A/HRC/RES/29/22 Reaffirming that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings, Recognizing that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children, and that children, for the full and harmonious development of their personality, should grow up in a family environment and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding, Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community, Reaffirming that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State, Noting with concern that the contribution of the family in society and in the achievement of development goals continues to be largely overlooked and underemphasized, and recognizing the potential of the family to contribute to national development and to the achievement of major objectives of every society and of the United Nations, including the eradication of poverty and the creation of just, stable and secure societies, Conscious that the majority of the internationally agreed development goals, especially those relating to the reduction of poverty, education of children and the reduction of maternal mortality, would be difficult to attain unless the strategies to achieve them focus on the family, which can contribute positively to, inter alia, eradicating poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, 1. Welcomes the holding of the panel discussion on the protection of the family and its members by the Human Rights Council on 15 September 2014, during its twentyseventh session, and takes note of the summary of the panel discussion contained in the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;1 2. Also welcomes the holding of a plenary meeting during the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly, in December 2014, on the observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, in order to discuss the role of familyoriented policies in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda, and acknowledges all other international and regional initiatives in the context of celebrating that anniversary; 3. Acknowledges the efforts made by Governments, the United Nations system and civil society to fulfil the objectives guiding the preparations for the twentieth anniversary of the International Year at the national, regional and international levels, and urges States to continue to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the International Year and its follow-up processes, and to develop strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening national capacities to address national priorities relating to family issues; 4. Reaffirms that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State; 1 2 A/HRC/28/40.