Explanation of Position by John F. Sammis, Deputy Representative to ECOSOC, on the Third Committee Resolution "Preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family," November 9, 2011

John F. Sammis
United States  Deputy Representative to ECOSOC 

New York, NY

November 9, 2011

AS DELIVERED

The United States is pleased to join consensus on this resolution marking the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family. We place importance on the family. President Obama proclaimed September 27, 2010, as Family Day, saying "we honor the devoting of parents and family members," and calling on Americans to "recommit to creating a solid foundation for the future health and happiness of all our nation's children."

The Cairo Programme of Action states that the family is the basic unit of society and that various forms of the family exist in different cultural, political, and social systems.

In that spirit, the United States would have preferred if the resolution included a crucial concept from this year's HIV and AIDS Political Declaration, which was endorsed at high levels:

"Reaffirm the central role of the family, bearing in mind that in different cultural, social and political systems various forms of the family exist." We thank other member states who share this view.

Thank you.

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