International Day of Families

IN 1993, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared May 15 as the International Day of Families (IDF). The UN states that the IDF “reflects the importance the international community attaches to families and their role in development.” The observance is spearheaded by UN’s Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Global Communications Civil Society.

This year’s celebration focuses on the theme “Families and Climate Action Focus on SDG13.”

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 is taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

In the 2019 observance of IDF, it seeks to put into spotlight the major SDG13 targets. One of the targets is to include the integration of climate

change measures into the national policies, strategies, and planning.

Another major target of SDG 13 is improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

In developing what to discuss to families in terms of climate change, the way they communicate this must be understood by a majority of the Filipinos. By explaining to them in simple terms, will allow Filipino families to understand what climate change is and how it is affecting their lives.

By being able to understand the urgency to act on climate change, the families will understand the importance of their role in mitigating its effects. This will allow families to make better choices in the items they use at their homes or adapting to a greener lifestyle.

On the other side of the globe, there will be a civil society briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States.

The forum will tackle topics on inter-generational approach to sustainability; sustainable development education & practice; sustainable family farming from an indigenous perspective; and “greening the blue” and other good practices at the United Nations and beyond.

Here in the Philippines, agencies and institutions like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Council for the Welfare of Children, and UN Children’s Fund in the Philippines will organize events in supprot to the IDF in the Philippines.

A lot of things are happening around us that may have transformed and evolved the dynamics of families. Hence, the UN continues to uphold and recognize the family as an important unit of the society.

The IDF provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating and affecting families. It aims to increase their knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them, including the global environment.