Parental Leave: A Global Imperative for Gender Equity and Economic Prosperity

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From Policy to Practice

On March 11, 2026, MMM hosted a high-level panel titled “Parental Leave in Law and Practice.” The conversation moved beyond the existence of legislation to examine the lived realities of families worldwide, positioning parental leave as a cornerstone for global development and gender equity.

Opening the session, MMM Board Member Farah Arabe, emphasised that parental leave is a critical legal tool for redistributing care responsibilities more equitably. However, as Commissioner Aissata Camara of New York City underscored, policy alone is not enough. NYC – an early adopter of paid leave for municipal employees in 2016 – demonstrates that governments must lead by example.

As Camara highlighted. three key lessons emerge:
– implementation requires coordinated outreach
– Culture matters as much as legislation
– Equity demands targeted efforts to reach the most vulnerable

“Cities turn commitment into action,” Camara noted, stressing the role of local governance in making policies effective.

A public Health Imperative

Dr. Elizabeth Werner of Columbia University outlined the significant health implications of parental leave policies. She highlighted that untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect up to 26% of birthing people globally, with an estimated annual economic cost of $14 billion in the United States alone. Paid parental leave has proven to be a powerful mitigating factor – reducing maternal mental health risks, supporting breastfeeding, and improving infant health outcomes. Werner emphasised that such policies are among the rare interventions with multigenerational benefits, strengthening both family well-being and long-term economic stability.

Persistent Global Gaps

Despite clear evidence of benefits, major disparities persist worldwide. Julia Braunmiller of the World Bank presented findings from the 2026 Women, Business and the Law report, revealing that no country has yet achieved full legal equality between women and men. While 123 countries meet International Labour Organisation standards for maternity leave, only 62 offer paid paternity leave. This imbalance reinforces unequal caregiving roles and limits women’s participation in the workforce. Evidence shows that aligning parental leave policies between mothers and fathers directly contributes to higher female labour force participation.

The Culture Barrier

Legal reforms alone are insufficient without addressing entrenched social norms. Jose Campi Portaluppi of Equimundo described the “manbox” – rigid expectations of masculinity that discourage men from taking parental leave due to stigma. Shifting  these norms requires both cultural and narrative change, including greater recognition of men’s role as caregivers.

Sarah Steinberg of LinkedIn reinforced this point, noting that on LinkedIn women are 30% more likely than men to report Career breaks for caregiving, contributing  to long-term earnings gaps and underrepresentation in leadership.

Towards Integrated Care Systems

Closing the panel, Valentina Perrotta of Uruguay’s Ministry of Social Development emphasised  the importance of embedding parental leave within comprehensive national care systems. Uruguay’s approach – treating care as a public good – offers a model for integrating policy, services, and cultural change.

A Call to Action

The discussion made one point unequivocally clear: supporting parents is not a societal cost – it is a foundational investment in the future workforce and in sustainable development.

Achieving true equity will require coordinated action across sectors to:

• Expand access to parental leave, including for informal worker
• Ensure adequate compensation
• Address persistent cultural stigmas

Only through this holistic approach can parental leave fulfill its transformative potential.

With thanks to our speakers

• Elizabeth Werner, Associate Director, Center for the Transition to Parenthood at Columbia University
• Julia Braunmiller, Women, Business and the Law Initiative at the World Bank
• Jose Campi Portaluppi, Head of Advocacy of Equimundo
• Sarah Steinberg, Global Public Policy Partnerships at LinkedIn
• Valentina Perrotta, Ph.D., Adjunct Director of the National Secretariat for Care, Ministry of Social Development of Uruguay
• Aissata Camara, Commissioner of the Office of International Affairs, City of New York
• Farah Arabe, UN Representative and Member of the Board of Directors, Make Mothers Matter & Founder, itotheN | Intergenerational Impact (Moderator)

→ See also:

• Event’s program and Speakers’ bios
• Presentations by Dr. Elizabeth Werner (Columbia University) and Julia Braunmiller (World Bank)
• Invitation article for additional background