Press releases

MINSK, 17 May (BelTA) – The first photo exhibition of the Group of Friends of the Family and U.S. non-government organizations took place on 17 May to showcase important contribution of the family to sustainable development. The event was initiated by Belarus, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The photo exhibition will make part of a series of events marking International Year of Families.

According to the press service, Belarus Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentin Rybakov took part in a special high-level event titled Uniting Nations for a Family Friendly World in the UN Headquarters in New York on 16 May. The event was initiated by Belarus with the assistance of the Group of Friends of the Family jointly with key U.S. non-government organizations supporting the traditional family. The event was dedicated to the International Year of Families marked on 15 May.

In his speech on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Family, Valentin Rybakov talked about the Group’s approaches to advance the traditional family within the implementation of the international agenda of sustainable development. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs introduced the Statement of the Group of Friends of the Family in support of the traditional family, which became the first UN document of the kind. In particular, the document emphasizes the key role of the family in the development of the society and also the importance of strong partner relations between the generations. The document also stresses that genuine and effective sustainable development may not be achieved without the family. The statement will be published as an official document of the 70^th session of the UN General Assmebly.

The Group of Friends of the Family was set up in 2015. The Group unites 25 countries. The Group promotes the interests of the traditional family and family values in line with international recognized documents.