Welcome to the United Nations
In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic with millions of deaths, the war in Ukraine displacing hundreds and the food security challenges faced lately, it is necessary to redefine the future of cities and territories towards an inclusive and sustainable model for families.
The Inclusive Cities and Sustainable Families project is directed to cities and territories that wish to actively contribute to Goal SDG11 to be inclusive of sustainable families by being responsive to their needs. Their commitment consists of signing the Venice Declaration and presenting once a year a report about the results of their work on the contents of it.
More than ever, renewed and innovative commitments are needed to tackle various families in situations of vulnerability. The pandemic and the war have fostered efforts and projects for sustainable and inclusive cities in order to provide protection, health, care and food for many. To be effective, all interventions will require a higher level of commitment and courage due to the elevated cost for citizens and policymakers.
Urban areas are at the crossroads of needs and opportunities towards a new model that will allow us to face the present crisis. To repair what has been damaged, and to prevent the risks of tomorrow.
Discussion Points
- Share good practices on interventions done to improve the wellbeing of families due to the effects of the pandemic, war and/or food insecurity.
- Explore ways to update the Venice Declaration taking into consideration the new order of things. All recommendations should take into consideration the megatrends proposed by the United Nations for the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family.
- Promote activities to better implement the Venice Declaration, as capacity-building workshops for the empowerment of the signatories and projects already conducted in partnership with universities, to promote among the youth and families the relevance of the Venice Declaration.
Event Programme
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
10:00-11:15 AM (NEW YORK TIME)
IN PERSON AND LIVE STREAM BY UN WEB TV
CONFERENCE ROOM 12, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK
Opening Remarks
H.E. Krzysztof Szczerski
Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Poland to the United Nations
Round Table
Piotr Całbecki
Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region (Poland)
‘The role of local governments and families in hosting war refugees’
Antonio Franzina
Director of Communication of the Veneto Regional Council (Italy)
‘The Venice Declaration as a key instrument to face the present crisis’
Samantha Smith Gutiérrez
President of the local System for Integral Family Development (DIF) of Guanajuato (Mexico)
‘Challenges of creating a family-responsive city in Mexico’
Francesca de Ferrari
UN-Habitat. New York Office
‘Families, Cities, Urban Agenda and SDGs’
IFFD AWARD PRESENTATION
Closing Remarks
H.E. Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid
Permanent Representative of Malaysia
to the United Nations
Daniela Bas
Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Moderator
Ignacio Socias
Director of International Relations
International Federation for Family Development
