Africa-Press – Mauritius. A ‘Journée de Réflexion sur la Famille’ was organised, this morning, at the Le Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, in Port Louis, in the context of International Day of Families 2023.
The aim was to raise awareness on the impact that demographic trends have on families. The theme for the 2023 International Day is Demographic Trends and Families.
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah; the Head of the Family Welfare and Protection Unit, Mrs Jayseeree Bhunjun; and other personalities were present during the workshop.
A presentation on the evolution of families was also made on that occasion. In her address, Minister Koonjoo-Shah stated that the family unit remains the backbone of a successful nation as well as the very foundation of economic prosperity and inclusiveness of a country.
The world, she observed, is moving at a very fast pace and yet the family unit remains a vital social economic institution in society fostering human progress, unity, inclusive development, and peace.
The International Day, she underlined, provides the opportunity to promote awareness of the notion of family and to raise awareness of the impact of demographic trends on the world.
Due to ever evolving demographic changes, rapid response as well as collective and concerted actions are required to safeguard the family institution, she underpinned.
The Minister further highlighted the impacts of change on the family institution and its consequences on the society including elimination of extended families, an ageing population, an increase in infertility rate, a decrease in family size, and increase in divorce cases.
So as to counteract the struggles on the changing social structure and promote shared understanding among families, the Minister emphasised the need to reflect and review the trends affecting family structures and come up with better policies and more effective measures to strengthen the family as an institution.
Minister Koonjoo-Shah, moreover, indicated that families are becoming resilient and are emerging stronger in the face of adversity such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family has, and will always continue to contribute to guide, nurture and protect children in their holistic advancement and in the achievement of development goals, she added.
The Ministry is committed in continuing to implement actions while working on policies and legislations to keep up with emerging trends affecting families so as to consolidate the family unit for a healthier and happier community and to benefit the entire nation, she said.
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