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International Day of Families

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International Day of Families - History, Theme, Facts and FAQs

Though the family is something that is to be celebrated every day, we have a day dedicated specially for the families. Family is the most significant and important asset of our life. "Family" itself is imperative to such an extent that it intends to have a sense of safety with individuals around you whom you can generally rely on, with whom you can generally share your issues and problems, whom you can play with constantly, who can freshen up your mood whenever required. Our families are consistently there to support our confidence regardless of how awful the circumstance is.

"The love of a family is Life's greatest blessing."

Also, family is the one that will give you that support that all is well and good. An individual likewise requires a few other feelings like love, which is fundamental for mental satisfaction. Families are significant in light of the fact that they give us limitless love, laughter, and a sensation of having a place. Regardless of where you are wandering the whole day, you generally have a home to return to. All in all, you could never feel forlorn in this world. Family is one of those ahead of all comers where you learn the vast majority of the beneficial things throughout everyday life - from being benevolent to showing appreciation to helping other people in their awful occasions.

"Family - Where life begins and love never ends." 

These are a portion of the instances of virtues that just a family can make. You will never face any challenges in taking big decisions as you have a family where you can generally depend on people who are truly capable and have experience of doing it. Eventually, having a strong family would assist you with making appropriate choices throughout everyday life. Our family will be the one with whom we can tell everything without any hesitation. We can converse with them, cry before them, or even giggle until our stomach starts hurting. 

In this article, we will learn about the International Day of Families activities. So that if you come across such a question in the exam, you will be able to write an essay on International Family Day.

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Image: Illustrating a Happy Family Enjoying in a Park


When And Why is World Families Day Celebrated?

Every year we observe 15 May as international family day to respect the significance of families. It was established by the United Nations (UN) in 1994. The UN spotlights some significant issues that are key to the prosperity of families across the world, like wellbeing, education, childrens' privileges or rights, gender equality, work-family equilibrium, and social incorporation, among others. 

The world is experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, and families are the centre of intergenerational interactions that help us in crises and emergencies. Under economic distress, poverty extends, stress increases at uncertain times. Hence, it is important to help weak families, the individuals who have lost their pay, have youngsters, elderly people, and people with disabilities, etc. 

International Day of Families not just advances the significance of a sound and even family but in addition enhances knowledge on the monetary, demographic, and social processes that influence the families. This day is likewise celebrated by the Universal Peace Federation since they think about family as the miniature of a global community. 


Happy World Family Day 2021: Theme

The theme of the 2021 international day of families activities was “Families and New Technologies”. By now, we know that 15 May international family day is celebrated. Let us know about the theme of the 2021 UN international day of families.

Circling back to the theme of the 59th meeting of the Commission for Social Development: "Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all", the 2021 recognition of the International Day of Families centres around the effects of new technologies on the well - being of families. Megatrends, including new technologies, demographic shifts, quick urbanisation, and relocation trends, along with environmental changes, have been drastically moulding our world. 

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic showed the significance of digital innovations and technologies for work, education, communication, and correspondence. The pandemic has sped up technological changes that had effectively been in progress both in society and at work, including the extended utilisation of digital platforms and related technological innovations like cloud computing and the utilisation of big data and algorithms. In anticipation of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, 2024 (IYF+30), the United Nations means to bring issues to light of megatrends noted above and responsive family-oriented policies to handle their effects. 


Family International Day: History

Let us know how May 15 International Day of Families came into existence.

During the 1980s, the United Nations started focusing on issues identified within the family. In 1983, in view of the suggestions of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development, in its goal on the Role of the family in the improvement cycle (1983/23), mentioned the Secretary-General to upgrade mindfulness among decision-makers and people in general of the issues and needs of the family, just as of successful methods of addressing those requirements. 

In its goal 1985/29 of 29 May 1985, the Council welcomed the General Assembly to think about remembering for the temporary plan of its 41st meeting a thing named "Families in the development process", so as to consider a solicitation to the Secretary-General to start a cycle of improvement of worldwide familiarity with the issues in question, coordinated towards Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and public opinion.

Later, in light of the suggestions of the Commission for Social Development, formed in its 30th round of meetings, The Assembly welcomed all States to spread the word about their perspectives concerning the possible proclamation of an international year of the family and to offer their remarks and propositions. The Council additionally mentioned the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its 43rd meeting a far-reaching report, in view of the remarks and proposition of Member States on the possible proclamation of such a year and alternate available resources to advance the position and prosperity of the family and escalate worldwide co-activity as a feature of worldwide endeavours to propel social advancement and improvement. 

In its goal 44/82 of 9 December 1989, The General Assembly declared The International Year of the Family. In 1993, the General Assembly chose in a goal (A/RES/47/237) that 15 May consistently ought to be seen as The International Day of Families. This day gives a chance to promote awareness to issues identifying within families and to expand the knowledge on the social, financial, and demographic processes influencing families. 

On 25 September 2015, the 193 part conditions of the United Nations collectively embraced the Sustainable Development Goals, a bunch of 17 objectives intending to wipe out poverty, discrimination, abuse, and preventable deaths, address natural destruction, and usher in a period of improvement for all individuals, all over. Families and family-arranged strategies and projects are crucial for the accomplishment of a large number of these objectives.


World Families Day: Facts

  • The United Nations declared the celebration of the international day of families activities in the year 1993 and was first celebrated on 15th May 1994.

  • The year 1994 was declared as the year of families by the United Nations.

  • The theme of the family international day was first proffered in the year 1996 by the UN.

  • In 1995, maternity leave was provided only in 89% of countries, whereas it increased to 96% by 2015.

FAQs on International Day of Families

Question 1: What were the themes of world families day in previous years?

Answer: This year, i.e., in 2021, the theme of the international day of families was Families and New Technologies. In the previous years, the themes were:

  • Theme of the year 2020 - Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing + 25

  • Theme of the year 2019 - Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG 13

  • Theme of the year 2018 - Families and inclusive societies

  • Theme of the year 2017 - Families, education, and well-being

  • Theme of the year 2016 - Families, healthy lives, and sustainable future

  • Theme of the year 2015 - Men in charge? Gender equality and children's rights in contemporary families

  • Theme of the year 2014 - Families Matter for the Achievement of Development Goals; International Year of the Family + 20

  • Theme of the year 2013 - Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity

  • Theme of the year 2012 - Ensuring work-family balance

  • Theme of the year 2011 - Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion

  • Theme of the year 2010 - The impact of migration on families around the world

Question 2: How is the day of families celebrated?

Answer: A few occasions are coordinated at local, national, and international levels like workshops, seminars, strategy gatherings for public authorities, shows and exhibitions, and so on. In workshops and seminar discussions on the yearly subject for empowering individuals, some educational campaigns are likewise launched for general society to fortify and uphold families. Indeed, even tool kits are likewise produced in some nations to help individuals in getting sorted out festivals and focus on a specific segment of the population like school children, youthful grown-ups, college-going, and so forth. This year it was celebrated online.