The institution of family is a major global concern, particularly for countries like Iran and the Vatican City, and plays a decisive role in laying down social and cultural policies, said Leila Falahati, director general of international affairs at the presidential deputy's Office for Women and Family Affairs.
"Due to the importance of this basic social structure, the Post-2015 Development Agenda must dedicate a distinct article to the issue," she was quoted by ISNA as saying.
The Post-2015 Development Agenda refers to the United Nations process that aims to define the future global development framework that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals which target eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing global partnership for development.
Noting that the matter is currently being surveyed in various forums across the world, Falahati said, "Even non-government organizations in the US are trying to get lawmakers to assign a section of the agenda to this important concern."
"The process of devising the agenda in 17 articles is drawing to a close and is projected to be finalized by September to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the United Nations establishment."
Pointing out that article 5 of the previous agenda emphasized gender equality and empowering women, Falahati said criticisms regarding the unfulfilled provisions were taken into account when working out the present agenda.
"A number of problems were not entirely acknowledged and global concerns were scaled down to regional issues, but more attention has been given to such concerns in the post-2015 agenda." Environmental problems, poverty and feminization of poverty are also key areas of focus.
Experts say the post-2015 dialogue is an opportunity to develop a practical agenda to ensure that the principle of 'leaving no one behind' translates into delivering essential services to those in poverty.
The agenda will be adopted by member states at the UN Sustainable Development Summit from September 25-27 in New York.