The family is 'the vital nutrient' in our societies, the speaker of Italy's Senate upper house of parliament, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, said on Tuesday - the International Day of Families.
"The family is the vital nutrient of society which teaches us from infancy the ties of solidarity and love," Alberti Casellati said in a statement.
Alberti Casellati, a member of the conservative Forza Italia party, said she hoped Italy's institutions "at all levels" would implement concrete measures to help families.
"International Day of Families is more than just a celebration. It is about believing in families as a driving force for building the common good," she said.