The International Day of Families, marked annually on 15 May, acknowledges the importance of families. The day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes that affect them.

In many countries, the day provides an opportunity to highlight different areas of interest and importance to families. Activities include workshops and conferences, radio and television programmes, newspaper articles and cultural programmes.

"Equitable social and economic development depends on fair legal frameworks and social norms that support the rights of women and children,” says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Discriminatory laws and practices that do not give equal rights to all, and that suppress women’s and children’s rights, have no place in contemporary families, communities, societies and nations."