TEHRAN – Celebrated annually on May 15, the International Day of Family provides an opportunity to reflect on social, economic, and demographic changes that affect the structure and stability of families.

This year, the day aims to raise awareness of how climate change impacts families and the role families can play in climate action.

Climate change negatively impacts the health and well-being of families through increased pollution, while extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods, often lead to forced displacement and loss of livelihoods for families and individuals.

Such events impact agricultural productivity and access to water, intensifying hunger and vulnerability.

They cause economic disruption in industries sensitive to climate impacts such as agriculture and fisheries.

Empowering families through education, changing consumption habits, and advocacy is critical for meaningful and effective climate action. 

Through family and community initiatives, we can foster climate action with education, access to information, training, and community participation.

Families pass values across generations, so instilling sustainable habits and climate awareness in families from an early age is important.

Integrating circular economy principles into early childhood education can help build a sustainable economic model based on minimizing waste and regenerating natural resources. Families as consumers and advocates can drive the transition to a circular economy.

Law on Family and Youth Support

President Ebrahim Raisi has urged all responsible bodies and organizations to adopt national policies in line with the goal of population growth.

All the institutions and organizations of the country are obliged to prepare their plans and programs within the framework of the population growth policy and follow up on their implementation seriously, he said, IRIB reported.

He referred to "population" as one of the important and key points in the 7th national development plan (2023-2027).

Multiple measures are forecast to be implemented in the seventh national development plan (2023-2027)  to strengthen the pillars of family and remove obstacles to the growth and prosperity of women.

"Increasing the birth rate to at least 2.5 within five years with comprehensive support for childbearing and providing incentives” are other objectives of the plan.

In this regard, "promoting the correct pattern of choosing a spouse and encouraging timely, easy and sustainable marriage", "boosting non-governmental organizations supporting women and children", "improving women's abilities and job skills" and "increasing the fertility rate" are prioritized.

Each of the executive bodies in charge of women and families has duties to achieve the mentioned four goals.

Presidential office 

The presidential office for women and family affairs is obliged, in cooperation with other executive bodies, to review and analyze the laws and regulations in order to support families and remove obstacles to the growth and prosperity of women.

It is also tasked with proposing amendments to laws and regulations that contradict the population growth policies in cooperation with the presidential office for legal affairs not later than the end of the first year of the plan.

Interior ministry

The Ministry of Interior is obliged to prepare and develop a comprehensive plan for the empowerment of women heads of households in cooperation with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare within six months of the promulgation of the law.

Labor ministry

The Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare is obliged to formulate the women's employment program, respecting the role of women in the family, by determining the duties and functions of each of the executive bodies not later than the end of the first year of the plan.

Health ministry

The Ministry of Health is obliged to provide the necessary support in relation to the Law on Family and Youth Protection, including regarding the scientific methods of embryo and egg preservation.

National Headquarters for Population

The National Headquarters for Population is obliged to implement the necessary measures toward the annual growth of marriages and births, the annual reduction of abortion and infertility, the reduction of the average age of marriage, the reduction of the interval between the births of children, and the management of migration.

Considering the negative consequences of population decline in the lives of families and the negative effects of aging and population aging in the coming years, necessary measures should be taken to promote the culture and improve people's attitudes towards having children.