EVENTS: On May 15th, from 13:15 to 14:30 PM (EST) at the UNHQ New York, Conference Room 8, the Observance of the International Day of Families 2025 will be held. Under the theme ''Family-oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025.'' The High-level event to mark he International Day of Families 2025 (IDF) aims to:
- Note the importance of family policy focus in the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development.
- Present an analysis of family policies and issues in National Voluntary Reviews 2020-2024.
- Review the major initiatives undertaken as part of the preparations for and observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF+30).
- Present good practices in family policymaking at regional and national levels.
- Recommend family-oriented policies for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As part of the follow-up to the International Year of the Family and its thirtieth anniversary, the Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs has been exploring the cross-cutting relationship between family policy issues and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development concluding that it is imperative that family-oriented policies effectively respond to the numerous challenges faced by families in a rapidly changing world impacted by megatrends. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social affairs will organize the event which include presentations from academics, civil society and urban authorities. The Moderator of the session will be Mr. Masumi Ono, Chief of the Social Integration and Participation Branch, Division for Inclusive Social Development. Register to participate, Get the DF2025 Panelists-Bionotes and Get the IDF 2025 programme!
PUBLICATION: Read the Family-oriented Priorities, Policies and Programmes in the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as Reported in Voluntary National Reviews 2020-2024.
This report analyses the role of family-oriented policies in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), drawing on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted by
141 countries during the 2020–2024 period. Using a multidimensional framework—
combining welfare regimes and state capacity, pre-distributive and redistributive measures,
social investment, the socioecological model, and gender responsiveness—it offers a
comprehensive assessment of how policies that actively engage women, men, and children
contribute to sustainable development. This approach is aligned with the People dimension
of the 2030 Agenda and provides a broader, integrated view of family wellbeing. While most
Governments continue to recognise families as vital social institutions, the number of
countries implementing family-oriented policies has declined since the 2016–2019 reporting
cycle, primarily due to the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, inflation,
and climate-related shocks.
Family policies have been most consistently applied to SDG 4 (quality education), where
expanded school–family partnerships, early learning initiatives, and parenting support have
contributed to improved equity and developmental outcomes. Strong results were also
observed under SDG 3 (health and wellbeing), SDG 6 (water and sanitation), and SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities). In these areas, the engagement of families in
service delivery, behaviour change, and participatory planning has reinforced resilience,
especially in vulnerable and underserved communities. However, serious setbacks were
found in SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and child protection)—
including the prevention of intimate partner violence and violence against children, the
redistribution of unpaid care work, and access to sexual and reproductive health services and
legal identity. Efforts to reduce poverty, hunger, and inequality (SDG 1, SDG2, and SDG 10) also
remain constrained by limited investment and fragmented implementation.
Key conclusions from the report:
• Family-oriented policies generate stronger outcomes when integrated into universal
systems and reinforced by pre-distributive and redistributive frameworks.
• Education remains the strongest area of progress, while gender equality, child
protection, and care policy have seen the greatest regression.
• Family participation in water, sanitation, housing, and mobility has fostered inclusive
and risk-resilient service delivery—but remains underutilised in urban development.
• Mental health, climate change, and demographic transitions further underline the
need for resilient, community-based and family-engaged responses.
Key messages:
• Family-oriented policies are not only protective—they are transformative, advancing
equity, resilience, and sustainable development.
• Empowering families as co-implementers improves the reach, legitimacy, and
sustainability of public policies.
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• To meet the 2030 targets, Governments must reverse post-pandemic setbacks in
SDGs 5 and 16, strengthen efforts on SDGs 1 and 2, and scale family participation in
health, education, and urban systems.
• A renewed global commitment to inclusive, multidimensional family policy is
essential for achieving the SDGs and ensuring no one is left behind.
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