International Day of Families

• 16 May 2020

Why in News

• The International Day of Families is observed on 15 May every year.

Key Points

• In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that 15 May of every year should be observed as the International Day of Families.
• Objectives: It 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.
• Theme: The theme for 2020 is Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing+25.
  
  • The theme changes every year depending on the developmental endeavours ahead of the organisations working towards the welfare of families.
• Steps to promote healthy families:
  
  • Healthy familial bonds are some of the greatest boons that parents and elders in the family can pass on their children and family youngsters.
  • A nurturing environment promoted with love and care helps the children grow up into well-balanced, happy adults.
  • Communication, quality time, appreciation, respect are some of the essentials towards building a strong and supportive family.

Copenhagen & Beijing+25

• Copenhagen & Beijing+25 signifies the World Conferences on Women (WCW) organised by the United Nations.
  
  • The United Nations has organized four world conferences on women.
  • These took place in Mexico City in 1975, Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995.
• WCW, Copenhagen:
  
  • Under this a Programme of Action called for stronger national measures to ensure women’s ownership and control of property, as well as improvements in protecting women’s rights to inheritance, child custody and nationality.
• WCW, Beijing:
  
  • It marked a significant turning point for the global agenda for gender equality. The Beijing Declaration was adopted unanimously by the UN at the end of the 4^th WCW.
  • 2020 marks the 25^th anniversary of the 4^th World Conference on Women (WCW) and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Hence, it is referred to as Beijing + 25.

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