Welcomes the decision of Benin to host a regional preparatory conference in Benin in May 2004 in collaboration with the United Nations, within existing resources;
2
Also welcomes the decision of the State of Qatar to host an international conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in November 2004;
3
Welcomes the launching by the Secretary-General of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family on 4 December 2003;
4
Further welcomes decisions by members of the international community (Governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society) to host events in observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family;
5
EncouragesGovernments to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective in the planning process;
6
Recalls its invitation to all States to set the end of 2003 as a target date for finalizing a programme for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family;
7
Also recalls its invitation to Governments that had not already done so to set up national coordinating committees or similar mechanisms, as appropriate, for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, and invites them, as well as the Governments of countries with existing bodies responsible for preparations and observance, to intensify preparatory measures already under way;
8
Recommendsthat all relevant actors, inter alia, Governments, civil society, including relevant non-governmental organizations, and research and academic institutions, contribute to developing strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening the livelihood of families;
9
EncouragesUnited Nations agencies and bodies, including the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and research and academic institutions, to work closely with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in a coordinated manner on family-related issues, inter alia, by sharing experience and findings, in recognition of their valuable role in family policy development at all levels;
10
Calls uponUnited Nations agencies and bodies, including the regional commissions, within existing resources, and invites intergovernmental organizations and research and academic institutions to support regional events of the year 2004 to contribute to the success of those events;
11
Requeststhe Secretary-General:
a
To strengthen the programme of work of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs on family pursuant to the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in the context of national family-related provisions of the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits, and in the context of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,2 to enhance the unique role of the family in society, in particular through:
The development and strengthening of a family-focused perspective in relevant policies and programmes of United Nations bodies as well as in the follow-up to the outcomes of the relevant United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields;
ii
The provision of policy guidance on emerging issues and trends affecting the family, through the preparation of studies and research papers aimed in particular at enhancing the role of the family in society;
iii
The provision of technical assistance to countries, upon request, to enhance, where appropriate, their national capacities in the area of family-related work;
b
To address family issues, where relevant, in his report on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields;
12
Also requeststhe Secretary-General to submit an interim report to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-second session and a substantive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on the preparations for and the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at all levels.
