The family, its roles, rights, composition and structure

The Programme of Action recognized the diversity of the family with regard to its structure and composition and urged Member States to develop policies and laws to better support it, taking into account its plurality of forms, in particular the rise in single-parent households. In stressing the relevance of the family as the basic unit of society, the Cairo Declaration advocated for promoting family wellbeing, intergenerational support, and family-friendly policies in the field of housing, work, health, social security and education. Governments and the international community were particularly urged to support vulnerable families and their most vulnerable members, such as children, dependent older persons and family members with disabilities, as well as those with HIV/AIDS.

Related Subject(s): Population and Demography