EWL press coverage

European Parliament Votes to Extend Maternal Rights

The European NGOs for SRHR, Population and Development

On 20th October, the European Parliament passed a resolution in favour of increasing European minimum standards for maternity and paternity leave provisions. A large majority of MEPs approved increasing maternal leave from 14 weeks to 20 weeks and the introduction of two weeks leave for new fathers, both fully paid.

‘This is an incredibly important victory for parents, both mothers and fathers, as it will for the first time shift the costs of maternity from individual women to society as a whole’, says Brigitte Triems, President of the European Women’s Lobby. ‘It is also a sign that our representatives in the European Parliament take progress towards equality between women and men and the future of our societies seriously.”

The resolution will still need to be approved in Member States before it can take effect. This may prove difficult as some states are opposed to the provisions during the economic crisis.

For further details about the resolution, click here.

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