15 May 2017: International Day of Families

International Day of Families is celebrated annually on 15 May. The Day highlights the importance of all caregivers in families, such as parents, grandparents or siblings, and the importance of parental education for the welfare of children. It focuses on good practices for work-family balance to assist parents in their educational and caregiving roles.

International Day of Families also aims to promote the discussion of the importance of ‘knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.’

The 2017 theme is “Families, education and well-being.” This year’s observance focuses on the role of families and family-oriented policies in promoting education and overall well-being of their members. In particular, the Day is to raise awareness of the role of families in promoting early childhood education and lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth.

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution on 20 September 1993, proclaimed that 15 May of every year shall be observed as the International Day of Families. The UN states that “this annual observance reflects the importance which the international community attaches to families as basic units of society as well as its concern regarding their situation around the world.”

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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