Fantasy world

The International Day of Families, annually held on May 15, celebrates the importance of families and the work started during the International Year of Families.

Background

The year 1994 was proclaimed as the International Year of Families by the United Nations. This was a response to changing social and economic structures, which have affected and still affect the structure and stability of family units in many regions of the globe. The International Day of Families, on May 15, is an occasion to reflect on the work started during 1994 and to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world. It has been held every year since 1995.

What do people do?

A wide range of events are organized at local, national and international levels. These include: workshops, seminars and policy meeting for public officials; exhibitions and organized discussions to raise awareness of the annual theme; educational sessions for children and young people; and the launch of campaigns for public policies to strengthen and support family units. In some countries, tool kits are created to help people organize celebrations aimed at a particular section of the population, such as school children or young adults.

Symbols

The symbol of the International Day of Families consists of a solid green circle with an image in red. The image consists of elements of simple drawings of a heart and a house. This indicates that families are the center of society and provide a stable and supporting home for people of all ages.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES

15 May 2009

This year’s International Day of Families, being commemorated under the theme,
“Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World,” focuses on the important role
of mothers for families and communities around the world.

Mothers play a critical role in the family, which is a powerful force for social
cohesion and integration. The mother-child relationship is vital for the healthy
development of children. And mothers are not only caregivers; they are also
breadwinners for their families. Yet women continue to face major – and even lifethreatening– challenges in motherhood.

Childbirth, which should be a cause for celebration, is a grave health risk for too
many women in developing countries. Improving maternal health is the Millennium
Development Goal on which the least progress has been made. A woman in a leastdeveloped country is 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than a woman in a developed country. We must make pregnancy and childbirth safer by enabling health systems to provide family planning, skilled attendance at birth and emergency obstetric care.


Violence against women, many of whom are mothers, remains one of the most
pervasive human rights violations of our time. It has far-reaching consequences –
endangering the lives of women and girls, harming their families and communities, and
damaging the very fabric of societies. Ending and preventing violence against women
should be a key priority for all countries.

We must also ensure universal access to education. The benefits of educating
women and girls accrue not only to individual families but to whole countries, unlocking the potential of women to contribute to broader development efforts. Statistics also show that educated mothers are much more likely to keep their children in school, meaning that the benefits of education transcend generations.


As we strive to support mothers in their caregiving work, we should develop and
expand family-friendly policies and services, such as child care centres, that would
reduce some of the workload placed on women. Women and men alike need stronger
public support to share equally in work and family responsibilities. Families built on the recognition of equality between women and men will contribute to more stable and productive societies.

We face multiple challenges in our changing world, but one factor remains
constant: the timeless importance of mothers and their invaluable contribution to raising the next generation. By rewarding their efforts and enhancing their living conditions, we can secure a better future for all.