initiatives aimed at strengthening the family institution.

• International cooperation. Joint projects, academic exchanges and the creation of permanent platforms for constructive dialogue between countries were highly appreciated.

Leading specialists presented their expert assessments during the session.

Director of the Agency for Social Information and Chair of the Commission for the Development of the Nonprofit Sector of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation Elena Topoleva-Soldunova (Russia) outlined the main threats facing the modern family, from geopolitical conflicts to the challenges of global digitalization. She called on participants to find effective mechanisms for preserving this vital unit of society as the foundation of global well-being.

President of the Tarim Centre for Architecture and Heritage Reem Fouad Abdel Ghani (Syria) reminded the audience that happiness is not merely a state, but a culture that must be consciously and carefully passed on to children and grandchildren.

Leader of the youth branch of the international movement “Ambassadors of Happiness”, head of the volunteer Corps “Invisible Wings” and student at HSE University Platon Mersiyanov (Russia) presented the perspective of the younger generation.

- The family is an opportunity to do everything together, but this opportunity must be deliberately created, - the expert stated.

The speaker spoke about practical initiatives that strengthen family ties: the “Ambassadors of Happiness” movement; the International Festival “The World Paints Happiness” (during which children’s drawings are transformed into “Letters of Happiness”), as well as the magazine “Happiness Aggregator”, created for the exchange of practices for developing happiness as a universal value, including its first English-language issue, and the project “Fairy Tales for Life”, which comes to the rescue.

Chief Expert at the Centre for Studies of Civil Society and the Nonprofit Sector at HSE University Vyacheslav Ivanov (Russia) highlighted the importance of international academic exchanges as a tool for developing effective family strategies and scaling up the world’s best practices.

Commissioner General of the National Centre for Human Rights of Jordan Jamal Al-Shamayleh shared his views on the impact of technological progress on family ties. He emphasized that civil society institutions should use technology as consciously as possible, so that it does not replace genuine humanistic values.

- The dialogue gap between generations leads to a loss of patriotism and cohesion; therefore, we need initiatives that bring together young people and the older generation, – the speaker concluded.

Director and Secretary General of the Socio-Economic Council of Curaçao Raul Jose Enriquez focused on the basic socio-economic conditions for family well-being, noting that families need stable income and time for shared leisure. He called for ongoing intergovernmental exchange of information to compare approaches, assess the effectiveness of solutions and adapt best practices.

Secretary General of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions Apostolos Xirafis (Greece) focused on differences in the perception of the family institution across different regions of the world. He expressed support for the multigenerational family model and emphasized that the family must remain the unshakable foundation of society in order to preserve civilizational values.

Member of the Parliament of Jordan Maysoun Subhi Mohammad Alkuabeh, in her welcoming remarks, called for family issues to be established as a top priority of global policy.

- Protecting and strengthening family values is a shared responsibility that must be consistently reflected in national legislation, educational programs, the media space and the activities of civil society, - the speaker stated.

Marina Volkova, Head of the Department of Happiness of the World Peoples Assembly and Peace Ambassador, summarized the discussion. She noted the importance of discussing standards and the safety of childhood as a starting point for systemic change. The expert recalled that in 2026 the document “Sociocultural Standards for Childhood Safety as the Foundation of Happiness and Well-Being” was adopted, while the Manifesto “Norms of the Future of a Happy Person” was published in the first English-language issue of the magazine “Happiness Aggregator.”

At the conclusion of the session, Marina Volkova presented the moderators with an Eastern version of the “Scarf of Happiness” - an official attribute of the “Ambassadors of Happiness” and a symbol of unity, created on the basis of works by participants in the International Festival “The World Paints Happiness.”

The panel session became an important platform for intercultural dialogue, affirming the family as the foundation of global happiness. Participants confirmed the need to move from theoretical discussions to concrete actions, including:

• developing targeted social projects;

• strengthening the legislative framework for family support;

• implementing comprehensive educational programs;

• expanding formats of international cooperation.

The adopted documents and announced initiatives provide a solid basis for further work on international platforms. The projects presented during the session clearly demonstrate how successful local practices can be scaled up and have a real impact on the global agenda of well-being and happiness.

Additional information is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly, on its VKontakte and Telegram accounts, and at media@world-assembly.org.

Photographer: Mikhail Denisov