In pursuit to nurturing the family environment, working for the respect and for the role of the family in providing for children and support the efforts of parents, care-givers and communities to nurture and care for children who are separated from their families is an aspect that is important to be serious with.
The family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children from fancy to adolescence. Introduction of children to culture, values and norms of their society begins in the family. For the full and harmonious development of their en personality, children should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. Accordingly, all institutions of society should respect and support the efforts of parents and other care-givers to nurture and care for children in a family environment.
The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is a highly important end in itself. In addition, it is essential for the achievement of sustainable development. The full participation and partnership of both women and men is required in productive and reproductive life, including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintenance of household. In all parts of the world, women receive less formal education than men, and at the same time, women’s own knowledge, abilities and coping mechanisms often go unrecognized. The power relations that impede women’s attainment of healthy and fulfilling lives operate at many levels of society, from the most personal to the highly public. Achieving change requires policy and programme actions that will improve women’s attainment of healthy and fulfilling lives operate at many levels of society, from the most personal to the highly public. Achieving change requires policy and programme actions that will improve women’s access to secure livelihoods and economic resources, alleviate their extreme responsibilities with regard to housework, remove legal impediments to their participation in public life, and rise social awareness through effective programmes of education and mass communication. In addition, improving the status of women also enhances their decision-making capacity at all levels in all spheres of life, especially in the area of sexuality and reproduction. This, in turn, is essential for the long-term success of population programmes. Experience shows that population and development programmes are most effective when steps have simultaneously been taken to improve the status of women.
Particular efforts should be made to protect children and youth by; promoting family stability and supporting families in providing mutual support, including in their role as nurturers and educators of children.
Governments should promote equality and social justice by; encouraging the free formation of cooperatives, community and other grass-roots organizations, mutual support groups, recreational/sports associations and similar institutions that tend to strengthen social integration, paying particular attention to policies that assist families in their support, education, socializing and nurturing roles.
Helping the family in its supporting, educating and nurturing roles in contributing to social integration should involve;
- Encouraging social and economic policies that are designed to meet the needs of families and their individual members, especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members, with particular attention to the care of children
- Ensuring opportunities for family members to understand and meet their social responsibilities
- Promoting mutual respect, tolerance and cooperation within the family and within society
- Promoting equal partnership between women and men in the family.
By Governments, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations;
- Formulate policies and programmes to help the family as mentioned earlier in its supporting, educating and nurturing, roles with particular emphasis on the elimination of intra-family discrimination against the girl child.
- Provide an environment conducive to the strengthening of the family with a view to providing supportive preventive measures which protect, respect and promote the potential of the girl child.
- Educate and encourage parents and caregivers to treat girls and boys equally and to ensure shared responsibilities between girls and boys in the family.
We further commit ourselves to the objectives of helping family in its supporting, educating and nurturing roles, to recognize its important contribution to social integration, and encouraging social and economic policies that are designed to meet the housing needs of families and their individual members especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members, with particular attention to the care of children.
Recognize that stable, supportive and nurturing family relationships, supported by communities and, where available, professional services, can provide a vital shield against substance abuse, particularly among minors. Schools and the media, inter alia, through the use of information technologies, including the internet, should be encouraged to provide young people with information on the dangers of substance abuse and addiction and how to seek help.
Recognize that the family is the basic unit of society and that it plays a key role in social development and is a strong force of social cohesion and integration. In different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of the family exist. Further recognize that equality and equity between women and men and respect for the rights of all family members are essential for family well-being and for society at large, and promote appropriate actions to meet the needs of families and their individual members, particularly in the areas of economic support and provision of social services. Greater attention should be paid to helping in its supporting, educating and nurturing roles, o the causes and consequences of family disintegration and to the adoption of measures to reconcile work and family life for women and men.
Providing quality and equitable quality education at all levels; early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary, technical and vocational training. All people, irrespective of sex, age, race or ethnicity, and persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, children and youth, especially those in vulnerable situations, should have access to life-long learning opportunities that help them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to exploit opportunities and to participate fully in society. It is important to strive to provide children and youth with a nurturing environment for the full realization of their rights and capabilities, helping our countries to reap the demographic dividend including through safe schools and cohesive communities and families.