Stakeholders stress extended maternity leave for safe motherhood
Summary
Stakeholders in Kathmandu have urged the government to extend maternity leave to six months and grant 42 days of paternity leave under a proposed amendment to the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act. Speakers said the move would support safe motherhood, infant care and equal parenting responsibilities.
Key Points
- Stakeholders and lawyers called for maternity and paternity leave extensions to better protect safe motherhood rights for all women.
- The government’s proposed amendment would extend maternity leave and introduce 42 days of paternity leave.
- Dr. Gauri Pradhan Singh said six months of maternity leave aligns with World Health Organization breastfeeding recommendations and benefits mothers and infants.
- FWLD said the law must be enacted and enforced effectively for rights to be realized in practice.
