Families are far too diverse and dynamic to be pigeon-holed or strictly defined.
The traditional observance of 15 May as the International Day of Families focuses on this fundamental unit of social cohesion and coexistence. A strong family structure is conducive to the well-being of its members and of society at large. It is within the family that children can learn positive values that will guide them for the rest of their lives, and it is within the family that people can learn key lessons about equality, tolerance and shared responsibility. While families are engines of development, they are also its beneficiaries. Where development is slow or absent, a family's ability to meet the needs of its members will be impaired.