World Family Policy Center Newsletter

World Family Policy Center Newsletter

* News relative to protecting the family worldwide *

Volume 3 Issue 44 - December 14, 2004

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SPECIAL EDITION: THE DOHA REPORT

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PRESS RELEASE: Landmark UN Resolution Supports the Family

PROVO, Utah (December 9, 2004)—UN General Assembly Resolution 59/111, calling for protection of the family as the “natural and fundamental group unit of society,” was adopted December 6, 2004, in New York. The resolution, co-sponsored by 148 nations (including the United States), was adopted by consensus. Professor Richard G. Wilkins, Managing Director of the World Family Policy Center, was present to witness the moment.

Introduced by the Government of Qatar, the resolution welcomed the Doha International Conference for the Family and took note of the outcomes of the conference – including the Doha Declaration. BYU’s World Family Policy Center (“WFPC”) played a key role in making the year-long process leading to the Doha Declaration a reality. Scholars from across campus participated as presenters, organizers, editors and facilitators of various events leading to the Doha Declaration.

The December 6 action of the UN General Assembly “places the Doha Declaration in the formal canon of normative documents that comprise international law,” explained Professor Wilkins. He added that the declaration’s reaffirmation of “widely shared international values” related to marriage, parents, children and human life “will provide an important starting point for future international scholarship and legal negotiations related to family life.”

Events leading to the Doha Declaration included a year-long series of governmental meetings in Cotonou, Benin; Baku, Azerbaijan; and Riga, Latvia. In addition, non-governmental regional dialogues were convened in Mexico City (March), Stockholm (June), Geneva (September), Kuala Lumpur (October). These interlocking conferences culminated with the final two-day intergovernmental meeting in Doha, Qatar, on November 29-30.

In Doha, government representatives received reports collecting the scholarship and outcomes of the preparatory meetings. Based on these materials, government representatives from 15 nations negotiated and adopted the Doha Declaration.

Participating scholars from BYU, including Professors Thomas Holman and Craig Hart, School of Family Life, Shirley Cox, School of Social Work, Scott Loveless, J. Reuben Clark School of Law, and others, worked for more than 18 months to marshal research and academic presentations for the Doha Conference process.

“The scholarship collected for the Doha International Conference for the Family is superb,” said Dr. William Saunders, Fellow at the Family Research Council, Washington D.C. “The Doha Declaration may well be the most significant international document related to marriage and family life issued during the past two generations,” he said.

The Doha Declaration affirms that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to the widest possible protection and assistance by society and the State.” It calls upon “all governments, international organizations and members of civil society to take action to protect the family,” including measures to “preserve and defend the institution of marriage.” Governments are also requested to consider “the academic, scientific and social findings collected at the Doha conference, which collectively demonstrate that the family is not only the fundamental group unit of society, but is also the fundamental agent for sustainable social, economic and cultural development.”

In a statement supporting the Doha Declaration, US representative Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told the UN General Assembly that “the family remains a universal and irreplaceable community rooted in human nature,” the “vital means of preserving and transmitting social values” that transform “helpless babes into independent adults.”

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Summary:

The Process and Outcomes of the Doha International Conference for the Family

The Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, President of Supreme Council for Family Affairs, convened the Doha International Conference for the Family on November 29-30, 2004. The Conference was welcomed by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/15 (December 15, 2003).

The Conference analyzed and reaffirmed Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state. The Conference brought together a broad range of participants, representing diverse cultures, political systems and faiths. The participants were united by the common understanding that, by protecting “the natural and fundamental group unit of society,” communities, nations, regions and the world will not only encourage sustainable development, but further the intercultural understanding that is the necessary foundation for a stable, secure and just world.

As noted by the Secretary General in his report on this anniversary, the family has significant “potential 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.” Report of the Secretary General, A/59/176 (July 23, 2004) at par. 4. Unfortunately, this potential “has generally been overlooked.” Id. The Doha International Conference for the Family was designed to remedy this oversight. The Conference reaffirmed fundamental international norms related to the family – and established proposals for action – that will provide a firm foundation for research, discussion and policy development related to family life during the coming decade.

The preparatory process of the Doha International Conference for the Family included government meetings in Cotonou, Benin; Baku, Azerbaijan; and Riga, Latvia. The process was also enriched by a series of regional dialogues in Mexico City, Mexico; Stockholm, Sweden; Geneva, Switzerland; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition, hundreds of civil society meetings were organized by local community groups in over 134 cities around the world. Declarations, papers, essays, personal statements, findings and proposals for action developed at these events were submitted to the Secretariat and two significant reports were prepared. The first, entitled The World Unites to Protect the Family, collects the results of over 200 community meetings. The second, entitled The Family in the Third Millennium, provides an initial look at the more than 2,000 pages of global scholarship and academic findings collected during preparatory proceedings.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, opened the

Conference by announcing that the State of Qatar would establish an international Institute for Study of the Family. Topical sessions of the Conference thereafter addressed such questions as The Family in the Third Millennium, The Legal and Religious Foundations for the Family in the Third Millennium, The Family and Education, and The Family and Social Dialogue.

During Conference proceedings, the Doha Declaration was negotiated by a distinguished Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, composed of representatives from governments around the world. The balanced and careful language of the Doha Declaration was finalized after thorough consideration of all Committee views.

The Doha Declaration reaffirms commitments of the international community contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other UN documents. The opening paragraphs review the goals and objectives of this 10^th Anniversary and recall the preparatory process of the Doha International Conference for the Family. The operative paragraphs reaffirm international commitments to the family and call for appropriate actions to implement those commitments.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a consensus resolution on Monday, December 6, 2004, welcoming the Doha International Conference for the Family and noting its outcomes. A/RES/59/29 (December 6, 2004). As a result of this action, The Doha Declaration takes its place in the formal canon of legal documents comprising the growing body of international law.

The first Call for Action contained in the Doha Declaration urges development of “programs to stimulate and encourage dialogue among countries, religions, cultures and civilizations on questions related to family life.” The State of Qatar will take concrete steps to meet the objectives of this First Call for Action. At the concluding session of the Conference, Her Highness Sheikha Moza reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s commitment – announced during the opening plenary session – to establish an international Institute for Study of the Family. This international Institute will be dedicated to researching, supporting and implementing the Doha Declaration.

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2 OVERVIEW OF THE PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR THE

DOHA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE FAMILY

3 FINDINGS AND WORK PRODUCTS

4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINAL SESSION OF THE DOHA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE FAMILY

APPENDIX – The Doha Declaration

I. INTRODUCTION

In 2004, the United Nations celebrated the 10^th Anniversary of the 1994 International Year of the Family. The UN General Assembly welcomed the decision of the State of Qatar to mark this important anniversary.¹ Under the patronage and generosity of the Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, President of Supreme Council for Family Affairs, the Doha International Conference for the Family convened in Doha, Qatar, on November 29-30, 2004.

The Doha International Conference for the Family explored and analyzed the implications of Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.@ The year-long preparatory process for the Doha International Conference for the Family included governmental events, regional dialogues and hundreds of locally organized civil society discussions. During the final meeting in Doha, representatives from governments, civil society, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, religious groups and academia evaluated the outcomes of the preparatory events, reviewed findings and documentation, and developed their own recommendations. The series of interlocking events concluding in Doha “revitalized public support for reinforcing family programmes as an essential element in creating a just, stable and secure world,” as called for by the UN Secretary General in his report on the celebration of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family.²

The objectives of the 10^th Anniversary celebration of the International Year of the Family include:

1. Increasing knowledge regarding family issues among governments as well as the private sector;

2. Strengthening the capacity of national institutions to formulate, implement and monitor effective family policies;

3. Stimulating efforts to respond to problems affecting (and affected by) the situation of the family;

4. Undertaking reviews and assessments at all levels of the situation and needs of the family, including the identification of specific issues and problems;

5. Enhancing the effectiveness of local, national and regional efforts to carry out specific programs concerning the family, generate new activities and strengthen existing ones; and

6. .Improving collaboration among national and international non-governmental organizations supporting the family.³

The Doha International Conference for the Family materially advanced these objectives.

A. Purpose of the Doha International Conference for the Family

The Doha International Conference for the Family involved all sectors of local, national, and international society in developing, collecting and analyzing the social and scientific evidence necessary to strengthen the “natural and fundamental group unit of society.”⁴ The family, as noted by the Secretary General, has significant “often untapped potential to contribute to national development and to the achievement of major objectives of every society [including] . . . the eradication of poverty and the creation of just, stable and secure societies.”⁵

The Doha International Conference for the Family was designed to tap the social, cultural, economic and political potential of the family. The Conference considered findings, recommendations and conclusions developed at a series of coordinated international events. This evidence collectively demonstrates that the family is not only “the natural and fundamental group unit of society” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16(3)) but is also the fundamental agent for sustainable development. The purpose of the Doha International Conference for the Family was to reaffirm international norms, and establish proposals for action, that can inform an agenda for cooperative research, discussion, and policy development related to family life for the next decade.

B. Preparatory Events

The conference process featured government meetings in Cotonou, Benin; Baku, Azerbaijan; and Riga, Latvia. The process was enriched by a series of regional dialogues, including:

§ The European Dialogue, 23-25 August, 2004, in Geneva, Switzerland

§ The Asia Pacific Family Dialogue, October 11-13, 2004, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In addition, hundreds of civil society meetings were organized by local community groups in over 134 cities around the world.

Declarations, reports, papers, essays, personal statements, findings and proposals for action developed at these events were submitted to the Secretariat of the Doha International Conference for the Family. These materials were collected into two reports supporting the Doha Declaration.

C. Work Products

Reports prepared for the Doha International Conference for the Family include a publication collecting the results of over 200 community meetings, as well as a preliminary volume of scholarship. See The World Unites to Protect the Family: Reports, Statements and Stories from Community Meetings, Non-Governmental Organizations and Members of Civil Society Working to Protect the Family World-Wide (distributed in Doha, November 29, 2004) (collecting and summarizing reports of community meetings); The Family in the Third Millennium: Selected Scholarship Reported to the Doha International Conference for the Family (distributed in Doha, Qatar, November 29, 2004) (providing an initial look at the voluminous academic work collected during the preparatory process). In addition, a compilation of all papers, statements and materials submitted to the Secretariat was presented in Doha.

The initial draft of the Doha Declaration was prepared by a Drafting Committee appointed by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned.

I. STRUCTURE OF THE DOHA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

FOR THE FAMILY

A. Government Sponsorship

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of the Emir of Qatar and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, provided the vision for the Doha International Conference for the Family. Her Highness established an Organizing Committee, chaired by His Excellency Abdulla bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

Numerous other ministries, departments and divisions of the State of Qatar assisted the efforts of the Organizing Committee, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working through the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations.

In addition to the State of Qatar, numerous other governmental entities at local, regional, national and international levels, including Members of the United Nations and the UN Secretariat, participated in the preparatory process for the Doha International Conference for the Family.

B. NGO Involvement

A large number of non-governmental organizations, groups, associations and members of civil society assisted with preparatory events for the Doha International Conference for the Family. An NGO Working Committee coordinated a network of preliminary discussions, conferences and dialogues. The NGO Working Committee included representatives from CARE, Catholic Family and Human Rights Foundation, the Family Research Council, and the World Family Policy Center, Brigham Young University.

II. OVERVIEW OF THE PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR THE DOHA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE FAMILY

On July 23, 2004, the Secretary General of the United Nations issued a report on the observance of the International Year of the Family. The report emphasized that “one of the major objectives” of the 2004 International Year of the Family was “to revitalize public attention . . . toward the family and to renew support for family policies and programmes.”⁶ The Doha International Conference for the Family reinvigorated public attention toward the family as an essential component in the creation of “just, stable and secure societies.”⁷

A series of government events, regional dialogues and community meetings were facilitated by the Conference. These activities promoted open discussions among policymakers, government representatives, academicians, and interested citizens in communities around the globe.

A. Governmental Events

The Doha process involved significant governmental events in Benin, Azerbaijan and Latvia.

Cotonou, Benin: The government of Benin sponsored an intergovernmental conference addressing family life in Africa. The Regional Conference on the Family in Africa was convened in Cotonou, Benin, from 27-28 July 2004. At that conference, ministerial and local governmental leaders met with members of civil society to discuss implementation of the Plan of Action for the Family in Africa.

Baku, Azerbaijan: The government of Azerbaijan held a National Conference on the Socio-Demographic and Gender Aspects of the Family on October 14, 2004. The conference focused the attention of the scientific community on family problems and possible solutions. A report of the event was submitted to the Secretariat of the Doha Conference.

Riga, Latvia: The government of Latvia conducted an expert group meeting on the needs of family and children. The meeting, held in October 2004, addressed Latvia’s efforts to promote stable family life and promote equality for women. A report of the event was submitted to the Doha Secretariat.

B. Regional Dialogues

The NGO Working Committee supported the Organizing Committee with four regional dialogues preparatory to the final session of the Doha International Conference for the Family:

Mexico City: The World Congress of Families III convened in Mexico City on 29-31 March 2004. This event attracted participants from more than 15 countries in Latin America for a three-day discussion of effective family policy. Hundreds of papers were presented by political leaders, non-governmental organizations, academicians, and representatives of diverse faith communities. The Congress ended with the adoption of the Mexico City Declaration (to be published in the forthcoming edition of The Family in the Third Millennium).

Stockholm: A second dialogue was held in Stockholm, Sweden, on 14-15 May 2004. The event was hosted by members of the Swedish Parliament. Participants addressed questions of family structure, refugees, family integration and migration, and policies necessary to support working parents and single-parent families.

Geneva: A three-day academic panel convened in Geneva, Switzerland, 23-25 August, 2004. Twenty-two scholars from Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Sweden and the United States presented research addressing family, marriage, human dignity, parents and children, and social, religious and cultural values.

Kuala Lumpur: The dialogue process concluded with the Asia Pacific Family Dialogue Towards the Doha International Conference for the Family. The event, hosted by the National Population and Family Development Board of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, presented approximately 75 academic, governmental, and community reports from more than 20 nations throughout Asia and the world. The event concluded with the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration (to be published in the forthcoming edition of The Family in the Third Millennium).

C. Civil Society Meetings

To involve global civil society in the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the NGO Working Committee helped organize hundreds of community meetings. A total of 204 meetings were held in 34 countries. Reports, statements, declarations and findings from these meetings are compiled into the report, The World Unites to Protect the Family.

III. FINDINGS AND WORK PRODUCTS

The Doha International Conference for the Family increased international understanding of the family across all regions of the globe. The Conference closely examined and analyzed the determination of the international community set forth in Section 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the “family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.@ The findings and work products of the Conference explore the meaning of this long-standing international consensus:

I. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINAL SESSION OF THE DOHA INTERNATIONAL CONFERNCE FOR THE FAMILY

The Doha International Conference for the Family brought together a pluralistic range of stake holders, representing diverse cultures, political systems and faiths. In Doha, these stake holders were united by the common understanding that, by protecting “the natural and fundamental group unit of society,”⁸ communities, nations, regions and the world will not only encourage sustainable development, but further the intercultural understanding that is the necessary foundation for a stable, secure and just world for our children and grandchildren.

Delegates to the 29-30 November 2004 concluding session of the Doha International Conference for the Family reached across traditional national, political, and other boundaries to unite in common support of the family. Participants included representatives from governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, diverse religious communities, members of civil society, and distinguished academicians and researchers. These participants engaged in two days of high-level discussions with leading international experts who addressed a wide range of topics central to modern family life. The Conference also adopted the Doha Declaration.

From the recommendations made by policy experts to the views expressed by government representatives and members of civil society, the Doha Conference was a transparent, broad-based event. The Conference produced valuable work products – culminating in the Doha Declaration – that provide a helpful foundation for future research, policy discussions and constructive action for the next decade.

A. Plenary and Topical Sessions of the Conference

Plenary Session: The Doha International Conference for the Family began with a Plenary Address by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, State of Qatar. Her Highness welcomed delegates to the Conference and acknowledged the important role of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family in focusing world attention on the family. Her Highness noted that healthy family life is a central component of sustainable social and economic development. She also emphasized that the people of the world share common views and understandings related to the meaning and importance of the family. She stressed the importance of taking action to strengthen the family at the beginning of the new millennium. In light of the State of Qatar’s continuing commitment to the family, and to implement the first Call for Action set forth in the Doha Declaration, Her Highness announced that the State of Qatar would establish an international Institute for Study of the Family.

The plenary session of the Conference also included remarks from Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Special Advisor on Africa. A representative of the NGO Working Committee also addressed the session.

Topical Sessions: The Doha International Conference for the Family thereafter divided into sessions addressing four major topics:

A. Negotiation of the Doha Declaration

The Doha Declaration was negotiated on 29-30 November 2004 by a distinguished Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, composed of representatives from national governments around the world. The International Negotiating Committee was chaired by His Excellency Abdulla Eid Al-Sulaiti, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations.

The first draft of the declaration was prepared by a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. Abdul Jalil Lahmanate, Special Advisor to Her Highness. This draft was presented to all Conference participants at the conclusion of the plenary session on 29 November 2004. Non-government participants were invited to submit written comments to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee by 6:00 p.m. on November 29.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee began discussions at the conclusion of the plenary session. These deliberations commenced on the afternoon of 29 November and extended into the early morning hours of 30 November 2004. At a productive session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on 30 November, the language of the Doha Declaration was finalized. The Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee expressed his profound gratitude to members of the committee for their productive contributions. Members of the committee expressed their appreciation for the balanced text of the Doha Declaration. Committee members also thanked Her Highness and the State of Qatar for convening the Doha International Conference for the Family.

The Doha Declaration reaffirms commitments of the international community contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, and other UN documents. The initial paragraphs of the Doha Declaration list the purposes of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and briefly review the preparatory process of the Conference. The operative paragraphs reaffirm international commitments to the family and call for appropriate actions to implement those commitments.

C. Final Session and Adoption of the Doha Declaration

The text of the Doha Declaration approved by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee was presented at the final session of the Conference. Her Highness Shiekha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned attended this final session.

The session began with a summary of the proceedings of the Doha International Conference for the Family, presented by His Excellency Abdullah Nasser M. Al-Khalifa, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, State of Qatar. The final text of the Doha Declaration was then presented to the Conference by Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani, Vice President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. Upon the recommendation of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, Sheikha Hessa requested government representatives at the Conference to adopt the Doha Declaration by acclamation. Following this action by government representatives, all participants in the Conference were invited to demonstrate their support for the document. Representatives from the national parliaments of Sweden, Lativa and New Zealand thereafter made statements welcoming, supporting and endorsing the Doha Declaration. Her Highness then delivered the concluding remarks of the Conference, reiterating the State of Qatar’s commitment to the outcomes of the Doha International Conference for the Family, as well as the international center for study of the family.

D. Commitments for Action

The Doha International Conference for the Family has encouraged a broad range of partners to consider how best to provide the family with the “protection by society and the state” that is assured by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.⁹ The Conference has energized government representatives, non-governmental organizations, faith groups and members of civil society to take action to realize the promise of the Universal Declaration.

Government: Government representatives were presented with a wealth of information, including the views of civil society and findings of academicians from around the world that will inform and enrich future negotiations involving family and family life. The Doha International Conference for the Family recommends that governments give appropriate consideration to this data – and in particular the Doha Declaration – in future discussions related to the family.

NGOs: The network of non-governmental organizations, religious leaders, academicians and members of civil society represented at the Conference has been give a new and positive focus for future cooperative efforts. The Doha International Conference for the Family recommends that this network consider Conference work products – including the collected academic materials and the Doha Declaration – as a basis for further research, analysis, policy development and organizational activities.

The State of Qatar: The first Call for Action in the Doha Declaration urges development of “programs and policies designed to stimulate and encourage discussion between nations, religions, cultures and civilizations on questions related to marriage and family life.”¹⁰ Consistent with its commitment to the objectives of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the State of Qatar will take concrete steps to meet the objectives of this First Call for Action. Her Highness Sheikha Moza announced that, acting through the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and other appropriate agencies, the State of Qatar will establish an international Institute for Study of the Family. The work of the Institute will be coordinated with appropriate governmental and other entities dedicated to researching, supporting and implementing the Doha Declaration.

APPENDIX

The Doha Declaration

Introduction

Representatives of governments and members of civil society met in Doha, Qatar, on November 29-30, 2004, for the Doha International Conference for the Family, in commemoration of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family.

The conference was convened under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, State of Qatar.

The preparatory proceedings of the Doha Conference for the Family gathered the views of government officials, academicians, faith-based groups, non-governmental organizations and members of civil society.

The Conference recalls regional meetings in Cotonou, Benin; Mexico City, Mexico; Stockholm, Sweden; Geneva, Switzerland; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and other venues; and notes the proposals and views expressed during the Conference by all participants.

Preamble

Reaffirming that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, as declared in Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Noting that 2004 marks the 10^th Anniversary of the United Nations’ 1994 International Year of the Family and that the Doha International Conference for the Family was welcomed by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/15 (December 15, 2003);

Acknowledging that the objectives of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family include efforts to (a) strengthen the capacity of national institutions to formulate, implement and monitor policies in respect of the family; (b) stimulate efforts to respond to problems affecting, and affected by, the situation of the family; (c) undertake analytical reviews at all levels and assessments of the situation and needs of the family; (d) strengthen the effectiveness of efforts at all levels to execute specific programmes concerning the family; and (e) improve collaboration among national and international nongovernmental organizations in support of the family;

Taking into consideration the academic, scientific and social findings collected for the Doha International Conference, which collectively demonstrate that the family is not only the fundamental group unit of society but is also the fundamental agent for sustainable social, economic and cultural development;

Realizing that strengthening the family presents a unique opportunity to address societal problems in a holistic manner;

Reiterating that strong, stable families contribute to the maintenance of a culture of peace and promote dialogue among civilizations and diverse ethnic groups; and

Welcoming the announcement by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, State of Qatar, to create an international Institute for Study of the Family.

In this regard, we reaffirm international commitments to the family and call upon all governments, international organizations and members of civil society at all levels to take action to protect the family.

Reaffirmation of Commitments to the Family

We reaffirm international commitments to strengthen the family, in particular:

1. We commit ourselves to recognizing and strengthening the family’s supporting, educating and nurturing roles, with full respect for the world’s diverse cultural, religious, ethical and social values.

2. We recognize the inherent dignity of the human person and note that the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care before as well as after birth. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

3. We reaffirm that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to the widest possible protection and assistance by society and the State.

4. We emphasize that marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses and that the right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family shall be recognized and that husband and wife should be equal partners.

5. We further emphasize that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children from infancy to adolescence. For the full and harmonious development of their personality, children should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. All institutions of society should respect and support the efforts of parents to nurture and care for children in a family environment. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children and the liberty to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

Call for Action

Taking into account the above commitments, we call upon all governments, international organizations and members of civil society at all levels to:

Cultural, Religious and Social Values

1. Develop programs to stimulate and encourage dialogue among countries, religions, cultures and civilizations on questions related to family life, including measures to preserve and defend the institution of marriage;

2. Reaffirm the importance of faith and religious and ethical beliefs in maintaining family stability and social progress;

3. Evaluate and reassess the extent to which international law and policies conform to the principles and provisions related to the family contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international commitments;

Human Dignity

4. Reaffirm commitments to provide a quality education for all, including equal access to educational opportunities;

5. Evaluate and reassess government policies to ensure that the inherent dignity of human beings is recognized and protected throughout all stages of life;

Family

6. Develop indicators to evaluate the impact of all programs on family stability;

7. Strengthen policies and programs that will enable the family to break the cycle of poverty;

8. Evaluate and reassess government population policies, particularly in countries with below replacement birthrates;

9. Encourage and support the family to provide care for older persons and persons with disabilities;

10. Support the family in addressing the scourge of HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, including malaria and tuberculosis;

11. Take effective measures to support the family in times of peace and war;

12. Recognize the need to address the challenges facing the family in the context of globalization;

Marriage

13. Uphold, preserve and defend the institution of marriage;

14. Take effective measures to strengthen the stability of marriage by, among other things, encouraging the full and equal partnership of husband and wife within a committed and enduring marital relationship;

15. Establish effective policies and practices to condemn and remedy abusive relationships within marriage and the family, including the establishment of public agencies to assist men, women, children and families in crisis;

Parents and Children

16. Strengthen efforts to promote equal political, economic, social and educational opportunities for women and evaluate and assess economic, social and other policies to support mothers and fathers in performing their essential roles;

17. Strengthen the functioning of the family by involving mothers and fathers in the education of their children;

18. Reaffirm that parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children;

19. Reaffirm and respect the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to choose for their children schools, other than those established by the public authorities, which conform to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the State and to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

We request the host country of the Conference, the State of Qatar, to inform the United Nations General Assembly of the proceedings of the Conference, including the Doha Declaration, in particular during the celebration of the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family to be held on 6 December 2004.

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Newsletter created and distributed by:

World Family Policy Center

J. Reuben Clark Law School

Brigham Young University

Managing Director: Richard Wilkins

Executive Director: A. Scott Loveless

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¹ General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/15 (December 15, 2003).

² Report of the Secretary General, A/59/176 (July 23, 1004), par. 4.

⁴ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 16(3).

⁸ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 16(3).

⁹ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16(3); see also Report of the Secretary General, A/59/176 (July 23, 2004), par. 4 (noting that the contributions of the family to society have “generally been overlooked”).

¹⁰ Doha Declaration, Call for Action, par. 1. See also the Report of the Secretary General, noting that “continuing in-depth research on the family, its functions, relationships and dynamics” is vital to guide “policy adjustments or new policy development.” A/59/176, par. 39, 40.