The family is life!

By Indunil THENUWARA

A family is the most fundamental unit of society. Nuclear or extended, this basic component is the thread that holds the fabric of a community together, lending physical or mental support to each of its members. It's the most essential centre of society and provides a stable and safe sanctuary for people of all ages.

The increasing deterioration of societies all over the world that we have been witnessing of late is a result of the break-up of this basic unit. For society as we know it, to thrive, it's important that the sanctity of family is maintained.

It's to pay special attention to families and acknowledge the vital role that they play in life that the United Nations commemorates the International Day of Families every May 15.

The global observance celebrates the importance of the family unit to people, society and cultures around the world and focuses on continuing the work started during the International Year of Families in 1994. It gives an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to promote action in this regard.

This year's celebrations would take place on May 13 organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Department of Public Information with support from the UN Program on the Family and Division for Social Policy and Development.

In Sri Lanka too, the traditional family structure has come under intense pressure over the past few decades. According to Senior Professor of Sociology of the University of Colombo, S. T. Hettige, there are two primary reasons for these developments.

"Firstly, the socio-economic transformation brought about as a result of the introduction of the open economy in 1977. This increased the mobility of the people, particularly of women, both within and outside the island. Migration in search of greener pastures increased by leaps and bounds. The migration of women for employment, especially to the Middle East, has brought in its wake a heap of social problems with children from such families being severely affected.

"Secondly, the conflict which raged in the country for over three decades had a direct and indirect impact on the people from not just the theatres of war in the North and the East, but throughout the country. Soldiers from all areas of the island lost their lives and limbs in the war while thousands were killed or maimed in bomb explosions and other terrorist attacks elsewhere in the country. Naturally, such tragedies placed immense pressure on families," he said.

He cited natural disasters such as the 2004 tsunami as other major events affecting the family in Sri Lanka. "Disasters have robbed the lives of thousands of people over the years, leading to many broken and disorganised families."

Special significance

Prof. Hettige's words seem to have special significance with this year's International Day for Families being conducted on the theme 'The impact of migration on families around the world'. Vast populations migrating due to economic, social and demographic disparities among countries and even between different regions in the same country has increased over the years. Some have also been driven out by climate and environmental conditions. International migration has doubled since the 1960s, reaching 214 million while internal migration has crossed the 740 million mark. Besides the migrants themselves, this phenomenon has affected other members of their families and communities.

The adverse effects of migration have been more pronounced in the case of the migration of women especially mothers. Globally, female migrants have remained constant at 49 percent since the 1990s although more women may migrate independently or leave as the primary migrant. In such families, those left behind, especially children, may face loneliness, psychological problems such as depression and even physical and sexual abuse in the hands of their guardians. The break-up of families is not unheard of in such instances.

During periods of economic or political strife, migrants are more vulnerable than the native communities. They are low paid, in high-risk employment involving hard work and are abused and discriminated. Refugees and Internally Displaced People are even more at risk with the separation of such families, hardship and neglect being quite common among such communities.

Despite the possible negative consequences of migration, it has a plus side too, mainly in relation to the economic well-being of the concerned families. With remittances from abroad, these families can improve in terms of economy, health, education and basic livelihood and lifestyle and also in gender empowerment. Providing a boost to the local and national economy is another factor.

The authorities should introduce mechanisms where the interests of such migrants and their dependents are safeguarded. Children especially should be supported on their physical and emotional needs through special counselling, school activities and house visits. The host countries should also be open to migrants' safety and welfare. These are some of the issues that could be highlighted on this Day.

According to Prof. Hettige, issues related to the family in Sri Lanka should be dealt within a systematic manner. The State should take the lead in this regard with a proper policy framework with the support of all ministries, other organisations and society.

Policy framework

"An overall policy framework should be drawn up where the whole family is considered as a target group. Vulnerable members within a family should be given support. The family is the most important unit in any society, but it's more so in developing countries. Special attention should be paid to the needs of children and families which are headed by women," he said.

He explained the need for mechanisms to be introduced to strengthen and empower families. "It's time that families are taken seriously and measures to strengthen the family structure introduced without merely paying lip service to these issues. We should not confine ourselves to the usual rhetoric which are part and parcel of such special days, but take concrete action which can really make a difference," he said.