Single Parents’ Centre invited to the UN
The Single Parents’ Centre presented itself at a packed event in the Headquarters of the UN in New York. Anna Nagy, head of the Single Parent Families’ Foundation which operates the Single Parents’ Centre in Budapest, gave a presentation during the two-week session of the world organisation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
Anna Nagy emphasised why it was so important to talk about the issue in the UN and at a global level. “In Hungary today,” she said, “more than 500,000 children grow up in single parent families, while one of the parents is absent in 15% of families in the European Union. The situation is no better in the United States, where more than 20 million children are affected and that figure is about 320 million in the world.”
Yet besides the data, Anna Nagy also regards it important to show individuals, decision makers in business and NGOs what they can do to make the situation of single parent families easier.
“It is essential that we have been able to present not just the Hungarian situation but the general issue of single parent families to the UN, since it increasingly affects not only Hungary but the whole world,” she added.
The Commission on the Status of Women is the UN’s largest entity examining gender equality and women’s rights where member states, NGOs and international players discuss the necessary measures. The 63rd session of the Commission is being held between the 11th and 22nd March, focusing on the role of social protection systems and the promotion of women’s rights.
Following the presentation, an exhibition was opened at the Permanent Mission of Hungary to the United Nations where information can be gained not only about the history of the Single Parent’s Centre but also about the situation of single parent families.