Daily Times

NEW YORK – At the United Nation, Pakistan has called for integrating the pivotal role of family in national and international efforts, stressing the policies to achieve the objectives of UN 2030 development agenda’s goals.

“Human experience over the ages has shown that the family is the most fundamental unit of a society and the foundation of a cohesive and harmonious community,” Ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi said at a special high-level event organised by the Group of Friends of Family.

“As a proud member of the group and a firm follower of the UN charter and the international bill of human rights, Pakistan unswervingly supports all efforts to strengthen the institution of family and to harness its full potential to realise our shared objectives of prosperity, peace and security, and harmony in the world,” she said.

The group, which was launched last year, is composed of 25 countries from different regions of the world that support the traditional family and family values. It has three co-chairs – Belarus, Egypt and Qatar. The event marked the annual International Day of Families, which is observed on May 15.

Referring to the forced migrants and displacement, which was taking a heavy toll on families, especially children, Ambassador Maleeha said that challenges abound with the families bearing the brunt of the different crises sweeping so many parts of the world. “As the international community embarks on implementation of the world’s most ambitious and wide-ranging development agenda, families have a crucial role to play in achieving the sustainable development goals,” she said.

Underscoring the role of family, she said that this indispensable institution was not specific to a particular culture or religion, and that it was valued by different systems and faiths. “The institution of the family has proven its utility in the nurturing and development of children and in providing a secure and enabling environment to women,” she said. “It is also the best primary educator, a vital economic driver as well as the most comprehensive and compassionate social safety net for the unemployed, the elderly and the disabled,” she added.

“These multi-faceted dimensions of the institution should be employed by member states and the relevant UN agencies in all programmes and policies, at all levels, to advance several SDG goals, including but not limited to eradicating poverty and hunger,” she said. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, reflecting the importance the international community attaches to families.