Western Countries Opposed “the Family” in UN Negotiations This Week

A single reference to “the family” in a UN negotiation this week set off a firestorm of criticism from rich Western countries.

The debate came during negotiations related to a package of documents to be presented at a conference called The UN Summit on the Future this September.

The debate pitted powerful Western countries versus traditional countries from the Global South.

The declaration is meant to address the need and interests of generations to come but mentioning the role of the family within the confines of the document is proving to be a challenging task.

After initial consultations, traditional member states and pro-family organizations questioned the credibility of a document on future generations that does not speak of the family unit. As a result of the pressure, the lead negotiators from Jamaica and the Netherlands added language recognizing “the role of families as contributors to sustainable development.” That one reference set off vigorous debate.

Much of the debate was over how each side viewed family as singular or plural.

The U.K. delegate said they preferred to delete the paragraph on the family altogether but if it is to be kept, they insisted, the plural version of “families” was the only acceptable format.

For Mexico, retaining the plural form “families” was important because it recognizes that all family structures “are valid and supported [which] is crucial to foster inclusive societies.”

Switzerland said it “still has some issues with the family reference” due to “inequalities within families [that] affect women’s wellbeing and lead to violence against women and girls” and that it could only accept the reference if it is maintained in the plural version of “families” and if language is added to ensure women’s rights are protected. The U.S., Canada, and Ukraine supported the Swiss suggestion.

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