The Malta World NGO Forum, which launched the International Year of the Family (IYF) 1994 presented many views supporting the theme of promoting families for the well-being of individuals and societies. This theme reflected the opinion that IYF should be an opportunity to integrate the achievements for family members of previous United Nations (UN) years and by taking a realistic and global approach to the family as "the basic unit of society" and the natural environment for the healthy development of all its members. The summary report provides a summary, concerns, and recommendations in focal areas for action, the Malta Statement on the IYF 1994, and the forum program elements. Some important concerns addressed in the report include: the diversity of families; family needs and problems; the importance of the family; women's rights and the family; the role of the father; family poverty; family health and literacy; and parent-child relationships. (AP)