Declaration of parliamentarians at the occasion of
the International family day (15 May 2007) and at the
occasion of the Warsaw interparliamentarian forum
(12 Mai 2007) accompanying the World Congress of Families IV

- Considering that the family, based on marriage between a man and a woman, is the fundamental unit of society, which nurtures life and development of men and women, constituting the essential element of social, economic and cultural development of each society,
- Considering the following international legal tools which guarantee the defense of Human rights and fundamental freedoms, mainly:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and mainly articles 3 (right to life), 16 (right to marry and right to found a family), 18 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion), 25 (right to social services for mother and child) and 26 (parents’right to educate their children) ;

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which reinforces the Universal declaration of Human rights principles giving them an international legally binding force

The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Rome, 4.XI.1950) and mors specifically article 2 (right to life), 8 (Right to respect for private and family life), 9 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion ) and 12 (right to marry), as well as additionnal protocol 14 ;

The Convention on the Rghts of the Child, which request special legal protection for the child (before and after birth) and which asks all authorities to consider the best interests of the child as a primary consideration, in all decisions and actions concerning childreN (considerings and articles 6, 9, 11);

The European Social Charter (revised),

- Considering the Doha declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly on 6th December 2004, at the occasion of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the international year of the family, as well as the european parliamentarians’ declaration (28/10/2004), at the same occasion,
- Considering the exploratory opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee « The family and demographic change » adopted in Brussels, on the 14th March 2007, we, parliamentarians from many countries, gathered in the Senate of the Republic of Poland, on Saturday 12 May 2007, ask our governments to fully implement the abovementionned legal instruments. We also ask them to analyse, mainstream and implement all policies and actions requested to serve the good management, developpement and promotion of the family.