The International Day of Families is observed on 15th of May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 and     reflects the importance the international community attaches to families.  The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of   issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. 

   In the frame of this day variation of activities are organized in different regions of Republic of Azerbaijan including workshops and conferences,     radio and television programs, newspaper articles as well as cultural programs relevant to their themes.

The  State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs annually prepares an action plan of activities across the country in connection with this date. All  regions are hosting contests to select the  families in such nominations as "National Cuisine", "Skilful Hands", and "Our Talents".The wedding of a young family and a "diamond wedding" are part of the activities.These activities are slated to protect national values, properly nurture the new generation and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

This year’s International Day of Families dedicated to 100 anniversary of women’s vote was held in Guba on 23th of May. Selected families from the all regions of Azerbaijan participated in the holiday event. The competitions focused on following nominations: “Skilful hands”, “National cuisine”, “Family model”, “Intellectual game” and “Talented family” had been organized in the frame of this day. The traditional ceremony of “khnayakhdi”(the literal translation is “henna smearing”) and ceremony of marriage also took place during the holiday. At the end of the holiday the winners of the competitions were awarded by diplomas and gifts by the Committee.

The event was opened by the Head of the Executive Power of Guba Mr. Ziyaddin Aliyev, who welcomed all guests and underlined the importance of the event. Then the floor was given to the Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Mrs. Hijran Huseynova, who informed the participants about the state family policy and the work had been implementing in this direction. Then the floor was given to the adviser of the Azerbaijani Representative Office of the UN Population Fund Mr. Farid Babayev and the head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) office in our country Mr. Edward Karvardin.