World Congress of Families
Encyclopedia
The World Congress of Families is a worldwide conservative-religious coalition that purports to "stand up for the position of the traditional family, in a time of eroding family life and declining appreciation for families in general".
Dr. Allan Carlson
, President of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society
(USA), initiated the congress on the basis of article 16c of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
, saying: "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state".
Since 1997 the WCF has been held four times starting in Prague
with 700 visitors, followed by Geneva
with 1600 visitors, Mexico City
with 3300 visitors and Warsaw
with 3900 visitors. From more than fifty different countries worldwide academics, researchers, religious leaders, business people, politicians, journalists and civilians attend the congress.
The meeting in Warsaw
in May 2007 was to be addressed by Ellen Sauerbrey
, at the time head of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
, which provoked a letter from 19 Members of the European Parliament
demanding that she should not go. The fifth World Congress of Families will take place in Amsterdam
August 10-12, 2009. The organization also helps organize the World Meeting of Families.
Dr. Allan Carlson
Allan C. Carlson
Allan C. Carlson is a scholar and professor of history at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. He is the president of the Howard Center, a director of the Family in America Studies Center, the International Secretary of the World Congress of Families and editor of the Family in America...
, President of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society
Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society
The Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society is an organizations that promotes research that attempts to demonstrate the alleged importance of a mother and father with a family consisting of their own biological children as the basic unit of society....
(USA), initiated the congress on the basis of article 16c of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
, saying: "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state".
Since 1997 the WCF has been held four times starting in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
with 700 visitors, followed by Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
with 1600 visitors, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
with 3300 visitors and Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
with 3900 visitors. From more than fifty different countries worldwide academics, researchers, religious leaders, business people, politicians, journalists and civilians attend the congress.
The meeting in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in May 2007 was to be addressed by Ellen Sauerbrey
Ellen Sauerbrey
Ellen Sauerbrey is an American politician from Maryland and the former head of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. She was nominated to the Bureau in September 2005 by President George W. Bush. On January 4, 2006, Bush placed her in office by way...
, at the time head of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration is a bureau within the United States Department of State.It has primary responsibility for formulating policies on population, refugees, and migration, and for administering U.S. refugee assistance and admissions programs. The Bureau is headed by...
, which provoked a letter from 19 Members of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
demanding that she should not go. The fifth World Congress of Families will take place in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
August 10-12, 2009. The organization also helps organize the World Meeting of Families.