PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Mike Buchanan
Telephone: +44 7967 026163
Email: davia@endtodv.org
UN Meeting on ‘Importance of the Family’ Highlights Essential Role of Fathers
February 16, 2024 – A meeting was held last Friday at the UN headquarters in New York City on “The Importance of the Family in the Eradication of Poverty and for Peace and Prosperity” (1). The event was sponsored by the UN Group of Friends of the Family (2).
The main speaker was Timothy Rarick, PhD, who highlighted the timeless quote of Urie Bronfenbrenner: “The family is the most powerful, the most humane, and by far the most economical system known for building competence and character.”
Rarick highlighted research that shows father-absence is linked to (3):
- Four times greater risk of poverty
- Seven times more likely to become pregnant as a teen
- Higher rates of child abuse
Another speaker was Errol Naidoo, Founder of the Family Policy Institute in South Africa (4). Naidoo highlighted how Comprehensive Sexuality Education is contributing to an increase in teenage pregnancies in his country (5).
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs has published a comprehensive report, “Men in Families,” which provides useful information about poverty alleviation, physical health of fathers, domestic violence, and other related topics (6).
Domestic violence is known to be equally perpetrated by men and women (7). Research shows that marriage is one of the strongest safeguards against domestic abuse (8). One of the attendees at the UN event shared how her husband’s former wife had repeatedly attacked him while he was asleep. But few resources were available to assist male victims of domestic violence.
A surge of statements on the importance of fathers in children’s lives have been seen in recent months, including by Princess Kate in the UK (9), Oilers Nation in Canada (10), the Hindustan Times in India (11), the Philanthropy Roundtable in the United States (12), and elsewhere (13).
The Group of Friends of the Family includes the following countries: Bangladesh, Belarus, Comoros, Egypt, Gambia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
The Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance – DAVIA — consists of 124 member organizations from 34 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. DAVIA seeks to ensure that domestic violence and abuse polices are science-based, family-affirming, and gender-inclusive. https://endtodv.org/coalitions/davia/
Links:
- https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1nyacb3pb
- https://unitingnationsforthefamily.org/background-2/organisers/#:~:text=The%20Group%20of%20the%20Friends,by%20society%20and%20the%20State.
- https://docs.google.com/file/d/1DLORq1BGmz_-3FmUiERqK4DuToU6kU9N/edit?filetype=mspresentation
- https://familypolicyinstitute.com/
- https://www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org/international-map/southafrica/
- https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/docs/men-in-families.pdf
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261543769_References_Examining_Assaults_by_Women_on_Their_Spouses_or_Male_Partners_An_Updated_Annotated_Bibliography
- https://endtodv.org/pr/marriage-is-one-of-the-strongest-safeguards-against-domestic-abuse-is-the-istanbul-convention-helping-or-hurting/
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12908051/Kate-Middleton-importance-fathers-child-development.html),
- https://oilersnation.com/news/the-importance-of-fathers
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/relationships/fathers-day-2023-recognising-the-essential-role-of-fathers-in-successful-co-parenting-and-nurturing-children-101686917358569.html
- https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/on-fathers-day-helping-dads-make-a-difference/
- https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=f61bafd3095e347f&sca_upv=1&q=%22importance+of+fathers%22+news&tbm=nws&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi77qaGiKyEAxWzFlkFHQzwB38Q0pQJegQIChAB&biw=1603&bih=780&dpr=1