A/HRC/RES/32/23 8. Conscious that families are sensitive to strain caused by social and economic changes, and expresses deep concern that conditions have worsened for many families owing to economic and financial crises, lack of job security, temporary employment and lack of regular income; 9. Recognizes that the family unit is facing increasing vulnerabilities and pressures, and notes that single parent-headed households, child-headed households, families with members with disabilities and intergenerational households might be particularly vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion, and resolves to pay particular attention to them, while bearing in mind that a considerable proportion of households worldwide are headed by women and many other households are dependent on female income, and that female-maintained households are very often among the poorest because of wage discrimination, occupational segregation patterns in the labour market and other gender-based barriers; 10. Remains convinced that persons with disabilities and their family members should receive the necessary protection and assistance to enable families to contribute to the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities; 11. Highlights the role of families in supporting its members, including members with disabilities, and recognizes their potential in contributing to the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities; 12. Stresses that families remain the first and most immediate environment where children with disabilities can develop their potential and enjoy a fulfilling life, and that the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities can be deeply affected by the quality of life of their families and the support and assistance provided to them, and underlines the need to provide families with members with disabilities with access to a range of support services that are responsive to the individual choices, wishes and needs of its members with disabilities; 13. Recognizes that families with members with disabilities may be subject to discrimination by association on the basis of disability owing to distinctions that affect or nullify their rights; 14. Reaffirms the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, and that appropriate steps should be taken to safeguard and promote the realization of that right without discrimination on the basis of disability, and reaffirms also the right of persons with disabilities to social protection and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination on the basis of disability and by taking appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right, including by ensuring access by persons with disabilities and their families living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State with disability-related expenses, including adequate training, counselling, financial assistance and respite care; 15. Recognizes that persons with disabilities may be parents and head of their families, and as such, all persons with disabilities who are of marriageable age have the right to marry and to found a family on the basis of the free and full consent of the intending spouses: 16. Affirms that children with disabilities have equal rights with respect to family life, and that States should realize these rights and prevent the concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with disabilities and undertake to provide early and comprehensive information, services and support to children with disabilities and their families; 3