Welcome to the United Nations
February,No.6
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Family Matters |
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| Circular No.6 | Follow-up to the International Year of the Family |
February 1997 |
The Subprogramme on the Family The follow up to the International Year of the Family is the responsibility of the Subprogramme on the Family of the Division for Social Policy and Development within the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development. The follow-up activities to the International Year of the Family are in accordance with intergovernmental mandates e.g. General Assembly resolutions 47/237 of 20 September 1993 and 50/142 of 21 December 1995 respectively. The Commission on the Family - an Irish initiative A Commission on the Family was established in October 1995 to examine the needs and priorities of families. The Commission reviews various aspects of Irish life which affect families such as legislation, child care, health and welfare, education, housing, unemployment and the environment. The Commission=s priorities are:
The Department of Social Work at the Rand Afrikaans University is, through various ways, involved in community based family services and the projects presently running as well as those planned for the first semester of 1997 are: (a) Family Integration Programme - November 1996, ongoing. Development of a continued integration programme, with families of origin, for delinquent youths; (b) Youth Development Programme - January 1997 - May 1997 in Katorus Township and Paula Park Squatter Camp; and (c) Life Skills Course for Secondary School Students in Katorus - July 1995, October 1997 in Vosloorus and Tokoza Townships. The Austrian Institute of Family Research has initiated a number of family research projects. At present, the Institute is organizing the Second European Conference on Family Research, which will have as its subject ALiving arrangements and family structures - facts and norms@, and which will be held in Vienna on 12 to 14 June 1997. The Austrian Institute of Family Research prepared a AFamily Fertility Survey@, which is Austria=s contribution to the empirical ECE-study aimed at achieving international comparisons in the fields of partnership, establishment of families, work, the desire of children and the number of children. A study, supported by the European Union, is currently under way for a computer aided family simulation model which is designed to develop a mechanism for an ex ante review of the effects of political decisions on families and the various family types existing in Europe. A parallel object is to enhance co-operation and the exchange of information and experience in the field of family policy among the 15 member states of the European Union. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean As a follow up to the International Year of the Family, ECLAC formulated a set of indicators on the situation of families. Also, the Social Panorama of Latin America for 1995 and 1996, included chapters on the family and children, complete with social indicators. With the Montevideo Office, ECLAC published the study ASobre revoluciones ocultas: la familia en Uruguay@, in the Project on Human Development, with the financial support of UNDP. Moreover, ECLAC participated in meetings, such as the Third Iberoamerican Conference on the Family (organized by the University of Vale do Rios Sinos in Brasil, during 1995); and the Seminar AAntecedentes de contexto para el desarrollo de un marco conceptual en torno a la construcción de la relación entre sociedad, familia y salud@ (held by the Universidad de Concepción in Chile during 1996). Meeting with H.E. Minister Suzanna Stanik of the newly established Ministry for Family & Youth of Ukraine to discuss and develop cooperation on social matters (23 January 1997). Meeting with H.E. Mr. Carlos Altimari, Minister of the Family in Venezuela (21 January 1997).
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