Following requests from many of you, we have been working with the other staff unions of the UN to modernize the current regime of parental leave (four months for mothers and one month for fathers). The aim is to revisit rules on when maternity leave starts in case of prenatal leave for sickness, provide for greater flexibility between genders with regards to responsibilities for primary caregivers, and reflect the needs of non-traditional relationships.

A survey has been created by our federation and we would be grateful if you could provide your thoughts and comments by following this link. An example of the rules on parental leave at the Global Fund, a more recently established institution, is attached.

Your answers will help provide policy proposals to the Staff-Management Committee and the International Civil Service Commission.