Family Values Development forum
The Family Values Development forum seeks to address issues causing breakdowns in Mongolian families. Severe problems such as divorce, a lack of supervision of children, poverty, deprivation, abuse and violence in the home impact families across the country. They are often caused by rapid urbanisation, overcrowded living conditions and increasing economic pressures on families.
World Vision International Mongolia has organised the 'Parents’ Forum' over the last six years to encourage parents to participate in government decisions that affect them, and to take responsibility in the family environment.
This year's nation-wide event on 13th and 14th October was organised by World Vision and the government's Ministry of Population Development and Social Protection. This year's aim was highly practical: engage families to revise key laws that affect them. These include the Child Protection Law, Family Law and the Population Development Core Policy, which all protect children's rights and support family stability. The laws have the potential to impact all of Mongolia's 760,000 households.
Over 800 representatives from all of Mongolia's 21 provinces and 9 districts of Ulaanbaatar took part. As the event targeted families, 70 percent of participants were married couples.
Initially, participants brainstormed ideas in working groups across the capital city, at the State Education University of Mongolia - Teachers College, the Mongolian Youth Alliance, the Children’s Book Palace and the Children’s Palace. Families discussed highly relevant topics such as how government and non-government organisations could support family units across the nation, and the vital role and participation of elders and youth. The key issues of child rights and participation were highlighted.
Tsendkhuu, a herdsman from Duut village, Khovd province, shares, “We are herders. Our children study in the village and we have to take of our animals in the countryside. It is difficult to take care of our children and to create a warm family environment. We are very glad that normal families’ voices are being heard to make changes to Mongolian Family Law”.
When all participants gathered together at Government House to present the results of their discussions to the country's Governors, they heard brief speeches from the Minister of Population, Development and Social Protection Erdene Sodnomzundui, Consultant to the President of Mongolia Sosormaa Chuluunbaatar, Representative of United National Populations Fund (UNFPA) Naomi Kitahara, and Country Director of World Vision Mongolia Vincent Edwards.
Mr. Vincent Edwards addressed the crowd, “As a child-focused international organisation, whose vision is life in all its fullness, we believe that the core of wellbeing of children is through their families and communities where children live and enjoy love and protection...I see important elements of our vision being realised through the Mongolian government’s undertaking to re-visit Family Law and to make relevant amendments.”
The forum was closed with a speech from the Head of the government's National Authority for Children, Narantuya Ishbadam, who presented pertinent suggestions from the event's discussions.
Written by: Togtokhbayar. D /Communications specialist/
Delgermaa. S /Communications specialist/