The Secretary of Institutional Relations of the City of São Paulo promoted, in partnership with the organization Family Talks and the participation of IFFD, a forum on ‘Strengthening Family Bonds’, held on 27th June at the Town Hall. With the participation of experts and representatives from civil society, the event brought together more than 120 people and aimed to discuss topics related to parental education and prevention, as well as gather opinions and suggestions from the citizens on the subject.
According to Enrico Misasi, the Secretary of Institutional Relations, “we are aware that the family is strategic for the development of the community and how social problems originate from weakened family bonds.” According to him, the proposal was to discuss how a municipality the size of São Paulo can strengthen these relationships.
Ana Luiza Gomes Ferreira Pegoraro, coordinator of the event, highlighted the opportunity to have the NGO Family Talks provide technical support for the Forum: “One of the primary roles of our Coordination is the relationship between entities and confederations with the City of São Paulo, and this event was further evidence that the strategic partnership between private initiative and public administration can, in cooperation, generate positive outcomes for society. We thank the Family Talks team for spontaneously assisting us in structuring this event, whose agenda interests and benefits everyone,” she added.
Rodolfo Canônico, the executive director of Family Talks, explained that forming a family is a private decision and an inviolable right recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, this decision has public repercussions, and the most basic one is the continuity of society itself. “There is no social structure that can replace the family. This is so true that the federal Constitution recognizes it as the foundation of civil society,” commented Canônico.
After the interventions of Maria Paula de Albuquerque, Gerente Geral Clínica of Centro de Recuperação e Educação Nutricional, and Sarah Maia, director of communication of Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal, the final speech was delivered by Ignacio Socias, director of International Relations of the International Federation for Family Development. He stated that “the family bond is fundamental for the development and well-being of each individual. It provides a safe and stable environment where personal growth is nurtured, social skills are learned, and healthy relationships are established. It is a solid foundation that contributes to the well-being of family members and the building of a strong and cohesive society. The state should intervene or support families when there is a threat to the well-being of its members, when the rights of children are violated, or when families face challenges that may affect their stability and well-being,” he added.
