Traduction de «Family responsibilities » (Anglais → Français) :

19. Recommends that alternative penalties to imprisonment, such as community-based sentences, should be favoured to a greater extent, particularly for mothers, provided that the sentence imposed is short and the risk to public safety low, where their imprisonment could result in serious disruptions to family life, in particular if they are single parents or have young children, or are responsible for looking after dependent or incapacitated persons; underlines that the judicial authorities should take account of these factors, in particular the best interests of the accused parent's child, when deciding on the sentence; recommends, likewise, considering the possibility of adopting similar measures to those established for mothers for male ...[+++] prisoners with custody of children or who have other family responsibilities;

32. Encourages EUROSTAT and the Member States to adjust existing indicators with a view to gathering data which would make it possible to determine − at both Member State and EU level − the number of students with family responsibilities, their living conditions and the extent to which family responsibilities are a factor in them abandoning their studies, particularly in the case of young women;

26. Points out that most carers for dependent people are young women, which results in discrimination between men and women in education and careers; stresses the fundamental principle that men must assume greater responsibility for household work, children and other dependent persons if a greater number of young women are to have the opportunity to combine parenthood with studying; calls, therefore, on the Member States to recognise the value of family life and to promote the role of fathers and the better sharing of family responsibilities, including during time spent in education and after the completion of a course of study, as a s ...[+++]ignificant step to achieving equal opportunities between men and women;

M. whereas financial difficulties and discrimination of various kinds often make it difficult to gain access to, or continue in, education or training; whereas these difficulties are particularly acute for young men and women who have family responsibilities, and possibly also work responsibilities , in addition to their studies or training,

That being said, I agree that the Lisbon Agenda, which sets the goal of a 60% employment rate for women by 2010, will not be respected without prior progress in reconciling professional life and family responsibilities. I also agree that couples need to be better at dividing domestic tasks and educational responsibilities and, on this subject, there should be a response on the part of men, because women are still forced to take on, to a disproportionate degree, the double burden of professional work, on the one hand, and of family responsibilities on the other.

While the determinants of fertility rates are clearly complex, more family-friendly workplaces and public policies that make it easier for parents to reconcile a professional career and family responsibilities could certainly play a positive role.