Global Day of Parents – June 1, 2020 |01 June 2020

Mr Madeleine

‘Appreciate all parents throughout the world’

In 2012, the UN General Assembly proclaimed June 1 as the Global Day of Parents, to be observed annually in honour of parents throughout the world. UPF-Seychelles Association looks at the support for parents as the coronavirus pandemic takes hold.

Introduction:

The Global Day of Parents, June 1, bears witness to the COVID-19 pandemic’s exponential growth as we need to embrace good workplace practices and it is imperatively essential to support working families to minimise negative consequences for children.

The Global Day of Parents, June 1, also provides an opportunity for the entire society to appreciate parents for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship. UPF (Universal Peace Federation)-International & UPF-Seychelles supports the UN resolution noting that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children and those children, for the full and harmonious development of their personality, should grow up in a model family environment and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and greater care and understanding.

UPF-Seychellesembraces this year’s Global Day of Parents’ theme ‘Appreciate all Parents throughout the World’ and wants to thank all parents who are doing their utmost to safeguard the wellbeing and welfare of their beloved children; as the United Nations places emphasis on the critical role of parents in the rearing of children.

UPF-Seychelles places a lot of importance on parents’ development, we want to bestow our solidarities toward all the parents of Seychelles in prayer; in that we continue to adhere to the advisories of the Ministry of Health in line with that of the World Health Organisation (WHO), so that we can overcome the coronavirus pandemic. In saying this, UPF-Seychelles also celebrates the crucial role of parents in the care-giving of children in the family.

Greater support is needed for working parents as COVID-19 takes hold, as families bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the anchors of the family and the foundation of our communities and societies, parents have the responsibility of sheltering their families from harm, caring for out-of-school children and, at the same time, continuing their work responsibilities. We should devote our time to nurture solid families with model parents!

Since the 1980s, the important role of the family has increasingly come to the attention of the international community. The UN General Assembly adopted a number of resolutions and proclaimed the International Year of the Family and the International Day of Families.

Designated by the UN General Assembly in 2012, Global Day of Parents provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents for their “selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship”.

As an active member of UPF-Seychelles, I want to reflect on one of the first things we are taught as kids: ‘Respect others, especially our elders’. But respect is not only for those who are older than us. Regardless of age, it is something that has to be earned. Our parents have supported us through the ups and downs, while dealing with their own personal issues. Needless to say, since they are the cornerstone of society, our parents deserve our R-E-S-P-E-C-T and L-O-V-E.

Based on our social interactions with the local families, we tend to realise that children benefit from having fathers play an active role in their lives. We have analysed that it is easy for dads to stay out of the spotlight and let moms take over parenting duty, but we must conform that today is a reminder that a little interaction can go a long way. The children need the parents as a family to better foster their youth developments, the care and love from both mum & dad, and the parenting to help them develop into responsible adults and become persons of value.

Conclusion:

In its resolution, the UN General Assembly also noted that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children and that children, for the full and harmonious development of their personality, should grow up in a family environment and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.

The resolution recognises the role of parents in the rearing of children and invites member States to celebrate the day in full partnership with civil societies, particularly involving young people and children.

UPF-Seychelles invites our government to implement initiatives and policies to strengthen the role of our parents and takes this opportunity to wish all parents in Seychelles, a Happy Global Day of Parents. We wish to reiterate that UPF-Seychelles can be reached on the email address: upf.seychelles@gmail.com

Contributed by Jacob Terence Madeleine

Writer, Treasurer UPF-Seychelles