Remember: The Global Day of Parents
THE Global Day of Parents, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2012, was observed last Thursday and aimed to honour parents throughout the world.
The Global Day, according to the UN, provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents in all parts of the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.The day focused on underscoring the critical role of parents in the rearing of children, while recognising that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children.The UN pointed out that the central goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the world leaders in 2015 focus on ending poverty, promoting shared economic prosperity, social development and people’s well-being while protecting the environment. Families remain at the centre of social life, ensuring the well-being of their members, educating and socialising children and youth, and caring for the young and old.Additionally, the global agency explained that family-oriented policies can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1 to 5, relating to doing away with poverty and hunger; ensuring healthy lives and promoting of well-being for all ages; ensuring educational opportunities throughout the lifespan; and achieving gender equality.Locally we should strive to adopt the principles behind the Global Day of Parents and the rearing of our children as essentially good values embedded from childhood. These must be followed through to adulthood in order to result in a more developed society.