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ENB:06:39 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

V. THE FAMILY, ITS ROLES, RIGHTS, COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE

This chapter contains two sections: diversity of family structures and composition; and socio-economic support to the family. A potential problem with the definition of the "family" in paragraph 5.1 at PrepCom III was solved when delegates agreed to use the language in the UN General Assembly resolution on the International Year of the Family: "While various concepts of the family exist in different social, cultural, legal and political systems, the family is the basic unit of society and, as such, is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support." This unbracketed text was reopened after Iran requested that "concepts of the family" be replaced with "forms of the family." Likewise, Egypt, Pakistan and Morocco had difficulties with the reference to "other unions" in paragraph 5.5 on the elimination of coercion and discrimination. In both cases the Chair had argued that this was unbracketed text and could not be reopened, but there was such disagreement that a small working group was convened and the following two amendments were adopted: in the first sentence of paragraph 5.1, the word "concepts" was replaced by the word "forms," and in the first sentence of paragraph 5.5, the words "related to marriage, other unions and the family" were deleted, so the sentence now reads: "Governments should take effective action to eliminate all forms of coercion and discrimination in policies and practices."