Some 92 countries do not grant a single day of paternity leave
Studies indicate that the paternal company helps children have better mental health, a high level of self-esteem and feel a greater satisfaction with life. However, UNICEF indicates that two-thirds of children under one year old, nearly ninety million, live in nations where, by law, their parents are not entitled to a paid paternity leave.
Parents play a decisive role in the development of their children, especially during the first two years of life. In fact, the interaction between parents and their children encourages the formation of neuronal connections at an optimal speed, which affect, for example, their ability to learn, reflect and cope with stress.
Despite these benefits, ninety-two countries do not have policies that guarantee parents paternity leave. Among them are India and Nigeria, which present a high rate of child population. Other nations with this characteristic, such as Brazil or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, apply parental losses, but of short duration.
This situation has caused the Fund to sound the alarm, encouraging governments to implement measures that support the early development of children, such as paid parental leave, to provide parents with the time, resources and information that they need. they need .
"The positive and helpful interaction with mothers and fathers from the beginning helps to shape children's growth and brain development for life , making them healthier and happier. It is our responsibility to make them fulfill this role, "said the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund, Henrietta Fore.
Help parents raise their children
Across the world, policies favorable to family care are experiencing a significant boost.
Since this year, the Fund itself has extended the duration of paternity leave from the four regulatory weeks to sixteen in all its offices.
"We can not be 'For each child' if we are not 'for each parent'. We have to ask more of governments and employers if we are going to give parents the time and resources they need to raise their children, especially during their first years of life, "Fore said.
At the national level, this trend is also observed. In India, for example, the authorities are proposing a law that will allow parents to have up to three months of paid parental leave .
However, the Fund indicates that there is still a lot of work ahead, with eight countries where there is no policy guaranteeing the low paid to fathers or mothers . Among them is the United States, where close to four million children live.
