For the occasion of the International Day of Families observed on 15th May, Dr Miguel Cano Jiménez discusses the importance of the family for the establishment of a peaceful society and world.

Dr Miguel Cano discusses the importance of the family as the basic unit or cell of the social organism and explains that, when the family deteriorates or becomes corrupted, the whole society suffers the consequences.

Mr. Walter Baar, Director of the Institute for Trends Research in Austria presented his statistical research in response to the question: Where is our world heading and why does the family need to be protected?

Director of the WFWPI UN Offices, Mrs. Carolyn Handschin’s presentation was “Family: The Place where Human Rights Values meet Peace and Human Development”.

The European Union views families as a source of economic prosperity, in which member states focus on child well-being, gender equality.

Click on "Read More" for the presentation.

Other than the UN commemoration of international family day, there so many treaties, organizations and institutions, so we have so many opportunities:

The very striking testimony of Mr. Dražen Vukotić, Vice-President, In the Name of the Family-Croatia, showed the power of civil society that brought about the Referendum in Croatia to protect marriage and family in the National Constitution through a constitutional amendment.

Mr. Timothy Miller representing the Unificationist perspective as a Vice- President of FFWPU Europe, explained about his personal experience as part of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Moon’s Cross Cultural Marriage Wedding /Blessing and the vision of “World Peace through Ideal Families”.

Click on "Read More" for the presentation.

The first presentation was given by Ms. Lynn Walsh, Office for Marriage & Family of UPF and co-chair of UN NGO Committee on the Family in New York. She mentioned the consistent failure to include the family in policy at the UN.

The first presenter, Mr. Harry Benson, Research Director of the Marriage Foundation-UK asked, “Has government made the problem worse”?

Mrs. Maria Hildingsson, SG of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) based in Brussels, spoke about the value of marriage to society.

Mr. Stephen Stacey, Educator and Marital-family Policy Specialist from Finland asked the question, “Is a parent’s right to happiness more important than a child's right to get a good start in life?”

Through my work with the Family Forum and also being a partner in the Austrian Family Network, I feel that family is the key factor for human development to create a culture of peace. Having visited different countries in Europe and beyond, I learned that family is of great importance in the life of people in the East and in the West, and so, I maintain, that family is the primary vehicle of rapprochement.

Presentation of by Mr. Jack Corley, Chair, UPF Europe, in session 2 on "Families, Human Development and Good Governance: What can we learn from other cultures and continents?".

Presentation of Mr. Dennis Stoica, Chair of Directors, Healthy Relationships California and International, at the Conference on “The Contribution of Families to Peace, Human Development and Prosperity”.

Presentation of Rev. Dr. Joong Hyun Pak, author, theologian, Chairman of the Multicultural Family Association in South Korea, at the Conference on “The Contribution of Families to Peace, Human Development and Prosperity”.

Presentation of Mr. Tim Miller, Former Vice Chair, Unificationist Community, Europe, at the Conference on “The Contribution of Families to Peace, Human Development and Prosperity”.

Presentation of Mrs. Chantal Komagata, Secretary General, UPF-Switzerland at the Conference on “The Contribution of Families to Peace, Human Development and Prosperity”.