EU Presidency Statement - Celebration of the International Year of the Family

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia , the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family. It provides us with the opportunity to reiterate our recognition of the important role of families in society. The EU continues to support the implementation of the Copenhagen Summit and the twenty-fourth Special Session of the General Assembly, pursuing the aim of eradicating poverty and promoting social development. We remain convinced that the objectives set forth in the context of these international fora provide a framework for the protection of the family as a key element in forging stronger and more coherent models for development throughout the world.

In celebrating this Tenth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the EU reaffirms its commitment to such ideals and reiterates its support for cohesive policies, carried out on local and international levels, enhancing the condition of families throughout the world and embracing social inclusion as a means to eradicate poverty and discrimination.

In Copenhagen, we all agreed that there has been continued recognition that the family is the basic unit of society and is a strong force of social cohesion and integration. In different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of the family exist. Although the family is the basic unit of society, its concept and composition has changed in the course of time, illustrating the fact that a family is a living, dynamic entity. Within the European Union, there has, for instance, been a substantial increase in the number of single-person households. By the year 2025 they are projected to exceed 60 million and would represent almost a third of all family structures.

Mr. President,

Every individual of full age has the right to found a family. It is not up to the State to impose limitations there to on the basis of race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or any other status. While recalling that marriage should be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, the European Union expresses concern with regard to the negative implications that may result from early marriages, in particular with reference to early child-bearing and maternal mortality.

In this context, the European Union reaffirms its strong support for and commitment to the ICPD Programme of Action in its advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Improving women and young peoples ability to choose when and how often to have children is the basis for creating strong families and protecting their own and families' health.

We need to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all individual family members, including children. In this regard the European Union would like to note the continued relevance of General Recommendation 21 of the CEDAW-Committee on equality in marriage and family relations. One of the primary rights of family members is easy access to health and social services and to accurate, comprehensive information. This is particularly important when they have to handle issues related to the care of family members who are not self-sufficient. Focused health- and home-care services can be of crucial importance when families have to take care of members with disabilities. Equally vital are childcare and home care services, r counselling and mediation services in dealing with separation or divorce.

A stable family is based on principles of equity, justice and individual fulfilment for each member. Each partner must therefore have the right to choose a profession or employment that is best suited to his or her abilities, qualifications and aspirations as provided in article 11 (a) and (c) of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

In this context, the European Union reaffirms its strong support for and commitment to the Beijing and Beijing & 5 agenda. We welcome its ten-year review in 2005 as an opportunity to identify gaps and challenges. It should result in renewed inspiration and reinforce our joint efforts to advance the cause of gender equality and women's empowerment.

Mr. President,

Where children are concerned, their best interest needs to be a primary consideration. The role of families in the realisation of children's rights is fundamental and cannot be underestimated. This is particularly important and urgent for families affected by HIV/Aids. Aids has already orphaned 14 million children world-wide, a number that is expected to exceed 25 million by 2010. More and more adolescent girls and grandmothers are becoming heads of households and they need increased support.

Families need to provide a safe environment for children, providing care and protection. The Convention on the Rights of the Child provides the international legal framework for the promotion and protection of children's rights. We therefore urge all States that have not yet done so, to become a party to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols.

Violence within the family occurs in every single country. This form of violence cannot, under any circumstance, be treated as a private matter. Domestic violence, including marital rape, needs to be criminalised. Child abuse and neglect needs to be eradicated. In this regard, the European Union welcomes the progress report of the independent expert, Mr. Pinheiro, to the third committee on the Secretary-General's study on violence against children and looks forward to the preparation of an in-depth study on violence against women.

Mr. President,

The European Union is deeply committed to family-related issues. As far back as August 1989, the European Commission published its first communiqué on family policies. This was followed by important actions, such as the 1996 Directive on parental leave. Some major areas of attention are reconciling family and work life and improving the living conditions of vulnerable families such as low-income large families, single parent families, jobless households, or families affected by domestic violence, alcoholism or sex abuse. In this regard, the EU has focused on the risks and barriers that limit people's access to society. For example, growing up in a vulnerable family has come to be seen as a major factor in the intergenerational transmission of poverty and social exclusion.

The First Joint Report, which was adopted as a Communication of the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions on 10th October 2001, singled out eight core challenges, ranging from the preservation of family solidarity to the protection of the rights of children by finding new forms of support for the family as a way to prevent poverty and social exclusion while promoting equality between men and women.

The importance the European Union attaches to the role of families is exemplified by the Conference on Families, Change and Social Policy in Europe organised by the Irish Presidency of the European Union, which took place in May 2004. The Conference focused at an exchange of views and debate, in order to more effectively support families throughout the European Union. To discuss these challenges, a Conference of the European Ministers for Family Affairs will take place in December in Berlin based on the invitation of the German Government.

To implement such policies, the European Union strongly supports partnerships involving all the interested stakeholders at local, regional, national and international level. With this co-operative approach, the EU looks forward to future discussions in the UN on issues related which should aim to take the commitments of the Copenhagen, Cairo, Beijing, Madrid and other relevant UN summits fully into account, focusing on implementation of agreed commitments and their consequences for families and individual members. Rather than focusing on ideologies, they should focus on implementation of agreed commitments and their consequences for families and their individual members.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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