New York, USA - The NGO Committee on the Family at the UN headquarters in New York met on Feb. 14, 2014 to address “Global Perspectives on Family Well-Being: Work-Family and Intergenerational Issues Reconsidered.”
Dr. Bahira Sherif Trask, professor and associate chair of human development and family studies at the University of Delaware, gave an effective overview of major developments and social and economic trends on "Perspectives on Work-Family Balance and Global Transformations."
Florence von Erb, president of Make Mothers Matter International, incorporated her background in finance and promoting policies to support working mothers in addressing, "Women’s Unpaid Work: A View from the Grassroots."
Dr. Steven Wisensale, professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut, presented an effective pictorial PowerPoint show while discussing political trends in "Intergenerational Equity: A Debate Goes Global."
The final presentation, "Intergenerational Ties and Wellbeing," given by Kevin Brabazon, president of the New York State Intergenerational Network and UN representative of Generations United, ended on a positive and uplifting note as he gave examples and showed video clips of programs which successfully bridged generations and brought races together - the young serving the elderly and the elderly serving the young, enhancing the well-being and happiness of all.
This event was organized by Renata Kaczmarska, focal point on the family in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the New York NGO Committee on the Family in Observance of the Twentieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family. Lynn Walsh, director of UPF’s Office of Marriage, Family and Human Development and co-chair of the NGO Committee on the Family, moderated the session.
At the end of the event, lively discussions ensued as the participants enjoyed a light lunch, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations.