United Nations Resources on Ethics, Values and Family

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United Nations Proclamation of the
Tenth Anniversary of the
International Year of the Family

The tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family constitutes an important opportunity to give a new impetus to the follow- up of the Year. In its resolution 54/124, the General Assembly reaffirmed the importance of the follow-up to the Year and of the observance of its tenth anniversary.

The objectives of the tenth anniversary of the Year would be to:

(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 tenth anniversary of the Year will be launched in December 2003. The observance of the tenth anniversary during 2004 will culminate in the holding of one plenary session of the Assembly on the topic of families. It will be devoted to a reaffirmation of commitments made and the identification of further actions, including encouraging the incorporation of effective family policies and programmes into national development strategies; and encouraging regional institutes to promote and undertake research and development of policies related to family issues.