The International Year of the Family (IYF) 1994

Proclamation of the Interantional Year of the Family

The International Year of the Family, 1994, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 44/82 of 9 December 1989.

The theme of the Year is "Family:resources and responsibilities in a changing world". Its motto: "Building the Smallest Democracy at the Heart of Society".

In proclaiming the Year, the General Assembly decided that the major activities for its observance should be concentrated at the local, regional and national levels, assisted by the United Nations system. The United Nations Commission for Social Development was designated the preparatory body and the Economic and Social Council as the coordinating body for the Year.


Principles underlining the IYF Proclamation

The family constitutes the basic unit of society and therefore warrants special attention. Hence, the widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to families so that they may fully assume their responsibilities within the community, pursuant to the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Declaration on Social Progress and Development; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

Families assume diverse forms and functions from one country to another, and within each national society. These express the diversity of individual preferences and societal conditions. Consequently, the International Year of the Family encompasses and addresses the needs of all families;

Activities for IYF will seek to promote the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms accorded to all individuals by the set of internationally agreed instruments formulated under the aegis of the United Nations, whatever the status of each individual within the family, and whatever the form and condition of that family;

Policies will aim at fostering equality between women and men within families, to bring about a fuller sharing of domestic responsibilities and employment opportunities;

Activities for IYF will be undertaken at all levels - local, national, regional and international; however, their primary focus will be at the local and national levels;

Programmes should support families in the discharge of their functions, rather than provide substitutes for such functions.

They should promote the inherent strengths of families, including their great capacity for self-reliance, and stimulate self-sustaining activities on their behalf. They should give expression to an integrated perspective of families, their members, community and society;

IYF will constitute an event within a continuing process. Measures will be needed to ensure appropriate evaluation and progress made and obstacles encountered both prior to and during IYF, in order to ensure its success and adequate follow-up.

Objectives

The objectives of IYF are to stimulate local, national and international action as part of a sustained long-term effort to:

Increase awareness of family issues among Governments as well as in the private sector. IYF would serve to highlight the importance of families; increase a better understanding of their functions and problems; promote knowledge of the economic,social and demographic processes affecting families and their members; and focus attention upon the rights and responsibilities of all family members;

Strengthen national institutions to formulate, implement and monitor policies in respect of families;

Stimulate efforts to respond to problems affecting, and affected by, the situation of families;

Enhance the effectiveness of local, regional and national efforts to carry out specific programmes concerning families by generating new activities and strengthening existing ones;

Improve the collaboration among national and international non-governmental organizations in support of multi-sectoral activities;

Build upon the results of international activities concerning women, children, youth, the aged, the disabled as well as other major events of concern to the family or its individual members.

Voluntary Fund

As requested by the General Assembly of the United Nations and in order to support operational activities for IYF, a Voluntary Fund for the International Year of the Family was established. The Assembly also invited all States and interested organizations to make voluntary contributions to the Fund.

The Fund's resources were used to support national action and projects, especially in developing countries, that directly promote IYF objectives; to build national capacities for long-term family-oriented policies; and to provide technical support and advisory services on families to requesting Governments. It also supported research, data collection, information exchange, and experience-sharing between countries on family issues.

In its resolution 50/142 of 21 December 1995, the General Assembly of the United Nations renamed the Fund as the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities, and called for the continuation of its operations.

THE IYF THEME SONG "THE FAMILY"
Words and music by Ms. Jacquelyn Reinach "The Family"

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