On 15 May, the 20th Anniversary of the International Year for the Family was celebrated everywhere in the world. In Brussels, a festive event gathered actors from civil life, European institutions and families. The occasion to reaffirm a universal message: the importance of the family as the foundation of society.
Every 15 May is a special day since 1994, when the UN made it the International Day of the Family. For its twentieth anniversary, the International Commission on Couple and Family Relations (ICCFR) and the European Federation of Catholic Family Associations (FAFCE) wanted Brussels to be the scene of a real Celebration of the Family.
Gathered at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), representatives of various movements, NGOs or institutions of defense of the family, of the women and of the child took the floor to repeat, each one in his own way, the importance of the family at a time when Europe is having difficulty getting through the economic crisis and where individualism continues to cause divisions in families, workplaces, etc.
Put Family first !
“This day should remind us that the family is a core value of our society. We must consider it as a unit. Family First!” insisted Daniel Wiśniewski, director of the NGO World Youth Alliance Europe, while the Swedish Madeleine Wallin, from the European Federation of Parents and Carers at Home (FEFAF), testified about the importance of a strong presence of parents for the happiness and the well-being of children, even beyond childhood. Citing Charles Lewis, Olalla Michelena, from Make Mothers Matter Europe, has also recalled that everything that is achieved at home is essential, the family being the first place of learning, of humanity, of human rights and human dignity: “Housewives lead the Supreme career. All other careers have only one goal: to support the Supreme career”.
What is the European Union doing?
During this conference, the necessity of a European policy in favour of the family was universally admitted: the fight against poverty, defense of the rights of the child, acknowledgment of “invisible” work and skills acquired working at home, etc… “The Family is and remains a treasure to be cherished, shared. It needs respect in order to be promoted, supported and defended. And if we defend the principle of “Family First”, then we need to take care of our own relationships, remaining connected to contribute to a better future”, concluded Maria Hildingsson, FAFCE Secretary General, who chaired the morning panel. A clear message, on the eve of the European elections.
What does this 20th International Day of the Family mean to you?
Marc Morris, ICCFR
“As a father and grand-father who loves his family, I’m very happy on this anniversary.
It is very important of having a day where the attention of politicians, institutions and press is focused on the family.
This is the result of the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family: there are many celebrations in the world, it’s great that this event also took place in Brussels.”
Insa Schöningh, Evangelische Arbeitsgemeinchaft Familie (Berlin)
“It is fundamental to support the family, because it is an essential element of society. I find this very good that we talked about that in such a positive way. But we need families to be stronger, firmer. Some families need more help than others.”
« Make family visible »
– Madeleine Wallin, President of FEFAF (European Federation of Parents and Carers at Home)
“This day is very important because today we need to make the family visible.
Currently, we don’t see the extent to which it builds society, we don’t recognize it.
It’s our duty to show how important it is for society, its impact. Families are able to help with solidarity their members, who, alone, are not strong enough.
Without families, society would have to take charge of all these people,this would be extremely expensive.”
Kinga Joo, EESC (European Economic and Social Council)
“This anniversary is a beautiful occasion of celebrating our daily role with our children. This is a way of coming back on these 365 days just passed, lived as father or mother. Take the time to think again: what we achieved, experienced during this year.
For me this International Day of the Family, that takes place on the 15 May, has a lot of sense, because it takes place in the middle of two celebrations that we celebrate in Hungary in the month of May: Mother’s Day, the first Sunday of May, and Children’s Day, the last Sunday of the month. This forms a sort of cycle of celebrations in which the family is central.”
Branka Moynan, Mother and Hope Alive (Belgium)
“Everybody agrees: this day is essential and we need to do more for the family.
An important question was raised about the place of fathers. I believe that it would be really beneficial to see more fathers in our discussions, to be able to discuss with them and to consider their opinion.”
