1. The first United Nations Consultative Meeting of Regional and
International NGOs on the Family was held on 9 February 1998 in New York.
The Meeting was held in conjunction with the 36th session of
the Commission for Social Development, held from 10-20 February 1998. The
NGO Consultative Meeting was organized by the Family Unit of the Division
of Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs.
2. The Meeting was attended by seven major NGOs dealing with the family
[Asia-Pacific Forum on Families, International Family Policy Forum, New
York NGO Committee on the Family, Vienna NGO Committee on the Family,
International Federation for Parent Education, and the International Union
of Family Organizations. The list of participants is contained in Annex 1.
The Agenda is contained in Annex 2.
3. The Meeting was opened by Mr. Amr Ghaleb, Officer-in-Charge of the
Family Unit, who welcomed the participants. In his opening statement, he
stated that the joint cooperative efforts would enhance the objectives of
the International Year of the Family [IYF], address the concerns of the
United Nations Secretariat and respond to the needs of each of NGOs
present. He noted that many of the issues confronting families today, in
almost all instances, are issues of society as a whole. Moreover, family
issues due to their intersectoral dimensions, necessitates collaborative
attention. It is in this context that the NGO Consultative Meeting, first
of its kind since 1994, aimed at developing a joint-long term strategy on
family matters at the regional and global levels, and a common approach
towards the relevant intergovernmental organizations.
4. He gave an assessment of the follow-up phase of the Year. He noted
notwithstanding its many achievements, the IYF left some crucial issues
unresolved such as: (a) the lack of consensus on relevant terminology and
definitions e.g. family, family policies, family-sensitive considerations,
etc.; (b) the non-existence of a long-term global plan of action on
families, similar to other global programmes [women, ageing, youth,
disability, etc.]; after 1994, many of the ad hoc IYF mechanisms
were phased out and responsibility for national level follow up was
assumed by a new array of actors; (d) the need to reinforce a partnership
culture; and (e) the lack of coordination and complementarity between and
among NGO umbrella groups on the family.
5. He informed the participants about the current and future activities
of the Family Unit, which is envisaged as a catalyst and facilitator for
global efforts on behalf of families. The Family Unit plays an important
role in promoting regional and international exchange of experiences in
addressing family issues and it is anchored on six basic principles: (i) A
sub-regional approach; (ii) Policy guidance; (iii) Research studies,
supplemented by sub-regional meetings; (iv) A data base on family matters;
(v) Mobilization of resources through the UN Trust Fund on Family
Activities; and (vi) the development of partnerships with a variety of
actors interested in the family.
6. The Officer-in-Charge of the Family Unit suggested to the
participants that a coordinated approach between the UN Secretariat and
regional and international NGOs should encompass the following areas:
assistance to Member States in achieving the goals and objectives of the
IYF; research on the situation and needs of families, including the
special problems confronting particular subgroups of families; development
of technical assistance projects; dissemination of information; and
advocacy and strengthening channels of communication between NGO’s and the
Family Unit.
7. He stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation between the
UN Secretariat and regional and international family NGO’s. Collaboration
and cooperation requires a process of consultations and a dialogue which
will lead to inter alia commonalties in policy content,
concepts and an integrated perspective on the family topic at the regional
and global levels.
8. He stated that coordination and cooperation should aim at: (i)
ensuring an integrated approach to family issues, policies and programmes;
(ii) reflecting an interdisciplinary and intersectoral dimension
concerning families; (iii) providing an opportunity for more efficient use
of capacities of concerned actors; and (iv) involvement at all levels.
Particular emphasis should be given to the questions of governmental and
intergovernmental process as well as family issues.
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