Introducing the FFGE – For Families Group Europe
The FFGE (For Families Group Europe) is a network of European organizations with UN ECOSOC consultative status, dedicated to supporting families in all their forms. Our mission is to advocate for family-related issues at the United Nations and other international platforms, while fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing on family policy, social roles, and intergenerational relationships
Our Mission and Core Values
We believe that families are the foundation of society, and we are committed to supporting well-functioning, inclusive, and caring families. Our goal is to promote a healthy work-life balance, strengthen intergenerational relationships, and advocate for positive parenting/parenting education. We also emphasize the importance of social inclusion, particularly for families in vulnerable situations and minorities.
Key Focus Areas
- Ensuring a nurturing environment for children, where they can grow up in healthy, safe, loving families.
- Promoting work-life balance, supporting family-friendly workplaces, and working arrangements for both women and men.
- Strengthening families, especially the most vulnerable (e.g., large families, single-parent families), promoting intergenerational cooperation, solidarity, and knowledge transfer.
- Providing support for parents in education, child-rearing, and mental health and well-being, recognizing that families deserve support to be able to provide for a healthy and nurturing environment for the upbringing of children.
- Advocating for public engagement in the provision of the time, resources and services for parents and caregivers to be able to ensure healthy early childhood development, as well as adequate care and support for children.
- Advocating for healthy and supportive families to empower family members and achieve wider social and economic goals.
- Encouraging social inclusion, ensuring the representation of minorities and families in vulnerable situations.
- Nurturing the diverse European cultural heritage and related traditions, such as national and local celebrations, festivities and art that provide an opportunity for the strengthening of family bonds and fostering connections between families.
Alignment with the international conventions and the UN SDGs
Our work aligns closely with the relevant international and UN conventions that provide a stable and lasting foundation for our efforts:
- European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Our work is closely aligned also with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially:
- SDG 1 (No Poverty) – Supporting families in vulnerable situations to reduce poverty and social exclusion.
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) – Promoting mental well-being, positive parenting, and resources for healthy early childhood development, as well as care and support for children.
- SDG 4 (Quality Education) – Advocating for quality, inclusive and equitable education for children and life-long learning and catch-up education for parents.
- SDG 5 (Gender Equality) – Strengthening gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by promoting the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men within the household, as well as recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care and domestic work.
- SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) – Encouraging family-friendly workplace policies and working arrangements to support work-life balance.
- SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) – Fostering social inclusion, particularly for vulnerable families and national minorities.
- SDG 16 (Peace, Justice And Strong Institutions) – Advocating for policies that protect the rights and well-being of all family members, promote inclusive societies, and ensure equal access to justice for all.
Our Activities
The FFGE – For Families Group Europe is an active and committed community working to support families and strengthen their role in society. Our main activities include:
- Organizing joint UN initiatives, including statements, proposals, and policy recommendations.
- Promoting international dialogue on family-related societal challenges, such as demographic changes and parenting support.
- Facilitating knowledge-sharing among European organizations, exchanging best practices and experiences.
- Conducting research and analysis on family policies, gender roles, work-life balance, and intergenerational cooperation.
- Hosting conferences, events, and roundtable discussions to strengthen the relationship between families and society.
We emphasize the protection of the rich European culture and diverse national and local traditions and intangible cultural heritage, while actively supporting the representation of minorities and diverse social groups.
Our Work – Why Join the FFGE?
FFGE – A United Voice for European NGOs in the UN
The FFGE (For Families Group Europe) is a newly established European initiative bringing together NGOs with UN ECOSOC consultative status from across Europe. Our mission is to serve as a coordinated platform for dialogue and joint advocacy, ensuring that our members’ voices are heard in UN programs and international discussions.
Despite the importance of civil society engagement in the United Nations framework, many organizations face financial and logistical barriers to participating in ECOSOC and other UN events. The FFGE provides a collaborative solution, allowing NGOs to be represented in key discussions—even when they cannot attend in person. By joining forces, we ensure that our shared perspectives and priorities are consistently present at major international forums.
Key Objectives Of Our Work:
- Strengthening Representation: We ensure that European NGOs have an active and coordinated presence at UN events.
- Collective Advocacy: Through joint statements and initiatives, we amplify our impact on global decision-making.
- Strategic Coordination: We plan participation in key UN events, allowing for efficient representation and knowledge sharing.
- Inclusive Collaboration: Every member organization has an equal status, contributing to discussions and decision-making processes.
Planned Steps for Joint Work
- Introductory Meeting – We invite interested NGOs to an online briefing session to introduce the initiative and discuss the details of the joint work.
- Framework Development – Participating organizations work together to draft and adopt an Operational Regulation and an Action Plan, laying the foundation for structured cooperation.
- Annual Agenda Setting – Each year, we collectively determine the key UN programs where joint representation is most impactful.
- Participation Planning – Member organizations communicate their availability for in-person attendance at these events, allowing us to create a strategic representation plan.
- Policy Advocacy – The group collaboratively formulates statements and organizes events in alignment with the annual UN themes, ensuring that our perspectives are effectively communicated in global forums.
The FFGE aims to make its debut collective participation at the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025, marking a significant step in our advocacy efforts.
Leadership and Coordination
The FFGE is administratively coordinated by the Hungarian-based Parents’ House Public Benefit Foundation, in collaboration with HARO – Hemmaföräldrars Riksorganisation. Membership is open to any European NGO holding UN ECOSOC consultative status and committed to the group’s core values and mission.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
By becoming part of the FFGE, your organization will gain stronger representation, a collaborative network, and greater impact on global policymaking. Let’s work together to elevate civil society’s role in international decision-making.
For more information and to join our introductory session, please contact us at
info@ffgeurope.org or info@szulokhaza.hu
