背景介绍
家庭是社会的“基本细胞”。20世纪80年代以来,全世界家庭数目急增,已达10.3亿个;家庭规模日趋缩小;离婚率普遍上升,美国每2对结婚者中有1对婚变,西欧有三分之一的婚姻以离婚告终;人口老化问题日益严重,全世界65岁以上老人已达3.5亿,欧洲60岁以上的老人已占总人口的五分之一;人们的家庭观念也在发生变化。这些家庭问题给社会带来巨大冲击,日益为国际社会所关注。
1989年12月8日,第44届联合国大会通过一项决议,宣布1994年为“国际家庭年”(InternationalYearoftheFamily),并确定其主题为“家庭:变化世界中的动力与责任”,其铭语是“在社会核心建立最小的民主体制”。此后联合国有关机构又确定以屋顶盖心的图案作为“国际家庭年”的标志,昭示人们用生命和爱心去建立温暖的家庭。国际家庭年的宗旨是提高各国政府、决策者和公众对于家庭问题的认识,促进各政府机构制定、执行和监督家庭政策。
1993年2月,联合国社会发展委员会又作出决定,从1994年起,每年5月15日为“国际家庭日”(InternationalDay for Families)。设立“国际家庭日”旨在改善家庭的地位和条件,加强在保护和援助家庭方面的国际合作。
During the 1980's, the United Nations began focusing attention on the issues related to the family. In 1983, based on the recommendations of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development in its resolution on the Role of the family in the development process (1983/23) requested the Secretary-General to enhance awareness among decision makers and the public of the problems and needs of the family, as well as of effective ways of meeting those needs.
In its resolution 1985/29 of 29 May 1985 the Council Invited the General Assembly to consider the possibility of including in the provisional agenda of its forty-first session an item entitled “Families in the development process”, with a view to consider a request to the Secretary-General to initiate a process of development of global awareness of the issues involved, directed towards Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and public opinion.