
- This event has passed.
UN Expert Group Meeting: Assessing progress, challenges and emerging issues. Focus on modalities for IYF+30 & parenting education
16 June, 2020 - 19 June, 2020

United Nations (online) Expert Group Meeting
New York, 16-18 June 2020
10:00 am – 12:30 pm (NY time)
Organized by:
Focal Point on the Family, Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations
DRAFT AGENDA
Tuesday, 16 June
10:00-10:15 Opening Session
Welcoming remarks
Masumi Ono, Chief, Social Inclusion and Participation Branch
Introduction of participants
10:15 – 11:30 Session I
Appropriate ways and means to observe the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, in 2024
Moderator & opening remarks: Renata Kaczmarska “IYF process and objectives”
Presenter: Bahira Trask, “Mega trends and families”
Issues for discussion
- IYF process
- UNDESA priorities
- Assessment of responses to Note Verbale from Member States, UN entities and other stakeholders
- Assessment of civil society proposals
- Mega trends and their impact on families
- Families and technology
- Families, urbanization and international migration
- Families and demographic change
- Families and climate change
- Family policies to counteract negative effects of trends above
- Priority SDGs and targets & family policies important for their implementation
- Topics to be addressed in preparation for IYF+30
- Emerging issues
- Regional issues/perspectives/meetings/events
- Civil society and advocacy efforts
11:30-12:30 Session II
Positive parenting for promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and social cohesion
Moderator & Introductory remarks: Nena Thundu
Presenters:
Ignacio Socias “Positive parenting: concept and applications”
Benjamin Freer “Global perspective on corporal punishment and its effects on children”
Issues for discussion
- Relevance of positive parenting for the achievement of SDG16 (overall and in the context of target 16.2)
- Positive parenting at different stages in children’s lives
- Links between positive parenting education and early childhood education
- Academic & civil society perspectives on positive parenting
- Positive parenting to prevent children’s neglect and abuse including corporal punishment
- Violence against children in families and beyond
- Types of abuse and neglect
- Perceptions and cultural constraints
- Negative consequences of violence against children (on children and other family members)
- The harms of corporal punishment
- The state of corporal punishment around the world
- Promotion of non-violent forms of discipline
- Awareness raising and advocacy efforts
- Relevance of SDG16 targets
Roundtable discussion issues from Day 1
Wednesday, 17 June
10:00-11:00 Session III
Regional perspectives on parenting education
The impact of COVID-19 on families & parenting around the world
Moderator & Opening remarks: Liz Gozme (or Annemie Drieskens) “COVID-19 & parenting in the EU”
Presenter:
Mihaela Robila “Parenting education in Europe”
Nora Spinks “COVID-19 and parenting in Canada”
Issues for discussion
- Regional perspectives on parenting education: western countries
- Similarities and differences in approaches in Western and Eastern Europe
- Parenting education in the United States
- Parenting education in Canada
- Academic and civil society perspectives
- The impact of COVID-19 on parenting
11-12:30 Session IV
Parenting education: regional and sub-regional perspectives
Moderator: Sharifa El-Amadi
Presenters:
Rosario Esteinou “Parenting education in Latin America”
Ahmed Aref “Parenting education in Asia and MENA region”
Issues for discussion
- Differences and similarities in parenting styles: global and regional perspective
- Overview of parenting education in Latin America
- Overview of parenting education in Asia and MENA region
- Progress and challenges
Thursday, 18 June
10:00-11:00 Session V
Parenting education and gender equality. the role of fathers
Moderator: Kinga Joó
Presenters:
Esuna Dugarova “Gender perspective on parenting and care”
Clara Alemann “Parenting education: the role of fathers”
Issues for discussion
- Care and household responsibilities
- Parenting education and its importance for gender equality
- The role of fathers
Roundtable discussion with audience participation
11:00-12:00 Session VI
Parenting education for strong intergenerational interactions: the role of grandparents, including grandparents who are primary care givers.
Civil society perspectives on parenting education and the role of grandparents.
Moderator: Regina Maroncelli
Presenters:
Soohyun Kim “Grandparenting: focus on Asia”
Alex Vazquez “Civil society perspectives on parenting education and grandparenting”
Issues for discussion
- Effective grandparenting for intergenerational solidarity
- Regional perspectives on grandparenting
- Differences in grandparenting styles
- Grandparents as primary care givers: challenges and opportunities
- Grandparenting in Asia (rural/urban comparisons, challenges in data collection, valuing of grandparents’ contributions)
- Indicators for strong intergenerational relations
12:00-12:30 Session VII
Conclusions, recommendations & the road ahead
Moderator & Closing remarks: Renata Kaczmarska
Recommendations on:
- IYF+30 modalities
- parenting education and related issues
will be elaborated via email exchanges with experts and civil society