The Role of Family Science
in Sustainable Development

How family scientists are helping to overcome inequalities,
accelerate the recovery from the pandemic
and fully implement the 2030 Agenda

Thursday, February 9th, 2023 – 1:15pm
UN Headquarters NYC – Conference Room 5

#CSOCD #IFFDBriefing #IFFDAwards

The International Federation for Family Development organized the annual #IFFDBriefing, co-organized by the United Nations Division for Inclusive Social Development and with the collaboration of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations. The Briefing has been held at the UN Headquarters in New York during the Session of the Commission for Social Development every year since 2013.

The meeting was attended by members of the national delegations present at the Commission, members of the permanent missions, United Nations staff and representatives of civil society organizations, as well as some academics from different American universities.

The welcoming remarks were delivered by Nora Urrea, vice-president of the International Federation for Family Development and president of Family Enrichment USA, who expressed her wish for the event to help understand how the social and political reality shows the family’s contribution to social development, within the confines of existing public policy mechanisms.

This year’s edition was focused on the work of Family Science scholars and professionals across many careers, how they create a better understanding of families, and they empower families to contribute to the well-being of their members and become actual development agents.

To this end, Joseph G. Grzywacz, Norejane Hendrickson Professor at the Florida State University, explained how family scientists make an impact in society, using the unique approach of Family Science as a relationships-focused, evidence-based, preventive, strengths-oriented and translational discipline.

The keynote speech was followed by an interactive discussion with three young scholars and practitioners who spoke about their contribution to social wellbeing – Francisca L. Tettevie, a graduate teaching assistant from Ghana; Abigail T. Stephan, a postdoctoral fellow at Clemson University; and Virginia Hernández, secretary of youth at the regional government of the state of Queretaro in Mexico. The panel was moderated by Carlota Nalda, from the NGO Committee on UNICEF.

As usual, the #IFFDAwards were also presented during the event to the persons or territories distinguished by the promotion of family values. The awardees this year were the government of Slovenia and the Brazilian Instituto de Desenvolvimento Familiar Chieko Nishimura.

The Award to the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Familiar was presented by Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director of the Doha International Family Institute, 2018 IFFD Award. It was received by Jorge Nishimura, president and administrative board member of the Jacto Group into which it was developed. He highlighted in his words of acceptance the importance that his group of companies, present in more than 100 countries with high-technology products and innovative solutions for agriculture, has always given to the support they can provide to their employees and their families.

The Award to Slovenia was presented by Nora Urrea, from IFFD, and accepted by Sašo Furlan, cabinet chief of the national Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, in presence of the permanent representative to the United Nations, H. E. Boštjan Malovrh. In his speech, Mr. Furlan detailed some good practices of their inclusive approach to family policies that have placed for many years the country among the top countries in the world for generosity to new parents.

The final remarks were made by Renata Kaczmarska, Focal Point of the Family at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who stressed the need to build links between Family Science and policymakers, to develop the Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to the preparations and celebrations of the International Year of the Family.

Gallery

Concept Note

Family science — the scientific study of families and close interpersonal relationships — is key to understanding all types of families and how family relationships affect us, our families, and society. Family science research shows us strategies to build strong relationships, ways to parent effectively, and so much more to support families’ well-being, which creates a better society for everyone. It has become crucial to address the big societal issues of the 21st century.

A growing number of academic departments and degree programs in the United States and Canada are incorporating the term ‘Family science’ into their names. At least 165 university departments and academic programs currently use it.

Through their work across many careers, Family Science scholars and professionals create a better understanding of families, and they empower families to contribute to the well-being of their members and become actual development agents.

Their knowledge and expertise means they are uniquely qualified for many types of jobs working to better understand, strengthen, and empower families, such as family services, social services, early childhood education, university teaching, family science research, parenting education, youth programs, family therapy support services, divorce mediation, abuse protection services, family policy analysis, child welfare advocacy, public health programs and services, NGO leadership, global family programs, international human rights advocacy, immigration and migrant family services, program evaluation and assessment, media and technology services.

By bringing the links between families, Family Science and the creation of full and productive employment and decent work, as proposed by the Priority Topic of this year’s Commission for Social Development (CSocD61), we expect to provide new advice to governments, civil society, academia, schools, employers and other stakeholders on how to best prepare young people to be able to reduce inequalities while we recover from the pandemic and increase our efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, as expressed by goals 5, 8 and 10.

To this end, we not only count on an expert to deliver a keynote speech on how family scientists make an impact in society, but also on young students and professionals who are oriented into this field and who will be part of an interactive discussion on the topic.

The IFFD Briefing also hosts the 2023 IFFD Awards Ceremony. Since 2013, these Awards are presented every year during the Commission to national, regional or local governments recognized for the promotion of family perspective policies and for best appreciation and to persons or private entities for their contribution to promoting family values around the world. The awardees this year are the government of Slovenia and the Brazilian Instituto de Desenvolvimento Familiar Chieko Nishimura.

Slovenia ranks among the top countries in the world for generosity to new parents. Mothers and fathers are entitled to 130 days of parental leave each (altogether 260 days). Parental leave is extended in the event of the birth of twins or more children at the same time, a prematurely born child, or a child who needs special care. The amount of parental benefit is equal to 100% of the basis and may not be more than 2.5 times the amount of the average monthly wage. More flexible forms of work, including the right to breastfeeding breaks, also contribute to facilitating the reconciliation of professional and family obligations.

The Instituto de Desenvolvimento Familiar Chieko Nishimura is a non-profit organization founded in April 2017 to serve Jacto Group employees and their families, as well as the ecosystem and the local community. The group is now present in more than 100 countries with high-technology products and innovative solutions for agriculture, while the Institute highlights the importance of the family as an agent of corporate social responsibility and strategic foundation for sustainable growth. They offer courses, workshops, lectures and meetings around topics related to couple relationships, parenting education, financial training, ethical principles and values, personal and socio-emotional development of men, women, children and adolescents.

Programme

Welcoming Remarks

Keynote Speech

Joseph Grzywacz

Norejane Hendrickson Professor of Family and Child Sciences at Florida State University

How Do Family Scientists Make an Impact?

Interactive Discussion
with Family Science Young Scholars and Practitioners

Moderator

Carlota Nalda Roca de Togores

Degree in International Relations
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos – Madrid

More documentation about Family Science 

IFFD Family Awards Ceremony

About the IFFD Awards

Closing Remarks

IFFD Written Statement to the Commission

IFFD Oral Statement to the Commission

Perrine Bruvier
Master in Philosophy, Université Paris-Sorbonne
IFFD NYC Representation to the UN

Side Event

organized by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the UN
and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs
in partnership with the Doha International Family Institute,
the International Federation for Family Development
and the World Family Organization

‘Towards full and productive employment and decent work for all families: The role of NGOs’

9 February 2023, 10:00