“I call on governments, businesses, institutions and other partners to recognize that caregiving is an essential part of family life. Everyone needs care from family members at some point in their lives – and all should be able to provide that care when the need arises.
Promoting supportive family environments and positive parenting through policies and laws can help families raise healthy, happy children who can grow into valued, productive adults.
Leaving no one behind means leaving no family behind.
On this International Day of Families, let us resolve to advance sustainable development by creating a supportive environment where all family members of all ages can realize their potential to contribute to our world.”
UN Secretary-General’s Message for the International Day of Families 2016.
2016 International Day of Families’ Theme
The central goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development focus on ending poverty, promoting shared economic prosperity, social development and people’s well-being while protecting the environment.
Families remain at the centre of social life ensuring the well-being of their members, educating and socializing children and youth and caring for young and old. From a policy perspective, taking families into account in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals has a potential to speed up the achievements of many targets relating to individuals’ well-being.
A number of family policies, such as those supporting the caregiving role of families, work-family balance for parents, empowering families to support their individual members’ health, education and well-being, have been found to contribute to overall development goals. Still, a broad range of family policies enacted at national levels and relating to different facets of family life have an often untapped potential to further contribute to the achievement of many national development goals.
In particular, family-oriented policies can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1 to 5 relating to doing away with poverty and hunger; ensuring healthy lives and promoting of well-being for all ages; ensuring educational opportunities throughout the lifespan and achieving gender equality.
The theme of this year’s observance of the International Day of Families focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Panel Discussion in Observance of the International Day
at the United Nations Headquarters (12 May 2016)
Moderator
Dominic Richardson
Senior Education Specialist, UNICEF, Office of Research, Innocenti
Families, family policies and Sustainable Development Goals
Presentations
Daryl Higgins
Associate Professor, Deputy Director (Research), Australian Institute of Family Studies
Safe and supportive family environments and children’s well-being
Zitha Mokomane
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Work-family balance and health outcomes
Scott Behson
Professor of Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University
The effects of involved fatherhood on families & how fathers can be supported both at the workplaces and in the home
Rosario Esteinou
Senior Professor-Researcher, Center for Research and Professional Studies in Social Anthropology, Mexico
Families, parents and youth well-being
Wendy Wang
Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center
Families, intergenerational transfers and well-being of older adults
Roundtable discussion with audience participation
http://webtv.un.org/watch/player/4890894674001 – Full video of the event.
