International Family Day 2022: Know History, Theme & Significance Of The Day Celebrating Families

Worldwide May 15 is celebrated as the International Day of Families to raise awareness of the issues faced by the families and their roles. Families and Urbanisation targets mainly 4 SDGs.

In 1993, the General Assembly decided May 15 will be observed as International Family Day (Representational Image)

New Delhi: International Family Day or International Day of Families is observed every year on May 15. In 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day to provide importance to families and the issues faced by them and to increase knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting families. The theme of 2022 is “Families and Urbanisation” which aims to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable, family-friendly urban policies. According to the UN, Urbanisation is “one of the most important megatrends shaping our world and the life and wellbeing of families worldwide”.

History

In the 1980s, the United Nations focused its attention on families and issues related to them, based on recommendations of the Economic and Social Council. The Commission for Social Development in its resolution on the role of the family requested the Secretary-General to enhance awareness among decision-makers and the public of the problems and needs of the family, as well as of effective ways of meeting those needs.

In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution that May 15 of every year should be observed as the International Day of Families.

Theme

The theme of this year’s International Family Day is “Families and Urbanisation” which raises awareness of the importance of sustainable, family-friendly urban policies which are related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, such as SDG-1 (Poverty eradication); SDG-3 (Good health and well-being); SDG-11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable); and SDG-10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries).

SDGs and their targets depending on how well urbanisation is managed towards benefitting families and enhancing the well-being of all generations living in cities.

Significance

According to the UN, this day 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.

On September 25, 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 goals aiming to eliminate poverty, discrimination, abuse, and preventable deaths, address environmental destruction, and usher in an era of development for all people, everywhere. Families and family-oriented policies and programmes are vital for the achievement of many of these goals.