Representatives of 12 universities and research centers from different parts of the world met in Rome last 12-15 May for the first expert meeting of the International Family Observatory. Founded in December 2018, the Family International Monitor is a new initiative commissioned by the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for the Sciences of the Marriage and the Family, in cooperation with the Catholic University of Murcia and the CISF of Milan.
The Observatory aims to become a international landmark of studies on family and to conduct scientific research at international level on the concrete condition of families in different social, cultural and economic contexts.
A survey on families will take place over a period of 3 years (2019-2021) and will be marked by the creation of two reports on family and relational poverty and family and economic poverty. The results of the first part of the research willl be presented on may 15 2020, on the International day of families.
Among the guests, Regina Maroncelli, president of ELFAC, attended the expert meeting bringing the voice and experiences of large families: “it is the role of family associations to bring in this highly academic meeting the reality of families” said Mrs. Maroncelli, ”Especially of large families that are too often forgotten, taken for granted or just considered vulnerable and problematic. We will watch that families will be regarded always as a resource and not a problem.”
Participants in the Expert Meeting participated in the Papal Audience on Wednesday 15 May, on the occasion of the International Day of the Family.
