The International Day of Families is held every year on May 15th with the goal of spreading awareness about the importance of families and their function in society. This day emphasises the significant function that families serve in society while also shedding awareness on the issues they face. The United Nations officially established this commemorative day in 1993 with the goal of celebrating the institution of family and raising awareness of the difficulties that families face around the world.
The United Nations (UN) prioritised family-related issues during the 1980s. The United Nations Commission on Social Development and the Economic and Social Council issued suggestions to raise awareness about the needs and problems that families confront. The United Nations General Assembly declared 1989 the International Year of the Family. In 1993, May 15th was recognised as the International Day of Families to increase awareness of family-related issues. These programmes attempted to increase family well-being while also advancing global social progress.
The United Nations member states overwhelmingly supported the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, which recognised the critical role of families and family-oriented programmes in achieving these goals. The Sustainable Development Goals emphasised the importance of family-focused policies and programmes in addressing poverty, prejudice, and environmental issues, among other objectives.
The International Day of Families is a yearly celebration with various themes each year. The theme for 2023 is ‘Demographic Trends and Families,’ while the previous year’s theme was ‘Families and Urbanisation.’ This day is marked by a range of events and activities designed to bring families together, recognise their unique diversity, and deepen their relationships with one another.
According to the United Nations Secretary-General, the global population will surpass a historic milestone of eight billion people in late 2022, indicating great progress in human development. This accomplishment emphasises important advancements in healthcare that have resulted in increased human lifespans. Although population growth is likely to continue, the rate of expansion is expected to slow. According to projections, the world population will reach 9.8 billion by 2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. These findings raise worries regarding urbanisation’s long-term management and the issues posed by climate change.
Demographic shifts are now recognised as one of the most significant major developments influencing our planet and the lives of families all across the world. These variations are mostly impacted by fertility and death rates. Reduced fertility rates provide numerous benefits to families, allowing them to invest more in their children’s health and education, contributing to lowering poverty rates and supporting better social and economic growth.
According to research, lower fertility rates correlate to increasing female labour participation. Reduced fertility, on the other hand, can result in smaller families that may struggle with handling caregiving and household responsibilities. As a result, families have fewer individuals to rely on for help during times of unemployment or illness. Furthermore, low fertility rates can destabilise labour forces and societal systems, potentially resulting in unanticipated repercussions ranging from social security to gender equality.
Families are the foundation of any civilisation, playing an important part in forming people’s values, beliefs, and identities. They offer their members crucial emotional and social support, care, and direction. Recognising the importance of families, the International Day of Families not only promotes their function but also addresses frequent challenges that influence modern families, such as poverty and inequality.
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