Welcome to the United Nations
Preparations for the observance of the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004
The International Day of Families 2003 will be commemorated on 15 May 2003. A panel discussion will be held at the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium at UN headquarters from 10:00 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. The theme for this year's International Day of Families (IDF) is "Preparations for the Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004". Organized jointly by DESA's Programme on the Family, the Department for Public Information and the New York NGO Committee on the Family, the event will provide various speakers the opportunity to talk, inter alia, about preparations for the observance of the Tenth Anniversary of IYF from their considered perspective. The three speakers will be: Ms. Nicole Elisha of the Mission of Benin, Ms. Mary Power, the Former Director of the Office for the Advancement of Women of the Baha'i International Community and Mr. Robert Venne, Associate Social Affairs Officer of DESA.
On 15 May 2003, the ninth year anniversary celebration of the International Day of Families will be observed. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, this annual observance reflects the importance, which the international community attaches to families as basic units of society as well as its concern regarding their situation around the world. The International Day of Families provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families as well as to promote appropriate action. The Day can become a powerful mobilizing factor on behalf of families in all countries, which avail themselves of this opportunity and demonstrate support of family issues appropriate to each society.
Message of the Secretary General