New York - Information Office - November 19
The 3rd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session adopted by consensus, the resolution of the "20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond", to implement the objectives of the International Year of the Family, which the State of Qatar facilitated negotiations about it on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the United Nations.
The Group of 77 and China expressed their special appreciation to the delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, which over the past years facilitated the consultations on the resolution, as Qatar began submitting the resolution since 2004, after it hosted the Doha International Conference on the Family that year.
In its statement, which spoke on behalf of the group while introducing the draft resolution, the Republic of Guyana expressed its thanks and appreciation to the second secretary of the permanent delegation of the State of Qatar Sharifa Yousef Alnesf, for facilitating the negotiations of the draft resolution on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
On behalf of the Group, Guyana encouraged Member States to begin preparing for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2024.
The adoption of the resolution this year is of particular importance as it relates to the goals of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes, especially during these difficult times in light of the health crisis caused by the spread of Covid-19. The goals of the International Year of the Family will contribute significantly to eradicating poverty and hunger, and ensuring a healthy life, promote the well-being of all at all ages, ensure better educational outcomes for children, achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
The Third Committee (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs) encouraged governments to continue their efforts to implement the goals of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes, and to develop strategies and programs aimed at strengthening national capacities to address national priorities related to family matters and to intensify their efforts, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, especially in the areas of combating poverty and hunger and ensuring the well-being of all.
The Committee also called on Member States to invest in a variety of comprehensive family-oriented policies and programs that take into account the different needs and expectations of families, as an important tool to be pursued, among other things, to combat poverty, social exclusion and inequality, and to promote work-family balance, gender equality and empower all women and girls, promoting social inclusion and intergenerational solidarity, in order to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Committee encouraged Member States to consider providing comprehensive social protection systems, lifelong learning for all, health and well-being for all at all ages, full and productive employment, decent work, social security, livelihoods, and social cohesion, including through gender- and age-sensitive social protection systems and measures, such as providing child support allowances to parents as well as pension benefits for the elderly, and ensuring respect for the rights, capabilities and responsibilities of all family members