Understanding and taking account of family diversity and change is essential for policy-makers who are concerned for the welfare of families and the women, men and children within them. In regions where cohabitation has become much more commonplace, cohabiting partners still do not always have the same or similar rights as married couples, when it comes to social protection, inheritance, custody and maintenance. Levelling up to this standard should be a priority for all countries. As of May 2019, 42 countries and territories have extended the right to marry or partnership recognition to same-sex couples (see Table 3.1).