Hyderabad: May 15 is observed worldwide as the International Day of Families since 1995. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 with the aim to highlight the importance attached to families by the international community.
“This day is an occasion to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world...it provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families,” according to the UN.
Since 1996, a theme is assigned to the day, with this year’s theme being “Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing + 25”.
Elaborating on the reason for picking this theme, the UN statement reads, “This year’s 25th anniversary of Copenhagen Declaration and Beijing Platform for Action comes at a time of one of the most challenging global health and social crises. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic brings into sharp focus the importance of investing in social policies protecting the most vulnerable individuals and families. It is the families who bear the brunt of the crisis, sheltering their members from harm, caring for out-of-school children and, at the same time, continuing their work responsibilities.”
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In the year 2019, the UN theme for International Families Day was ‘Family and Climate Action: Focus on SCG 13’, in a bid to provide an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them.
Similarly, the International Families Day, 2018 was themed around ‘Families and inclusive societies’ exploring the role of families and family policies in advancing sustainable development.
