The 2013 theme for the UN International Day of Families is: Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity

Much of success and fulfillment in life depends on creating healthy relationships, yet it is one of the most difficult tasks. Through the marriage and family movement, many educational programs and approaches have been developed to give people knowledge and skills for creating successful relationships. See UPF's Statement on Families.

UPF educational PowerPoint presentations:

• The Family as a School of Love and Peace: English | Español | Français | Português | Italiano
• The Benefits of Marriage
• Promoting a Marriage-Friendly Culture
• Marriage, My Spiritual Path

The International Day of Families, May 15, is a wonderful opportunity to organize a marriage and family seminar. For suggestions, click here.

Note: The World Congress of Families took place in Sydney, Australia May 15-18. Mrs. Lynn Walsh, Director of UPF's Office of Marriage, Family, and Human Development, gave a presentation at the Congress.

20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family

A UN Report on family issues recommends that the preparations for the observance of the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2014 focus on developing and implementing policies in the areas of reducing family poverty and social exclusion; ensuring work and family balance; and advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity. Governments, UN Agencies and bodies, civil society organizations, and academic institutions are encouraged to share good practices and data on family policy development, especially in the areas mentioned above. For more information, click here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Relationship Education for Youth:
Many youth fall into bad relationships because they have little knowledge or self-awareness and poor relationship skills. The lives and future of our youth can be improved by teaching good decision-making, the nature of healthy relationships, how to avoid destructive relationships and make smart choices about sex, and preparation for lasting loving marriages.

See: UPF's character education curriculum: Building Successful Relationships
Institute for Relationship Intelligence
The Dibble Institute for Teaching Relationship Skills to Teens

Parenting Education:
Parenting is such a critical responsibility and yet there is almost no instruction as to how to do it well. Parents and children enjoy healthier and happier relationships when parents learn more effective discipline approaches and communication skills.

See: Saso Seminars on Raising Responsible Children

Marriage and Relationship Education:
Never before has marriage been less supported by social, moral, religious, and cultural scaffolding. With changing gender roles and loosening of traditional values, couples face more challenges than ever before. Studies have shown that couples that learn realistic expectations, gender differences, problem-solving and communication skills have happier and longer lasting relationships. Conflicted couples that had lost all hope often learn how to rebuild a thriving marriage through this new information. Marriage education helps people build strong marriages, strengthen the parenting unit, and make the most important relationships truly fulfilling.

See: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
Smart Marriages

Family Capital and the MDGs

Family Capital and the MDGs gives examples of how families can be resources for addressing the UN Millennium Development Goals, perhaps more sustainably than any other resource. In his introductory words, E. Douglas Clark, J.D., summarized, “Worldwide, the family is indeed the starting point, the indispensable and irreplaceable foundation for all successful development.” See book and introductory video.

Learn More about Promoting Strong Marriages and Families:

• Sharon Slater, President, Family Watch International 
• Edward Hartley, Chairman, UPF-UK Marriage and Family Initiative
• Nick Gulliford, FOCCUS Scoring Centre, UK