The International Day of Families-2022 was observed globally on Sunday with the theme “Families and Urbanization.”

This year’s theme, "Families and Urbanization", aimed to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable, family-friendly urban policies.

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Urbanization is one of the most important megatrends shaping our world and the life and wellbeing of families worldwide, said the United Nations.

“My thoughts are with the parents and children I have met in my recent travels whose lives have been upended by the evil of war,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Sunday.

He said they will never stop their efforts until all families are together again, living in peace. “I carry with me their stories of sorrow and hope.” 

In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families.

This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

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On 25 September 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 goals aiming to eliminate poverty, discrimination, abuse and preventable deaths, address environmental destruction, and usher in an era of development for all people, everywhere.

Families and family-oriented policies and programmes are vital for the achievement of many of these goals, according to the UN.