All involved in creating optimal environment for families: S Iswaran

SINGAPORE: Creating an optimal environment for families to grow requires everyone’s effort, says Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran.

It involves not only the government, but also academia, professionals and families.

Mr Iswaran, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office as well as Trade and Industry Minister, was speaking at the opening of a regional family symposium in Singapore on Tuesday.

He added families are being re—shaped by several factors —— globalisation, demographic shifts, income disparity and evolving attitudes towards marriage and parenthood.

More than 350 participants from around the region are attending the three—day symposium.

One of the research topics shared on Tuesday was how couples from various parts of Asia negotiate their differences.

Mr Iswaran said: "Strong families, I think we all are convinced, are the bedrock of a resilient society.

"So it is particularly important for the well—being of a society that we, as a region, as different societies with some common attributes, come together to contemplate how we can overcome the challenges posed to family development."

Mr Iswaran also said that the symposium is timely, especially as Singapore is engaging in a National Conversation. He added that the symposium is an excellent platform to exchange views and ideas, especially those relating to issues on the family.

National Council of Social Services’ CEO, Ang Bee Lian, said: "The Singapore conversation is about many things but core to the National Conversation...is really about our family...the home being our base, the home being our social capital, the home being where we find love, comfort and strength. So the conference has many of these issues, which could feed into the National Conversation."

— CNA/lp