A/HRC/31/37 A. Evolution of the international policy framework 11. One of the first policy documents to signal that families had a role to play in development was the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 2542 (XXIV), in 1969. Article 4 of the Declaration affirms that the family, as the basic unit of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members, should be assisted and protected so that it may fully assume its responsibilities with the community. The Declaration also incorporates a specific provision on family policies (art. 22) and sets out the means and methods for achieving the objectives of social progress and development (arts. 23-27). 12. Several initiatives within the United Nations development system subsequently built on those basic tenets. In 1983, the Economic and Social Council adopted its first resolution on the role of the family in the development process (resolution 1983/23), in which it called upon States to formulate and implement measures addressed to the welfare of the family as a whole, as part of development policies (para. 2). 13. Subsequently, the General Assembly adopted resolutions on the need to enhance international cooperation in the field of protection of and assistance to families,6 which eventually led to the unanimous proclamation of 1994 as the International Year of the Family and to the adoption of resolutions on the preparations for and observance of the Year.7 The observance of the Year represented recognition of the role of families as major agents of sustainable development at all levels of society. 8 14. The awareness-raising activities for the Year proved essential in ensuring that the family was taken into consideration by the various international summits and conferences held under the auspices of the United Nations during the 1990s, including the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993), the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994), the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) and the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995). 9 Other meetings and follow-up processes have also addressed the role of the family in development, social protection and poverty reduction policies.10 15. The internationally agreed texts adopted at those summits and conferences contributed to the crystallization of an international consensus on the role of families in development, which is still considered valid today. 11 That consensus encompasses: (a) the need for family-centred measures and approaches as part of development policies;12 (b) the 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 General Assembly resolutions 42/134 and 43/135. General Assembly resolutions 44/82, 45/133, 46/92 and 47/237. See General Assembly resolution 47/237, sixth preambular paragraph. See Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, available from www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/Vienna.aspx; Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, A/CONF.171/13, annex I; Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, A/CONF.177/20, annex I; Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, A/CONF.166/9, annex I. See World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, General Assembly resolution 50/81, annex; Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, A/CONF.165/14, annex I; and Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action, Second World Assembly on Ageing (Madrid, 8-12 April 2002), art. 15 and paras. 101-105. See General Assembly resolution 68/136, 3rd preambular paragraph, noting that the outcomes of conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance in relation to family policies). See Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, para. 29; Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, paras. 31 and 40 (k); Programme of Action of the International 5