Today is the International Day of Families. This year’s theme is families, healthy lives and a sustainable future. 

The International Day was first proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly in 1993. It provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues related to families, and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting them. 

U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon delivered a message on the event, saying families are on the front lines of global efforts to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He called on governments to support the crucial role of families in all their diverse form.