Historic World Family Declaration is Online and Available for Electronic Signature
Contact:
Don Feder,
Director, WCF Communications, 508-405-1337,
dfeder@rcn.com; Larry Jacobs, 815-964-5819,
media@worldcongress.org,
media@profam.org
ROCKFORD, Ill., March 15, 2014 /
Christian Newswire/ -- The World Family Declaration, an initiative of the World Congress of Families and endorsed by pro-family organizations across the globe, is now online at
www.worldfamilydeclaration.org and available for electronic signature.
"Never before has there been a universal banner uniting all peoples to rally in protection of the natural family, and never has it needed protection as urgently as now," stated WCF Director of UN Affairs Doug Clark. "We have created the World Family Declaration to address that need and be that banner."
Opening with the words "We the people of many lands and cultures," the Declaration is grounded in Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State."
That language is echoed in 111 national constitutions, many of which repeat it verbatim while others describe the family in such varied terms as the "natural and moral foundation of the human community" (Niger) or "foundation of the nation" (Philippines), or as society's "cornerstone" (Greece), "fundamental pillar" (Afghanistan), "basic institution" (Colombia), or "fundamental nucleus" (Chile).
Speaking at the recent launch of the World Family Declaration at the ONE UN New York, WCF International Secretary Allan Carlson observed, "I applaud those nations which have placed language about protection of the natural family in their constitutions. Endnote #3 of this Declaration provides a solid review of these provisions. Even if and when the actions of a government might stray from this principle, such a constitutional provision stands both as a rebuke and a summons for a return to good order."
"It is my hope," continued Carlson, "that the World Family Declaration will play a significant role in rallying international attention again to the most important unit of society, the natural family."
Clark added, "Today we unfurl a banner to remind the world of the foundational and irreplaceable role of the family. In the words of the Declaration, 'We urge citizens, leaders, and people of influence everywhere
to place as their highest priority the protection and strengthening of the family.'"
For more information on World Congress of Families, visit
www.worldcongress.org. To schedule an interview with Allan Carlson or Doug Clark, contact Don Feder at 508-405-1337 or
dfeder@rcn.com.
The Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society (www.profam.org) is located in Rockford, Illinois and is an independent, non-profit research and education center that provides sound scholarship and effective strategies to affirm and defend the natural family, thus renewing a stable and free society. The Howard Center is the publisher of the journal, "The Family In America" and is also the organizer of the World Congress of Families (WCF) project which is an international network of pro-family organizations, scholars, leaders and inter-faith people of goodwill from more than 80 countries that seek to restore the natural family as the fundamental social unit and the 'seedbed' of civil society (as found in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). The WCF was founded in 1997 by Dr. Allan Carlson, President of The Howard Center. To date, there have been five World Congresses of Families – Prague (1997), Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004), Warsaw, Poland (2007) and Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2009). World Congress of Families VI was held in Madrid, Spain in May 25-27, 2012. World Congress of Families VII was held in Sydney, Australia, May 15-18, 2013, www.wcfsydney2013.org.au.
