Preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family A/RES/68/136 6. Also encourages Member States to continue their efforts to develop appropriate policies and programmes that address family poverty, social exclusion, domestic violence, work-family balance and intergenerational issues and to share good practices in those areas; Further encourages Member States to promote the delivery of family7. centred benefits, such as housing assistance, child benefits, old-age pensions, cash transfers, social protection, social transfer programmes and other relevant measures to reduce family poverty and prevent the intergenerational transfer of poverty; Encourages Member States, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders 8. and in accordance with national plans and policies, to strengthen provisions for parental leave, extend flexible working arrangements for employees with family responsibilities, promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, enhance paternal involvement in family responsibilities and support a wide range of quality childcare arrangements, including investing in quality early childhood care and education, in order to improve work-family balance; Urges Member States to create a conducive environment to strengthen 9. 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; 10. Invites Governments to continue to develop strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening national capacities to address national priorities relating to family issues; 11. Invites Member States to consider undertaking activities in preparation for the twentieth anniversary of the International Year at the national level; 12. Invites Member States, United Nations organizations and bodies, regional commissions, civil society organizations and academic institutions to continue providing information on their activities in support of the objectives of and preparations for the twentieth anniversary of the International Year and to share good practices and data on family policy development; 13. Invites Member States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions to support, as appropriate, the preparations for regional meetings in observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year; 14. Encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to continue research activities and provide assistance to countries, upon their request; 15. Recommends that United Nations organizations and bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions and the private sector play a supportive role in promoting the twentieth anniversary of the International Year; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its seventieth session, through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution and on the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year in 2014 at all levels; 3/4