Two members of the NYC Dads Group add their voices to the call for paid parental leave in the United States in a video produced by the United Nations’ body devoted to gender equality.
Scott Behson and Christopher Persley appear in the two-minute video, starring Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway, played to members of the UN at its International Women’s Day celebration in March. Hathaway is the global goodwill ambassador for UN Women, a nearly 7-year-old group the international body created to work toward eliminating discrimination against women and girls, and achieving equality between the genders.
The United States is the only developed country where paid work leave for mothers or fathers is not guaranteed. A 2014 research paper sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau concludes paid parental leave benefits businesses, families and society while helping level the playing field for working women.
Persley has been active for several years advocating for paid parental leave as well as other gender equality and fatherhood issues. Behson is the author of The Working Dad’s Survival Guide.
Portions of the video were shot in Persley’s NYC apartment where his family hosted Hathaway and political scientist Elizabeth Nyamayaro, the senior advisor to the under secretary-general and executive director of UN Women. He wrote about the experience on his blog, The Brown Gothamite.
“The idea of working on a parental leave project with someone [like Hathaway] with a high profile was so encouraging,” Persley wrote. “It should bring some much needed attention to the cause.”
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