Council of Europe Conference of
Ministers responsible for Family Affairs



“Public Policies Supporting the Wish to Have Children: Societal, Economic and Personal Factors”

16-17 June 2009, Vienna (Austria)
 

The ministers responsible for family affairs of the Council of Europe member states will meet in Vienna on 16 and 17 June 2009 to discuss the topic “Public Policies Supporting the Wish to Have Children: Societal, Economic and Personal Factors”. This event marks the 50th anniversary of this conference, which was held for the first time in 1959, also in Vienna.
There is evidence to show that many people in Europe who wish to have children are postponing, limiting or failing to fulfil this wish because of unfavourable social, economic or other circumstances. Ministers gathering at this conference will discuss what family policy can do to support people who wish to have children through creating more child- and family-friendly societies.
The Council of Europe has a strong record in promoting good family policies, based on the principle of human rights, and particularly on children’s rights and gender equality.