The primary activities of the Focal Point on the Family are to:  

provide substantive servicing in the areas of family and family policy to United Nations intergovernmental bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council;

promote the realization of the objectives of the International Year of the Family;

promote the integration of a family perspective into policy-making at the national, regional and international levels;

exchange expertise and experiences, disseminate information and support networking on family issues;

support family research and diagnostic studies;

encourage and support coordination on family policies and programmes within national governments and within the United Nations system;

provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to developing country Governments, at their request, in the area of the family; and

liaise and dialogue with Governments, civil society and the private sector on family issues.