The document discusses Uganda's commemoration of International Day of Families on May 15th, 2013. The theme is "Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity", focusing on the role of families in promoting social integration in Uganda. The government has established laws, policies, and programs to protect vulnerable groups and advance social inclusion. Events are planned around the country, including a main event at the National Theatre, to increase awareness of the theme and importance of families.

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THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES: 15th
MAY, 2013
A SYNOPSIS
1.0 Background
The United Nations, through its resolution 47/237 on September 20, 1993 proclaimed
the year 1994 the International Year of Families. Ever since then, May 15th
was
dedicated as the annual observance day for families worldwide.
The International Day of Families (IDF) is intended to bring out the importance of
families “as the smallest units of society where all development starts. It provides a
chance for governments, organisations and individuals to carefully consider their quality
of life and relationships enjoyed in their home.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is mandated to strengthen the
social transformation of communities through preservation, promotion and development
of cultural and family values. In this year’s IDF commemoration, the Ministry will create
awareness of the role of families in advancing social cohesion. This will enable
communities to work towards creating a “stable, safe, just and tolerant people,
respectful diversity, equality of opportunities and participation of all people” as they
advance social integration and intergenerational solidarity.
2.0 Theme:
The global theme for IDF 2013 is “Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational
Solidarity. Uganda is “Social Integration: The Role of Families”.

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Over the years, the day has been celebrated under different global themes, they
include; Ensuring work family balance in 2012; Confronting Family Poverty and Social
Exclusion in 2011; The impact of migration on families around the world in 2010;
Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World in 2009; Fathers and Families:
Responsibilities and Challenges in 2008; Families and Persons with Disabilities in 2007;
and Changing Families: Challenges and Opportunities in 2006, to mention a few. In
Uganda, the IDF has been celebrated since 1994 under various themes including
“Commitment to Family and Work: A basis for socio-economic development in 2012 and
“the impact of migration on families in Uganda in 2010.
3.0The Concept of Social integration
Social integration is a movement aimed at creating a society that takes care of the
needs of minority groups such as ethnic minorities, refuges and marginalized groups
e.g. children, persons living with disability and women. Its objective is to influence
societies to provide full access to opportunities, rights and services available to the
other privileged persons of the society to the marginalised.
The goal of social integration is to create a society for all by “bringing all social groups,
particularly the vulnerable groups and individuals into the political, social, cultural and
economic structures of a society so that they can participate in the decision-making
process and improve their access to opportunities” (The World Summit for Social
Development, Copenhagen, 1995). Social integration movement promotes transparency
in all society’s various works, mainstreaming a stable community and mainstreaming
the rights and opportunities for the vulnerable people and communities.
3.1 Functions of Social Integration
i) Social Integration informs minority groups of opportunities, rights and services
available to the members of the mainstream of society.
ii) Social integration attempts to reduce the widening gap between the rich and the
poor or disadvantaged.

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iii) Social Integration opens opportunities for teaming, adaption and development of
competencies, or jointly development of new products
iv) Social integration spreads out the cost of product development and risks
associated with commercial acceptance and size of market share.
v) Social Integration provided a cost effective way of resolving potential conflicts in
communities and making trade-offs in case of businesses.
vi) Social integration contributes to effective implementation of policy and service
delivery through synergizing.
In 2013, the International Day of Families would like to challenge Ugandans to examine
the role of the family in advancing social integration.
3.2 The Government interventions in advancing social integration
In Uganda, the social support mechanisms were stronger when the extended family
system was fully functional but there is a steady social disintegration that has created
negative impact on the family. The burden placed on the individual continues to
increase; these challenges and the increased trends towards individualism have
enlarged the social divide thus increasing the level of vulnerability among the people.
Social integration should be promoted at the individual, family, community, and national
level. In Uganda, the family continues to play a major role in ensuring that its vulnerable
members are not abandoned. Support is given in financial, care, emotional support
despite the age of the vulnerable people. The Government of Uganda has also put in
place systems that advance social integration in order to protect the rights of the
minority groups. They include,
i) National laws
In Uganda, the statutes and legislations aimed at strengthening the family relationships
are in place, they include;
• The Children’s Act 2000, the Local Government Act 1996, Cap 59 stipulates
rights, duties and responsibilities of the State, parents, children and guardians.

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The Act obliges local authorities to support and monitor the survival,
development, protection and participation of children in the community and
establishes Family and Children’s Courts
• The Domestic Violence Act 3 (2010 criminalizing violence in a domestic setting
• The Marriage Act and Kadi Courts of Law
• Female Genital Mutilation Law 2000 and its the regulations
• The Local Government 1997 Schedule 2 mandates the local administration to
provide services to children within their areas of jurisdiction without
discrimination.
• The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (2010); which provides for the
criminalization, prevention, prosecution and protection and assistance to victims
of trafficking.
• The Employment Act (2006); which promotes equality of opportunity, it sets out
to eliminate discrimination in employment and provides for equal work.
ii) Policies that promote social integration;
• The National Policy for Older Persons (2009),
• The National Population for Social Transformation and Sustainable Development
(2008),
• The Children Labour Policy (2007),
• The National Gender Policy (2007),
• The National Policy on Disability (2006),
• The Uganda National Culture Policy (2006),
• The National Policy on Disability (2006),
• The Orphans and other Vulnerable Children’s Policy (2004); and
• Youth Policy (2000)
All these policies guide on strengthening social relationships.
iii) Other government departments have programs that promote social integration;

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• The Judiciary provides for the first administration of justice to children and
members of the community e.g. Family and Children Court and Family and Child
Protection units in the police.
• The Disability Council,
• The Equal Opportunities Commission Act (2007) which provides a legal basis to
challenge laws, policies, customs and traditions that discriminate against women
• The establishment of safety centres.
• Probation and Social Welfare Officers at the district Local government, a
structure put in place to handle issues of rights and welfare of people
• The plan for the modernisation of agriculture with the objective of increasing
household incomes and the Functional Adult literacy to empower the house.
4.0 Objectives of the International Day of Families 2013.
4.1Main Objective
To advance social integration in Uganda.
4.2 Specific Objectives
1. To create awareness on the role of family in advancing social integration
2. To highlight challenges families face in advancing social integration
3. To identify ways that can advance social integration
5.0 Observance of the International Day of Families 2013
A number of activities shall take place;
5.1Media promotion of the theme:
A radio talk show expounding on the role of families in advancing social integration.
5.2Commemoration through teaching at different worship places on the
national theme of IDF 2013;
Six (6) workshops on the national theme shall be held in different worship centres. All
religious places of worship in Uganda shall prayers for the family in the month of May

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but special emphasis shall be put on Friday 9th May, 2013 for the Moslems, Saturday
May 10th
, 2013 for the Seventh-day Adventists and Sunday May 11th, 2013 for all the
Christians. All Religious programming will be carried out in conjunction with the Inter-
Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU).
5.3Discussions of the national theme at 10 academic institutions;
In order to involve the children and students, ten (10) schools will be identified to
discuss the role of families in social integration. They will include 3 primary schools
(Mugwanya Preparatory School - Kabojja, Ntinda Primary School and Ntinda School for
the Deaf), 3 secondary schools (Bethany High School, Ntinda View College, and
Wakiiso Moslem School) and 4 universities of Makerere University, Kampala University,
Mukono University and Bugema University.
5.4Observance of the IDF at the Local Government
Each Local Government shall be urged to organize events to observe the International
Day of Families. Activities could include awareness campaigns on the national theme at
the community level.
6.0 The D-Day
The MGLSD intends to invite 600 participants to the commemoration of the IDF; these
include Students, Pupils, Teachers, Members of Parliament, Civil Servants, and the
general public. The Venue shall be the Upper Gardens of the National Theatre starting
at 9:00am and ending at 1:00pm.
The Chief Guest is expected to be the Hon Justice Edmund Lugayizi, Head of Family
Division of the Uganda High Court.

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7.0 Proposed Program for the Commemoration of the International Day of
Families at The National Theatre
Time Activity Responsible Person
9:00 am Arrival and Registration MGLSD
9:30am Arrival Guest of Honour MGLSD
9:45 am Welcome remarks UNCC
10:00 am Presentation of a paper on Social Integration:
The Role of Families in Uganda
Family support Uganda
10: 15 am Entertainment School
10: 30 am Presentation by various Groups
- Ntinda School for the Deaf
- Write up by Bethany High School Student
- Findings on the National theme
11:00 am Entertainment School
11:15 am Speech by Hon. Minister MGLSD
11:35 am Speech by the Guest of Honour Guest of Honour
12:30 pm Entertainment School
12: 45pm Closing Remarks MGLSD
1:00pm DEPARTURE