According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, "Parental leave" is defined as the 'employment-protected leave of absence for employed parents, which is often supplementary to specific maternity and paternity leave periods, and frequently, but not in all countries, follows the period of maternity leave.'

In a resolution on the EU strategy for Equality between women and men post 2015, the European Parliament highlighted the importance of equality in parental leave: ‘the principle of equal treatment of women and men implies that there must be no discrimination whatsoever, be it direct or indirect, including on account of motherhood, fatherhood and the fact of shouldering family responsibilities’ 
The EP has also expressed its support and interest in legislative decisions on women’s participation in the labour market, gender equality and work-life balance through other related resolutions (on maternity leave, women's labour market participation, female poverty and gender equality).

Parental leave

Assemblée conjointe parlementaire UE-ACP

Two mothers with their babies in a maternity hospital in Kinshasa.

A mother and her baby in a  hospital obstretric unit in Kinshasa.

A baby in a hospital obstretic unit in Kinshasa

A mother and her baby in a  maternity hospital in Kinshasa

A maternity hospital in Kinshasa

A hospital obstretrics unit in Kinshasa

A mother and her baby in a hospital obstretic unit in Kinshasa.

Espace Naissance. Une maman promene son enfant

Opening of an information stand of the Safe Motherhood Initiative.

The 2018 LUX Film Prize was awarded to Benedikt Erlingsson, the director of ‘Woman at War’ – an Icelandic drama that defies genre, touching on environmental issues, female power and motherhood. The LUX Film Prize showcases European films that raise awareness of issues that go to the heart of European debate.

LUX Prize 2018 winner ‘Woman at War’: “Women are saving the world”

This infoclip illustrates a consultation point for young children in Brussels. This public institution (Office of Birth and Childhood - ONE) develops birth and childhood policies. Parents come with their baby for a medical consultation. The objective is preventive care and consists of checking up on the child’s good health.

Infoclip: Pediatric healthcare safety

This infoclip illustrates topics as job search; soup kitchen programme, homelessness; medical assistance for homeless people; parental leave and seasonal work.

Infoclip: Social Europe

Europe’s impoverished are mainly women, while motherhood and ageing increase the risk of indebtedness and social exclusion. A widening pay gap, short-term contracts and expensive and inadequate childcare are pushing more and more women below the breadline

Showing 4 videos results for ""

LUX Prize 2018 winner ‘Woman at War’: “Women are saving the world”

Infoclip: Pediatric healthcare safety

Infoclip: Social Europe

Crossborder: The Female Face of Poverty