(MENAFN - Gulf Times) The Programme for Social Policy Evaluation and Research (PROSPER) at the College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), held a side event at the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD) recently. The event was held with the aim of advocating globally for the urgent call to protect children, strengthen families, support women and safeguard their well-being amid the pandemic, HBKU said in a statement. Dr Anis Ben Brik, associate professor and founding director of PROSPER, organised the virtual side event, titled The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Families and Children: Global Evidence and Policy Implications in partnership with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Inclusive Social Development; Wheatley Institution at Brigham Young University, USA; Institute of the Family at the University of La Sabana, Colombia; the European Large Families Confederation, and Focus on the Family Asia.