International Relationships

The actions performed by IFFD on an international level are listed below:

1. IFFD regularly organizes International Congresses (see background) in which experts and parents take part, sharing their experiences and points of view. Many thousands of participants have benefited and will continue to benefit from the knowledge and personal contacts they obtain at these events. In March 2007, at its last congress, IFFD drew up the Declaration of Rome, which has been signed by a large number of NGOs, about the rights and responsibilities of the family, submitted in May 2007 to the United Nations.
2. IFFD has been collaborating in United Nations programmes related to family life since 1993, initially taking part in the World NGO Malta forum, to prepare the launch of the International Year of the Family (IYF) in 1994.
3. IFFD has been a member on the NGOs Committee of the United Nations for the Family in Vienna, and is currently the President.
4. Members of IFFD took part in several meetings of the United Nations in the 1990s related to family life: the International Development and Population Conference
   (September 1994, Cairo); The 4th World Conference on Women (September 1995,
   in Beijing); The 2nd United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II,
   June 1996, in Istanbul).
5. In 1999 IFFD was conferred special Consultative Status on the United Nations Economic and Social Committee, intensifying its actions in the main offices (New York, Geneva and Vienna) and increased its participation in international forums,including the Special Sessions "Woman 2000: Sexual Equality, Development and Peace in the 21st Century" (Beijing + 5, 5-9 June 2000), the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children (8-10 May 2002), the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing (Madrid, 8-12 April 2002) where IFFD submitted its standpoint to the UN General Assembly.
6. IFFD has a standing representation in the main headquarters of the UNO, New York,
   Geneva and Vienna, and is a member on a wide range of working committees, including the NGO Committee of the Family in New York and Vienna, the UNO in Boston for observing the United Nations Day and the Non-Governmental Organisations Conference (CONGO).
7. IFFD is collaborating with regional organisations, including the European Union, to develop innovating projects and programmes in the field of family life and education (Socrates Project, Grundtvig2).