Petition on French paternity leave gathers support
A petition to extend the length of paternity leave in France is gathering support, with over 40 well-known personalities adding their names to the list.
The petition, by the women鈥檚 magazine Causette, seeks to extend and improve the paternity leave offered to fathers after the birth of their child. It is currently 11 days, and can be optional.
The petition has raised 8,442 signatures so far, including many well-known male supporters including the writer Fr茅d茅ric Beigbeder, singer Albin de la Simone, journalist Mouloud Achour, singer Julien Clerc, gynecologist Fran莽ois Olivennes, and comedian Guillaume Meurice.
Once completed, the petition will be delivered to Emmanuel Macron, via Marl猫ne Schiappa, the secretary of State in charge of equality, and the minister of health Agn猫s Buzyn.
The demand reads: 鈥淓leven days is not enough to create a real bond between the baby and the father (getting used to a new routine, sharing of care time with the mother, medical checkups, changes, care, food, nappy-changing)".
The petition is demanding that the overall leave time be extended to six weeks, and at a minimum, that the current 11 days be made compulsory.
As it states, 鈥淔or women, eight weeks are obligatory, of which six are immediately after the birth.鈥�
