Childcare leave: A right of children and parents

LAURA PAUTASSI Y MARIA NIEVES RICO

Challenges

CEPAL-UNICEF

Lugar: Santiago de Chile; Año: 2011 p. 4 - 9

1816-7543

Policies on care in early childhood should be framed within an approach that integrates children’s rights, gender equity and the social inclusion of families. A variety of service providers, including the family, the State, the market and civil society, need to be engaged in this effort. Childcare regulation and provision in Latin America and the Caribbean suffer from serious shortfalls. Among other things, this makes it difficult for women, especially those from poor households, to join the labour market. In this connection, labour policies need to offer better articulation between the productive and reproductive spheres.   This paper examines the progress made thus far on childcare leave for parents —mothers and fathers— and turns a spotlight on pending debts in this regard. Few legislative for practical measures exist for satisfying the many types of early childhood care needs, and inequalities of origin are still rife. In order to meet those needs, the policy response must be aimed at ensuring universal satisfaction of children’s right to care regardless of the formal employment status (or otherwise) of their parents, and the existing models of care from birth must be thoroughly reviewed. Avaible in spanish:  “Licencias para el cuidado infantil. Derecho de hijos, padres y madres” En Desafíos, Boletín de la infancia y adolescencia sobre el avance de Objetivos de desarrollo del Milenio. Santiago de Chile, CEPAL-UNICEF; Nº 12, julio de 2011, págs. 4-9.