(See also “Family, Various Forms of”)
Overview
The simple word “families” has become quite controversial in UN negotiations. This is because it can be interpreted to mean diverse family forms that can include homosexual unions or other nontradtional family structures. Policy battles often ensue over whether to use the term “families,” which can be used to refer to diverse forms of the family, or “the family,” which is more commonly understood to refer only to a family based on the union of a man and a woman.
It should be noted that some pro-family delegations consider the word “families” to be non-controversial when it is used grammatically as the plural of “family,” and “families” is always more acceptable than the term “various forms of the family,” which is often interpreted to be inclusive of LGBT and other alternative family structures. In any case, it is always preferable to use the term “the family” wherever possible. Delegations should insist on using the correct consensus language “the family” when the context is in relation to being the fundamental unit of society, or playing a major role in society, or as the best environment for children.
During the negotiations of the Sustainable Development Goals, there were heated discussions over the term “the family.” This resulted in the unfortunate removal of the only significant reference to the key role of “the family” in development. Less controversial family-related language that did make it into the Agenda includes one direct reference to “the family” in the context of shared responsibilities in the household (SDG target 5.4), a reference to “family farmers” in relation to increasing family farm productivity and incomes (SDG target 2.3), and a reference to “families” in relation to contributing to a nurturing educational environment for children as follows: “We will strive to provide children and youth with a nurturing environment for the full realization of their rights and capabilities, helping our countries to reap the demographic dividend, including through safe schools and cohesive communities and families.” Unfortunately, this last reference to “families” relegates them to being just one stakeholder along with communities and schools in relation to providing a nurturing environment for children. This reference should have been to “the family” as the environment for nurturing children. (See the “Family, Nurturing Environment” section for consensus language.)
While it is not possible to predict all of the various contexts in which “families” maybe be proposed, here are a few guidelines that can be helpful:
Not acceptable:
“families” in the context of being the fundamental unit of society
“families” in a legal context granting rights
“families” in the context of “various forms of the family”
Acceptable:
“families” as the plural form of “family”
“families” in the context of providing help or support
On a positive note, Agenda 2030 does reaffirm a number of consensus documents that do recognize the family as the fundamental unit of society.
• HRC Protection of the Family Resolution •
Conscious that families are sensitive to strain caused by social and economic changes, and expresses deep concern that conditions have worsened for many families owing to economic and financial crises, lack of job security, temporary employment and lack of regular income and gainful employment, as well as measures taken by Governments seeking to balance their budget by reducing social expenditure; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 7.
Urges Member States to create a conducive environment to strengthen and support all families, recognizing that equality between women and men and respect for all the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members are essential to family well-being and to society at large, noting the importance of reconciliation of work and family life and recognizing the principle of shared parental responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 9.
Emphasizes that States should ensure that children with disabilities have equal rights with respect to family life with a view to realizing these rights, and prevent concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with disabilities, and that States should take measures to provide early and comprehensive information, services and support to children with disabilities and their families; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 15.
Stresses that persons with disabilities and their family members should receive the necessary protection and assistance to enable families to contribute to the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities, and that States should, where the immediate family is unable to care for a child with disabilities, make every effort to provide alternative care within the wider family, and failing that, within the community in a family setting; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 16.
Recognizes the positive impact that policies and measures to protect the family can have on protecting and promoting the human rights of its members and can contribute to, inter alia, decreasing drop-out rates from educational institutions, achieving equality between women and men and girls and boys, empowering women and girls and enhancing the protection against violence, abuses, sexual exploitation, harmful practices and the worst forms of child labour, while bearing in mind that violations and abuses of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of family members adversely affect families and have a negative impact on efforts aimed at protecting the family; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 17.
Supporting research and developing comprehensive strategies to enhance the ability of families and communities to care for older family members and to reinforce the role of grandparents in raising grandchildren; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 20 (d).
Facilitating, as appropriate, the integration of families into society and their reunification, preservation and protection, including by providing adequate shelter, access to basic services and a sustainable livelihood; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 20 (f).
Working towards reducing poverty by, inter alia, granting assistance to families in difficult life situations and increasing the earning power of all adult members of economically deprived families; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 20 (g).
Calls upon States and encourages non-governmental organizations and community organizations concerned to develop innovative ways to provide more effective assistance to families and the individuals within them who may be affected by specific problems, such as extreme poverty, chronic unemployment, illness, domestic and sexual violence, dowry payments, drug or alcohol dependence, incest, child abuse, neglect or abandonment; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 21.
Requests the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the impact of the implementation by States of their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights law with regard to the protection of the family, and on the contribution of families in realizing the right to an adequate standard of living for their members, particularly through their role in poverty eradication and in achieving sustainable development, while giving due consideration to the status of the family in the developments related to the ongoing work on the future sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda, and to present it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-first session; — Protection of the Family Resolution, HRC, (2015), 29.