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History The International Year of the Family The observance of the International Year of the Family by the resolution 44/85 of the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, highlighted the role of families as basic social units in human-centered sustainable development, and raised awareness of the need to pay attention to the family dimension in development efforts. It reaffirmed the importance of long–term action that would translate the increased awareness of families and family issues into concrete measures to support them in their social and developmental functions, and to promote changes in families, where appropriated, and build on their strengths. The proclamation of the International Year of the Family reflected the growing international recognition of and concern for the precarious situation of families. The Year was conceived as the first step in a long-term effort to support families, in partnership with Governments, the UN system and other Intergovernmental Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Voluntary Movements and the Private Sector. The Year has accomplished much of importance. Great studies have been made in achieving its immediate goals. A positive approach has evolved. The subject of families has become important for the concept of development and started to be raised in the related international dialogue. Today, there is a greater recognition of the importance of supporting families and of bringing about positive changes in the family realm as an essential part of the efforts to achieve peace, security, solidarity, respect for human rights, democracy, justice, sustainable development and social progress. There is a recognition that families can serve as a basis for a holistic approach to numerous social policy issues and also that, despite the diversity of families, many of the issues faced by them and by the larger society are common to countries and regions. So, the Year has reaffirmed that International Cooperation on family matters is valuable and that the process of support for families is a long-term one. The follow-up: the Tenth Anniversary The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 54/124 reaffirmed the importance of the follow-up to the Year and the observance of its Tenth Anniversary in 2004 as an important opportunity to give a new impetus to the work proposed in 1994. In its Resolution 52/81 of 12 December 1997, the General Assembly recognized the basic objectives of the Follow-up to the International Year of Family, as follows: a) Increase awareness of family issues among Governments, as well as in the Private Sector; b) Strengthen the capacity of national institutions to formulate, implement and monitor policies in respect of families; c) Stimulate efforts to respond to problems affecting, and affected by, the situation of families; d) Undertake at all levels reviews and assessments of the situation and needs of families, identifying specific issues and problems; e) Enhance the effectiveness of local, national and regional efforts to carry out specific programmes concerning families, generate new activities and strengthen existing ones; f)
Improve collaboration among national and international Non-Governmental
Organizations in support of families. The United Nations General Assembly on its 56th session adopted Resolution 56/113 concerning the preparation for and observance of the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, to be held in 2004. This Resolution recognizes that the preparation and observance of the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family provides a useful opportunity for drawing further attention of the objectives of the Year for increasing cooperation at all levels on family issues and for undertaking concerted actions to strengthen family-centered policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development. The resolution calls Governments: 1. To view 2004 as a target year by which concrete achievements should be made to identify and elaborate issues of direct concern to families. 2. To set up and strengthen mechanisms to plan and coordinate activities of Governmental Bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations. 3. To consider organizing activities in preparation and celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family at the National level.
1. To participate in the preparatory process, within their respective mandate and resources. 2. To play an active role in facilitating regional cooperation in this regard. 3. To hold consultations with representatives of relevant UN bodies and Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations. This resolution requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to review annually the preparations as part of its agenda. This Resolution requests the UN Secretary General to facilitate the contributions to the UN Trust Fund on Family Activities, and to report to the GA on the implementation of the Resolution. The 57th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted the following resolution where: 1. Reaffirms its invitation to all States to take prompt action to establish National Mechanisms, to prepare for, observe and follow up the 10th Anniversary of the IYF, in particular for the purpose of planning, stimulating and harmonizing the activities of the Governmental and Non-Governmental Agencies and Organizations concerned with the preparation for and observance of the 10th Anniversary of the IYF, and to cooperate with the Secretary General in achieving the objectives of the 10th Anniversary. 2. Calls upon all UN Bodies, the specialized agencies, the Regional Commissions, the Intergovernmental and Non-Governmental Organizations concerned, in particular family-related organizations, to make every possible effort towards the implementation of the objectives of the 10th Anniversary of the IYF, by integrating the family perspective into the planning and decision-making processes. 3. Calls for a concerted promotional, informational and media campaign on behalf of the 10th Anniversary of the IYF at all levels. 4. Invites the Secretary General to launch the 10th Anniversary in early December 2003. 5. Decides to devote one plenary meeting at its 59th session in 2004 to the observance of the 10th Anniversary. 6.
Invites the Secretary General to continue to play an active role in facilitating
international cooperation within the framework of the follow-up to the
IYF, to facilitate the exchange of experiences and information among Governments
on effective policies and strategies, to facilitate technical assistance,
with a focus on least developed and developing countries, and to encourage
the organization of sub regional and interregional meetings and relevant
research. The activities for the Tenth Anniversary should be carried out in three phases: a) The preparatory phase (2002-2003), to setup and mobilize organizational structures, identify priority issues and focus on measures and activities to prepare for the observance; b) The observance phase (2004), when activities will take place and initiatives planned by Governments will be undertaken to observe the Anniversary; c)
The follow-up phase, during which evaluation of progress made and obstacles
encountered will be undertaken at all levels to ensure the successful
implementation of the objectives, which is a continuous process. 1. Taking the programme, strategy and objectives to the National level. 2. Strengthening channels of communication between DESA and the UN System, the NGO Sector and the IGO. 3. Enhancing research capacity for family policy development. 4.
Servicing relevant intergovernmental bodies. The actors for the preparation and observance: A. At the International Level: The United Nations -
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs – the leading entity B. At the Regional Level: The Regional Commissions
ESCWA – Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia C. At the National Level:
- Governments At National level, Governments were invited to setup national coordinating committees in partnership with national and local Non-Governmental organizations for the preparation and observance, and report to the United Nations General Assembly.
2. The Secretary General of the United Nations launched the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in early December 2003. 3. All countries were invited to celebrate the International Day of Families in 15 May 2004. 4.
The General Assembly of the United Nations will devote one plenary meeting
at its 59th session in 2004 to the observance of the Tenth Anniversary.
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