Madam Chair,

1. I have the honour to introduce, on behalf of the G77 and China, the draft resolution on Family: Policies, Issues and Programmes and preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in document E/CN.5/2013/L.3, rev2 under agenda item 3(b).

2. The Group of 77 would like to express its profound gratitude to all our delegations and partners for their constructive contributions to this draft resolution, and to the Delegation of Qatar who, for the last ten years, have used their expertise to effectively facilitate the deliberations of this draft resolution on behalf of the Group.

Madam Chair,

3. In introducing this resolution, the Group reaffirms its position to highlight that, family is the fundamental group of our society that has the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of a child. This primary responsibility should be acknowledged and safeguarded.
   
4. This resolution is based on last year's ECOSOC Resolution 2012/10 on the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family upon the recommendation of the Commission for Social Development and from Resolution 67/142. The Group would like to highlight that the two resolutions were both based on the G77 text. The Group have also included some of the recommendations contained in the Secretary General's report, where appropriate.

Madam Chair,

5. In closing, the Group of 77 would like to express its appreciation for the spirit of cooperation and collaboration shown by all partners during the informal consultations which enabled us to agree upon important issues addressed by this resolution.

6. This draft resolution reflects the established positions of the Group with the inclusion of concerns of other groups and partners. The G77 looks forward to its adoption by consensus once again.

I thank you.