International Day of Families

International Day of Families promotes the importance of a healthy and well-balanced family. ©iStockphoto.com/Ekaterina Monakhova

What do people do?

A wide range of events are organized at local, national and international levels. These include: workshops, seminars and policy meeting for public officials; exhibitions and organized discussions to raise awareness of the annual theme; educational sessions for children and young people; and the launch of campaigns for public policies to strengthen and support family units. In some countries, tool kits are created to help people organize celebrations aimed at a particular section of the population, such as school children or young adults.

Public life

The International Day of Families is not a public holiday in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States or many other countries and it is unlikely that public life will be affected.

Background

The year 1994 was proclaimed as the International Year of Families by the United Nations. This was a response to changing social and economic structures, which have affected and still affect the structure and stability of family units in many regions of the globe. The International Day of Families, on May 15, is an occasion to reflect on the work started during 1994 and to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world. It has been held every year since 1995.

Each year, the International Day of Families focuses on a particular theme. Recently, these have been: HIV/AIDS and Family Well-being (2004); Changing Families: Challenges and Opportunities (2006); Families and Persons with Disabilities (2007). The theme in 2008 is “Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges”.

Symbols

The symbol of the International Day of Families consists of a solid green circle with an image in red. The image consists of elements of simple drawings of a heart and a house. This indicates that families are the center of society and provide a stable and supporting home for people of all ages.

International Day of Families Observances

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