The National Research Institute

1. Population & Sustainable Development Seminar The National Research Institute

2. Sustaining Family Valuesby Michael Unage

3. Order of Presentation • Introduction • Basic Postulation • Searching Question • Value Consideration • Value Distortion • Challenge to Family values • Key notion (Marriage, Parenthood & Family) • Policy Discussion • Summary: Realignment of Family Values

4. Introduction • Family is the basic unit in society - domestic society • A Fundament human institute governed by socio-cultural norms. • Marriage norms protect and sustain this fundament institution

5. Basic Postulate Family values are necessary for sustaining this basic loving, caring and sharing bond that existed from time immemorial.

6. Searching Question Is it possible to sustain family cohesion without relying on a set of given values system? Negative

7. Value Consideration • Values cannot be equated with personal choices. • It is a shared conviction of a group regarding what direction to take and the goal to be achieved that gives meaning, purpose, security and fulfillment in life. • Values are informed by basic principles. • Values without proper alignment determined by specific principles lead to distortions. • Basic principles derive from the wisdom of tradition and the Christian teaching

8. Values Distortion • Liberal ideologies – Laik bilong wan wan • Moral relativism – Tanim plet (Sexual revolution)

9. Challenges to Family Values • Domestic Violence • Adultery • Polygamy • Divorce • Prostitution • Same Sex Marriage • Cohabitation • Bride Price • Gender Biases

10. Definition of Key Concepts • Marriage It is a contractual union of a man and a woman and involves sexual privilege, economic cooperation, cohabitation, the production of children, and responsibility for the children’s care, socialization, and education (Goodenough, 1970: 4). • Parenthood According to Article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, “parents have common primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child. The best interest of the child will be their basic concern. The state shall provide appropriate assistance to parents in child-raising.” • Family Family is the community of parents and children. As the font of new human life, it is the normal, if not the only centre in which the human person can develop bodily and spiritually in a healthy fashion.

11. Policy Discussion Social Development Policy • The social development policy emphasis the importance of the family as the foundation for social development PNG Vision 2050 • the PNG vision 2050 sees family as a locus for cultivating good values and ethics Integrated Community Development Policy (ICDP) • Integrated Community Development Policy underscore the necessity of improving welfare and quality of family life Kumul 2020 Document • Kumul 2020 discusses basic principles and values of family life

12. Summary The Family: • Sustains human love and emotional bonding. • Gives each an identity and name; • Is the place where one finds acceptance and experience a sense of belonging; • Provides learning, nourishment and enrichment; • Is recognized as the cradle of future generations; and • Becomes the fundamental building block of society

13. One’s longings for communication, friendship, beauty, play and recreation find their primordial source of fulfillment in the circle of parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives. Many of the finest values of culture and civilization received the first seed and development in its midst.

14. Tenkyu Olgeta