Ban’s message for International Family Day

( May 16, 2012) A call for the renewal of a pledge to promote work-family balance to benefit families and society at large was made on Tuesday by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his message for the International Family Day. The Day is observed annually on May 15 and this year’s International Day of Families, highlights the need for work-family balance. The aim is to help workers everywhere, provide for their families financially and emotionally, while also contributing to the socio-economic development of their societies. Current trends underscore the growing importance of work-family policies. These include greater participation by women in the labour market, and growing urbanization and mobility in search for jobs. As families become smaller and generations live apart, extended kin are less available to offer care, and employed parents face rising challenges. Millions of people around the world, lack decent working conditions and the social support to care for their families. Affordable quality child care is rarely available in developing countries, where many parents are forced to leave their pre-school children home alone. A number of countries offer generous leave provisions for mothers and fathers. Many more, however, extend few comprehensive benefits in line with international standards. Paternity leave provisions are still rare in the majority of developing countries.The UN Secretary General said we need to respond to the ever-changing complexities of work and family life, and he was committed to this in his own organization, where they are currently looking to see what they can do better.