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Sanya
Declaration
The
World Declaration for a Comprehensive Family
Policy
“Achieving the Millennium Declaration With and For the Family”
1.
Preamble
........Fifty six years ago, on December
10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly, speaking to the World
through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
declared on its Article 16 item 3 that “The Family
is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled
to protection by society and state” (GA Resolution 217a(III)).
........Around
the Globe, families have always been recognized as the basic unit
of society that perform essential functions and serve as sources
of stability, continuity and development. Being as different as
alike, and the cradle of the generations to come, families are essential
to the world’s future and their strength and weaknesses reflects
the fabric of the larger society.
........Family,
as the world’s oldest human relationship, primary agents of
social integration and of behavior, is adapting constantly to changing
socio-economic conditions and the progress of humanity.
........In
the light of the last decade new global challenges and the deep
changes of the ongoing development, led to a new world vision, more
adapted economic, social and political structures, and institutions.
Such changes are reflected in the family dynamics.
........Therefore
to promote opportunity and equal rights and chances for women and
men to assume their roles, responsibilities and duties within the
family and society, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and
human dignity, and to promote policies to bring about better life
conditions to all families, respecting their diversity and peculiarity
is mandatory.
........The
Proclamation of the year of 1994 as the International Year
of the Family by the UN/GA Resolution 44/82 of December 8, 1989,
reflected growing international recognition of and concern for the
family issues.
........The
Year was conceived as the first step in a long-term effort to support
families, in dialog and partnership with Governments, the United
Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental
organizations and the private sector.
........The
observance of the year in 1994 highlighted the role of families
in human¬centered sustainable development and raised awareness
of the need to par attention to the family dimension in development
efforts.
........The
Year has accomplished much of importance thanks to the efforts of
all stakeholders. It increased the awareness among policy and decision
makers and the general public, emphasizing that a people-centered
approach to development policy needed a family focus approach for
the best interest of individuals and governments to promote families
and family-friendly societies.
........
The International Conference on Families held in the UN General
Assembly, 18 and 19 October 1994 endorsed the need for follow-up
to the Year and long-term actions.
........A
number of specific proposals on the follow-up were made up by the
UN Secretary General in his report submitted to the General Assembly
at its fiftieth session in 1995.
........The
UN/GA Resolutions 52/81 of December 12, 1997 and 54/124 of December
17, 1999 recognized the objectives of the follow-up of the Year
and the importance of the Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of
the International Year of the Family in 2004, as a new impetus to
the work proposed in 1994.
........Participants
representing Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), experts and scholars from all over the world
who are concerned with family and development issues have been gathered
in Sanya, China from 6 to 9 December 2004 to attend the World Family
Summit and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International
Year of the Family. After three days of deliberations, participants
adopted the Sanya Declaration in the spirit of human civilization,
human rights and sustainable development in order to promote the
family focused approach and support families to achieve the MDGs.
On the basis of the consensus reached, participants pledged to implement
the Declaration through concerted efforts.
2. The Political Will
........The
Celebration of the International Year of the Family in 1994 was
one of the many global initiatives in the past decade. But family
issues were extensively covered in many global events and also in
the plans of actions emanating from them as in the World
Summit for Children, Conference on Environment and Development,
World Conference on Human Rights, International Conference on Population
and Development, the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth
World Conference on Women, the Conference on Human Settlements,
the Millennium Summit, the World Youth Forum, the International
Conference on Financing for Development, the Second World Assembly
on Aging, the Interregional Expert Meeting on Disability, the World
Summit on Sustainable Development.
........The
recommendations of these various conferences provided a vital conceptual
and policy direction. Peace, economy, the environment, societal
justice and democracy are now viewed as integral components of development.
And at their centre is the human person. As the agents and beneficiaries
of development, families are the human-centered link among its various
elements, particularly the social elements. Greater understanding
of the role of families and support for their empowerment have been
recognized as crucial in enabling present and future generation
to enjoy a decent quality of life and in achieving social progress.
........Considering
the above stated, the UN Resolutions about the Preparation and Celebration
of the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family
in this year of 2004, reaffirm the political will and the recognition
that family centered components of policies and programs are part
of an integrated and comprehensive approach to development. Therefore
all relevant actors, inc1uding Governments, NGOs, Academia, Parliamentarians
Local authorities, Business Community and the United Nations are
invited to promote the role of families in development and to develop
concrete measures and approaches to address national and local priorities
to deal with family issues.
3. The Challenges/Threats/Opportunities
........Since
the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly that 1994
be observed as the International Year of the Family, countries from
all over the world have achieved progress in their efforts to promote
and implement programs to support families and family members within
the framework of the internationally agreed development goals. The
Programme of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population
and Development (ICPD) and the United Nations Millennium Dec1aration
have recognized the need for family friendly policies as a necessary
contribution to the goal of achieving sustainable development.
........Families
are essential to achieving peace, safety, justice, unity and prosperity
in the world and they play a fundamental role toward achieving the
MDGs.
........While
various forms of the family exist in different social, cultural,
legal and political systems, the family is the basic unit of society
and as such is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and
support. It is important to ensure the human rights of families
and their individual members, to sustain parental responsibility
and to promote equality of opportunity for family members, especially
the rights of women and children in the family. Public policies
should promote conditions that enable families to support individual
members of the family to fulfill their aspirations and contribute
to the development of their societies.
........Ongoing
global social and economic changes have exerted great stress on
family life in many regions of the world. Despite a 2.5% rise in
average global income, the current population with a daily income
of less than 1 dollar has dramatically increased in the last decade
due particularly to an imbalanced distribution of wealth. This has
resulted in an increased gap between the rich and the poor and the
emergence of a new poverty group. The phenomenon of globalization
as well as conflict, political instability, persistent poverty,
growing gaps in income within and among countries and lack of employment
opportunities in developing countries have contributed to increasing
levels of international migration. The estimated number of international
migrants rose from 154 million people in 1990 to 175 million in
2000 exerting huge pressures on families. Difficult social and economic
conditions, armed conflicts and natural disasters also impact negatively
on families and family members.
........The
potential contribution of the family in education has yet to be
exploited to the fullest. Illiteracy continues to be a major problem
in some regions of the world; with nearly 1/3 of the world's adult
illiterates being women and 57% of the 115 million children without
access to schooling are girls.
........With
pervasive discrimination against women and girls within families,
gender inequality remains a prominent problem. Domestic violence
still violates the human rights of women, and threatens their personal
safety, self-esteem and health. A large number of women and girls,
especially poor, have seen curtailed their political and economic
rights, since they have no access to education, health care, employment
or social security.
........A
considerable number of problems threaten women, children and the
elderly within families. Each year, over 500,000 women die from
pregnancy and pregnancy related complications. Infant mortality
reaches 61 %o in less developed countries. Every day, over 30,000
children die from preventable causes such as dehydration, hunger
and diseases. Maternal and infant mortality are one of the greatest
challenges facing both families and the society as a whole. The
gap between less developed and more developed regions in terms of
infant mortality is considerable with regard to their respective
infant mortality rates of 61%0 and 8%0. The 10-24 age group of the
population entering adulthood has reached 1.400billion. Psychologically
and physically, this group is still in need of family assistance
and support. Low fertility late and extended life expectancy have
led to aging of population. By 2050, the population aged 60 and
above will increase to 2 billion, with an increase from 10% to 21
%. Increasing dependence ratio of the elderly on the labor force
will produce significant impact on social security and health care
as well as place huge pressure on families.
........Many
families have no access to basic reproductive health services and
therefore they have no way to exercise their reproductive rights.
The quality of reproductive health services, especially family planning,
is still poor, falling short of the demands of a considerable number
of groups leading to unwanted pregnancies, high fertility rates
and unsafe abortions.
........The
HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to prevail worldwide. 42 million people
are infected with HIV. The over 13 million orphans whose parents
have died of AIDS impose a severe challenge on families, communities
and societies. Due to deficient social policies and lack of universal
access to scientific knowledge, HIV/AIDS-related discrimination
and stigma still exist in many communities.
........Sustainability
of the environment remains worrying. Unsustainable development and
consumption patterns has led to an increased deterioration of the
environment, the destruction of ecologic habitats and the exhaustion
of resources, threatening basic living requirements of individuals,
families and communities and weakening the foundation for sustainable
development.
........Global
partnership for development is still far from contributing efficiently
to the MDGs. It needs enhanced debt relief, more generous official
development assistance and a stronger commitment to good governance
nationally and internationally in order to effectively improve family
every day life.
........Cultural
diversity is far from universal acceptance. Insufficient communication
among different cultures has become one of the underlying causes
of tensions and conflicts. Furtherance of multi-cultural communication
presents both new opportunities and challenges to families and development.
4. The Proclaim
........Therefore
we participants of the World Family Summit assembled in
Sanya, People’s Republic of China from 6 to 9 December,
2004:
........Noting
with satisfaction that Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary
of the International Year of the Family in this World Family
Summit is the biggest partnership towards making the present
and the future world with more peace, security, justice,
tolerance, solidarity, prosperity and integrated by mobilizing
and promoting the basic unit of society – The Family,
........Underlining
the tremendous preparatory work for the Summit since 2001
including the regional and national meetings at the initiative
of the World Fami1y Organization in cooperation with the
United Nations,
........Highlighting
the great efforts of the Peoples' Republic of China
Government and their commitment for a successful Summit
and concrete outcome for family development
........Emphasizing
that the discussions and the deliberations of the Summit
were under a comprehensive and integrated approach to development,
redeeming all the family-related provisions of the outcomes
of the UN Summits and Conferences of the 90’s and
the follow-up process of the implementation of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs),
........Appreciating
that the interaction, discourse and partnership among all
stakeholders - Governments, Local authorities, NGOs, Civil
Society Organizations, Parliamentarians, Academia, Business
Community, Media and Families – led to reaffirming
the political will to strengthen family contribution to
the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals,
........Recognizing
that this Celebration constituted an important opportunity
to formulate policies that reinforce and enhance the effectiveness
of efforts at all levels to carry out specific family related
programmes, to generate new activities and to improve the
cooperation among all actors of society in support of families,
........Encouraging
all stakeholders to make every possible effort to achieve
the objectives of the Tenth Anniversary of the International
Year of the Fami1y, to integrate a fami1y perspective in
planning and implementation processes within participatory
governance, and to place fami1yperspectives in the International
Agenda,
Proclaim the following:
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Article 1 – The Family –
Role and Functions
........The
Family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and
is entitled to protection by society and state.
-
Families are
primary agents of social integration and of behavior. They provide
the emotional, financial and material support essential to the
growth of their members, particularly infants and children and
care for the elderly, persons with disability and those who
are infirm.
-
Families are important
units of production, creating employment and income. As consumption
units, they have a direct bearing on sustainable development.
-
The Family is an important
force in achieving world peace, safety, justice, unity, tolerance,
solidarity and prosperity and plays a fundamental role in realizing
the Millennium Development Goals.
Article 2 – Family and Human
Rights
........Families
are important in promoting Human Rights. Within the family and also
in the larger society.
- Families must be empowered and enabled
to ensure human security and meet the basic needs of their members.
This must be founded and function on the principles of equality,
the inviolability of. rights and responsibilities of the individuals,
mutual respect, love and tolerance.
- The principle of human rights and democracy
should be learned, practiced and respected first and foremost
in the family.
- Democracy in society is directly linked
to democracy within families.
Article 3 – Family and Poverty
........The
top priority of sustainable development is poverty alleviation through
sustainable economic growth.
-
It is necessary to
adequately identify the reason of poverty, to break the chain
by which poverty is transmitted, establish transfers of wealth
and improve access to knowledge, skills, credits and technology
and land to all Families.
-
Setting priorities for sustainable development
implies clear vision for the future, joint consideration of
policies, economic opportunities, investment in human capital
and social protection schemes. Families must be the focal agents
and beneficiaries of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
Article 4 – Family and Education
........Education
is a basic Human Right and is essential for sustainable development.
Learning begins at birth and in the Family
- The Family is a setting for informal education,
a base from which members seek formal education. The Family should
be supported to fulfill this role.
-
The Family is the
primary educator of children and has the main influence on the
values and attitudes of each new Generation. The education process
starts in the family and continues in the larger society. Efficient
education is a joint effort of the Family, governments, private
sector, NGO and the United Nations.
- The Family is also an important setting
for transmitting cultural values and building a cultural identity.
Article 5 – Family and Gender
Equality
........Equality
between women and men is based on the fundamental and equal worth
of each person and it is essential to the well-being of the Family
and society at large.
-
It is recommended that governments ensure
the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all
forms of Discrimination Against Women.
-
It is necessary to
promote the equality between the girl-child and the boy-child,
and assure that the rights of the girl-child are respected in
families.
-
Gender equality and
equity in the family, as well as the full participation of women
in political, economical and social life are essential for sustainable
development.
Article 6 – Family and Health
........Various
aspects of health, such as nutrition, food security, clean water,
primary health care, maternal and child health care, reproductive
health care and rights are crucial to development and to Families.
-
The Family is a key player in all aspects
of health. It performs basic tasks for treating illness and
preventing it, as well as for maintaining good health and promoting
healthy behavior.
- The affordable and easy access to primary health care and a
family-focus service delivery including prevention and early treatment
is a basic right.
-
Reproductive Rights
rest on the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide
freely and responsibly the number and the spacing of their children
and to have the means to access and to exercise those rights.
-
Families have an important
role in HIV/AIDS prevention. Families affected by the HIV/AIDS
pandemic and other chronic, debilitative or terminal illness
are entitled to support programs and intra-familial support
networks.
Article 7 – Family and Environment
........A
holistic view of families and the environment recognizes the interdependency
between people, between families and between social systems and
specially the relationship of families to the natural environment.
- The understanding by families, the
delicate balance between people and the physical environment
in which they live is an important achievement.
- By seeing themselves as an essential
part of the global ecosystem, families can become efficient
stewards of their environment.
- Families have to protect the balance
of the global ecosystem by practicing responsible parenthood,
consumption and resource use.
- Families need to be empowered to respect
and protect the richness of the planet’s natural world.
Article 8 – Family and Social
Integration and Protection
........Families
are agents of socialization. They strengthen social integration
by promoting respect for pluralism and diversity leading to good
citizenship.
- Families are the most effective advocates for disadvantaged
groups, by fostering an awareness of their special needs and pressing
for services to meet those needs.
-
The contribution of
families to social integration, especially in the case of poor
families, minorities, single parents situation, migrants and
refugees, must be recognized and addressed in any comprehensive
approach to development.
-
Enhancing social protection and reducing
vulnerability are important goals for economic and social development.
Social protection has to be seen as a foundation for promoting
decent housing, social justice and social cohesion, developing
human capabilities and promoting family-focused economic dynamism
and creativity.
- Families are in the very heart in the implementation of the
fourth commitment of the Declaration of the World Summit for Social
Development which states in full:
“We commit ourselves
to promote social integration by fostering societies (families!)
that are stable, safe and just, and that are based on the
promotion and protection of all human rights, as well as are
non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for diversity, equality
of opportunity, solidarity, security and participation of
all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups
and persons.”
Article 9 – Family and ICT
........As
outlined in the article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression,
communication is a fundamental social process, a basic human need
and the foundation of all social organization. The Family is in
the very core of this concept.
- Education, knowledge, information and communication are at the
core of the human progress, endeavor and well-being.
-
Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) have immense impact on virtually aspects
of the family lives. Affordable access to ICT to all families
should be assured in order to bridge the gap between developed
and developing countries.
-
ICT are tools that,
under favorable conditions, can be powerful instruments, increasing
productivity, generating economic growth, job creation and employability,
health care and information, education and training, agriculture,
transport, business, environmental protection, disaster prevention,
sustainable production and consumption patterns and improving
the quality of life of all individuals and families.
-
The preservation of
cultural heritage is a crucial component of identity and self-understanding
of individuals and families that links a community to its past
and future. ICT and families are responsible to develop and
preserve its cultural heritage for the future.
-
The importance of
the ethics on information is fundamental because its foster
justice and dignity and worth of the human person. The widest
possible protection should be accorded to the family and to
enable it to play its crucial role in society.
Article 10 – Family and partnership
for Development
........Partnership
is a voluntary and collaborative agreement between one or more parts,
in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common
purpose or undertake a specific task and to share the risks, responsibilities,
resources, competencies and benefits.
- It is within the Family,
under a shared process of decision-making and joint problem-solving
that in the most effective manner the concept of partnership has
to be learnt and exercised.
- The family is a fundamental
source of social capital, one of the newest tools to development
- and its voices, expressed directly or by its representatives
must be recognized when establishing any kind of partnership.
-
International
and National Partnership for Development in many spheres of
activities have an impact on families. It is important to pay
attention to the impact of all policies on families, and to
take all necessary measures to eliminate the long-term negative
effects on family well-being.
-
The
International Community, Governments, NGOs, Academia, Parliamentarians,
the Business Community and Families are jointly responsible
to develop a global partnership for development including a
pro-family culture and new patterns of negotiation and cooperation
at the national and local levels, promoting formal and informal
networks and coalitions.
5. The Commitments
.......Being
in full agreement of the above proclaimed, we participants of the
World Family Summit commit ourselves to disseminate and call upon
Governments, Civil Society and other institutions to increase efforts
to:
-
Include family perspectives in the international
agenda and as priority when developing national strategies,
formulating economic, social and environmental policies and
programs, promote partnership between families and communities,
comply with the principles of good governance and rule by law
and render full support to families and development.
- Urge governments of all countries to:
a. Act upon their commitments to achieve
the UN MDGs and the goals and objectives of the ICPD Program
of Action, and promote the integration of those goals in policies
and development programmes;
b. Empower families and their members, in particular women
and girls and place them in the center of poverty-reduction
policies;
c. Develop poverty-reduction policies that assist families,
especially women-headed households, families with disabled
members and vulnerable families
d. Promote universal access to education for all family members,
especially for women and girls, achieve universal access to
primary education and prevent children from dropping-out of
school
e. Ensure equal rights among all family members with special
attention to the rights of women and girls,
f. Ensure women’s access to economic resources and ensure
their right to inheritance,
g. Support family policies that foster the participation of
men in sharing responsibilities of household chores, conciliate
between professional and family life, and empower women to
participate in public political, economical and social life
and free them from neglect, exploitation, abuse and violence,
h. Ensure paid maternity leave, paid child-rearing leave,
breastfeeding and availability of nurseries and encourage
men to take responsibility in raising children.
i. Strengthen policies to reduce maternal and infant mortality
and morbidity,
j. Empower youth and adults to participate in family and development
life,
k. Encourage the participation of youth in the design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of adolescent programs, in particular
health programmes that include health education focusing on
sexual and reproductive health
l. Support research on population aging and strengthen policy
systems so as to create a positive and healthy living environment
for the elderly.
m. Ensure to all families conditions of housing access.
-
Enhance political commitment and ensure sufficient
resources to prevent HIV/AIDS and care as well as support families
to better care for their infected members with HIV/AIDS, including
protecting them from discrimination and stigma. Encourage people
living with HIV/AIDS and their relatives to combat ignorance
and panic; and take action to integrate HIV/AIDS prevention
and care into reproductive health services.
-
Support the role of families in environmental
protection, promote the adoption of sustainable production and
consumption patterns and protect all family members to enjoy
a life that is environment friendly and harmonious with nature.
-
Promote dialogue, communication and cooperation
among different cultures, based on respect, tolerance, understanding
and trust. Promote social harmony and integration, through effective
public policies involving communities and families.
-
Promote partnership initiatives, projects/programmes
between governments, the United Nations, NGOs, Academia, Local
Authorities, Parliaments and Business Community on comprehensive
integrated and cross-sector programmes for family poverty alleviation
and sustainable development, and ensure means to effectively
and efficiently implement them;
At the same time, we, the participants, call upon
-
Members of the international community,
governments of different countries civil society organizations
to strengthen partnership with programs that focus on the family;
- Reaffirm support to the ICPD and MDG’s commitments related
to family issues, recognizing the role of families as essential
in development efforts.
- The inclusion of family issues into the 5-year Review of the
UN MDGs.
-
Governments of all countries, to reinforce
their political commitments towards implementation of family-focused
policies and programmes, welcome the civil society organizations
and families in general to participate in full partnership in
the formulation and implementation of those policies and programmes.
We, the participants, reiterate
........That
we will always bear in mind our responsibility to the family, improve
well-being of the family and its members, enable families to achieve
their optimal aspirations, promote interaction between the family
and development and exert concerted efforts towards the MDGs.
Sanya, December 8th, 2004.
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