New York, September 22, 2025.
The International Federation for Family Development (IFFD) took part for the first time in an official side event during the United Nations General Assembly. The event, titled “Better Together: Global Solidarity Rooted in the Family,” was hosted by the Republic of Türkiye and several co-sponsoring countries and organizations.
IFFD was represented by its Director of International Relations, Dr. Jose Alejandro Vazquez Alarcon, who was invited to speak on the theme of “Safeguarding and Future-Proofing Families.” In his remarks, Dr. Vazquez emphasized two critical outcomes identified by the organizers: alleviating the pressures of modern parenthood—especially in terms of time, care, and cost—and integrating family resilience into international cooperation frameworks.
“If we truly want to be global, we must speak a language that everyone can understand—one that is grounded in evidence, inclusive in spirit, and focused on practical impact,” Dr. Vazquez noted.
He stressed the importance of family-friendly policies as the most effective way to translate international dialogue into measurable results for families. Highlighting IFFD’s presence in 68 countries and its direct work with over 35,000 parents and 250,000 family members annually, he underlined IFFD’s distinctive role as a bridge between global policy frameworks and everyday family realities.
IFFD also announced its preparations for the upcoming World Summit for Social Development in Doha, where the organization will showcase practical approaches to care systems and parenting support as essential pillars of sustainable social development.
This milestone marks a significant step in IFFD’s advocacy efforts at the highest level of multilateral dialogue. By participating in the UN General Assembly for the first time, IFFD reaffirmed its mission: to strengthen families worldwide through evidence-based support, to ensure their resilience in the face of demographic, social, and economic shifts, and to position the family as a cornerstone of global solidarity.
