Hundreds of government and private officials from around the world are descending on Salt Lake City this week as part of a much-needed United Nations effort to focus on problems of the family.
The global four-day conference is the first of its kind, bringing together public and private interests worried about family values. Those attending include mayors and other government leaders, business executives and officials of international groups. The meeting is one of the culminating events of the U.N.-sponsored Year of the Family.Participants will share their knowledge and experiences of successful ways to strengthen families. Far-ranging subjects to be studied in workshops deal with such things as health, nutrition, literacy, gangs, family violence, education, jobs, single-parent families and relationships, among many topics.
The star-studded program includes such guest speakers as the secretary-general of the United Nations; the mayor of war-ravaged Sarajevo in Bosnia; the president of Nicaragua; the crown princess of Jordan; big company CEOs; Olympic athletes; religious leaders; and national representatives of U.S. cities and counties.
Clearly, it is a great honor for Salt Lake City to be chosen as the site for such a prestigious gathering. The conference director of the International Year of the Family is Michael Stewart, a former Salt Lake County commissioner.
To be effective, the conference must produce more than just talk. U.N. officials would like to see it develop a network of practical support that organizations can use for years to come. That won't be easy. But the attempt needs to be made. The family is the basic unit of society. That is true in every culture. Unfortunately, the family is in trouble in almost every culture.
The consequences of family failure - divorce, crime, poverty, one-parent homes, abuse, drugs and loss of hope - can hurt everyone. Those who don't suffer directly pay a price indirectly in the form of higher taxes for welfare and various other government programs.
We welcome delegates to Salt Lake City and to their demanding task of trying to generate a new sense of commitment and a shared effort to repair the torn fabric of family life.