Referring to the Convention of the Rights of the Child, proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 20th November 1989, which states that special protection and education are part of the fundamental rights of the child;
Recalling the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, adopted by the General Assembly on 16 December 1991 (Resolution 46/91);
Stating that care for and education of children is one of the most important social issues;
Recognizing that caring for ill and handicapped family members is an important social requirement not only for the family but for society in general;
The International Council of Women urges its affiliated National Councils to press their national government and competent authorities
• to recognize the tasks of caring as mentioned above being very important for the family and society as a whole;
• to take the necessary legislative measures to provide financial support for those who wish to take career breaks in order to care for their children and to give them an education or to care for ill or handicapped family members;
• to provide an allowance during the periods of career break taken for caring;
• to recognize the breaks taken from paid employment to care for and oversee the education of children and care for ill or handicapped family members as equal to paid work for the calculation of the pension.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — 32nd General Assembly, Johannesburg, South Africa, October 13–20, 2009. Resolution No. 1.
