The International Day of Families is celebrated every 15th of May. The celebration is not only a global initiative, it is also a manifestation of the nation's ongoing commitment in strengthening the family institution as the foundation of the people's well-being. It is also in-line with the country's commitment as an ASEAN Member state, through the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the Importance of the Family for Community Development and Nation-Building 2021. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports said this year's celebration theme, 'Families, Inequalities and Child Well-Being', highlights the increasingly evident global challenges, particularly social inequalities and economic pressures that affect family stability, such as economic insecurity, the rising cost of living, and disparities in access to education, healthcare services and life opportunities. Hence, strengthening the family institution must be viewed as a long-term investment in the nation's human capital development.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Awang Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, in a message in conjunction with the International Day of Families 2026, stressed that in Brunei Darussalam, through the implementation of various initiatives, family intervention approaches in the country have become increasingly comprehensive, strategic and focused on restoring and strengthening family resilience. Based on family cases referred to the Family Unit at the Department of Community Development from 2000 to 2025, a 58 per cent decrease has been recorded in 2025 compared to the previous year, from 62 cases to 26 cases. This development reflects the effectiveness of early intervention approaches, family counselling, mediation, and targeted welfare support in helping families address conflicts more constructively.

With regards to child wellbeing, recorded cases also serve as an important indicator of the need to continuously strengthen family support and protection systems. Child-related cases decreased to 172 cases in 2025 compared to 188 cases in 2024. In ensuring that every case is managed effectively, the approaches implemented are guided by the principle of the best interests of the child, through comprehensive social assessments, integrated interventions and coordinated inter-agency support, to ensure that the family environment remains stable, safe and conducive to the holistic development of children. Yang Berhormat also urged all stakeholders to continue to work hand in hand to ensure that every family in this country receives the support they need, so that the country can continue to prosper in an atmosphere of peace, harmony and stability.