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MICHAEL D. HIGGINS, PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
It is indeed a high honour and a pleasure to support this excellent publication.
The foundational themes that animate UN DESA’s work resonate very strongly with my presidency here
in Ireland. I came to office at a time when faith in public institutions had been seriously eroded. I am certain
that recovery in Ireland and elsewhere is based not merely on sound economic discipline, but on a renewed
sense of hope as well as a deep appreciation of the value of our social existence. We used to talk about the
social dimension to the market. Now much more is needed. We need to truly understand and appreciate the
value of the social sphere in its own right, and we need to understand and appreciate the family as a bedrock
institution that enables a democratic ethos.
Despite the rhetoric of excessive individualism, the truth is that our personhood is shared. It is this
intersubjectivity that makes us human. Support we give and receive in intimate family relationships makes
us who we are. The ethic of civic virtue – seeing something beyond ourselves and a willingness to contribute
– stems from the foundation we receive in the nurturing environment of the family. The ethic of civic
engagement – a willingness to engage with and help others as well as contribute to our democratic society
– depends on the ethics embedded in family life. Indeed, the reflex for tolerance, respect for the other and
human rights depends in no small part on the quality of family life.
It is clear that we all have a stake in ensuring that the family receives the support it needs to continue to
flourish as an island of repose and nurturing, and as a bedrock in our democratic societies. As we move
forward into the twenty-first century it seems plain that we need to adopt life-course perspectives on the family
to ensure that today’s children continue to be valued throughout their lives.
Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family,
Family Futures
brings
together the experience, good practice, observations and endeavours of policymakers, agencies and academics
working with families across the world. This publication provides an invaluable resource for those looking to
address today’s challenges and support the families and societies of tomorrow.
Michael D. Higgins
President of Ireland