United Nations
A/RES/59/147
General Assembly
Distr.: General
25 January 2005
Fifty-ninth session
Agenda item 94 (a)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2004
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/59/492)]
59/147. Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International
Year of the Family and beyond
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 45/133 of 14 December
1990, 46/92 of 16 December 1991, 47/237 of 20 September 1993, 50/142 of
21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999,
56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002 and 58/15 of
3 December 2003 concerning the proclamation of, preparations for and observance
of the International Year of the Family in 1994 and its tenth anniversary in 2004,
Recalling also that relevant United Nations instruments on human rights as
well as relevant global plans and programmes of action call for the widest possible
protection and assistance to be accorded to the family, bearing in mind that in
different cultural, political and social systems various forms of the family exist,
Recalling further that the family is the basic unit of society and, as such,
should be strengthened, and that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection
and support,
Noting that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United
Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes
continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred
components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive
approach to development,
Recognizing that the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary
of the International Year of the Family provided a useful opportunity for drawing
further attention to the objectives of the Year for increasing cooperation at all levels
on family issues,
Recognizing also the commendable efforts made by Governments at the local
and national levels in carrying out specific programmes concerning families,
Emphasizing 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 that both parents have common
responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child,
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