28 May 1987

17th plenary meeting

National policies for families

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling that the Declaration on Social Progress and Development recognized the value of the family as a basic unit of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members,

Recalling its resolutions 1983/23 of 26 May 1983 on the role of the family in the development process and 1985/29 of 29 May 1985 on the family,

Taking note of the fact that the Secretary-General is conducting a survey of national policies for families,

Taking note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on developments concerning national family policies,

Affirming the importance of the family as a basic unit of society,

Aware of the need for co-ordination of the range of activities carried out within the United Nations system on behalf of families,

Recalling chapter two of the 1982 Report on the World Social Situation on the family,

1. Calls upon the Secretary-General to undertake discussions within the framework of the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination on the family-related activities of the other organizations in the United Nations system, within available resources,

2. Invites Member States to respond to the best of their ability to the survey of national policies for families;

3. Welcomes the proposal contained in paragraph 111 of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Highlights of the world social situation in 1987: recent developments and current issues" to include a section in the 1989 report on the world social situation on recent views and trends concerning the family, making use of the survey of national policies for families;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-first session on the results of the survey of national policies for families.