Efforts under way to mark 10th anniversary of U.N. Year of Family

Published: 2003-12-05

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- Thanks to the efforts of concerned governments and nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations will put more emphasis on the 10th anniversary of the 1994 International Year of the Family than originally planned, according to the Vatican nuncio to the United Nations. Archbishop Celestino Migliore said in an interview Dec. 4 that the U.N. Secretariat, which carries out the day-to-day work of the world body, had intended to leave the observance in 2004 up to individual governments. But he and others working with him thought the United Nations itself should mark the event to "keep up the momentum" that came from activities during and following the 1994 observance, an emphasis strongly supported by the Vatican. As a result, the nuncio said, adoption of a resolution by the U.N. General Assembly was secured, and plans were laid for a U.N. celebration May 15.

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