Balancing Household Needs and Human Rights of Working Families

Abstract

Charlotte Johnson-Welch and Richard Strickland argue that one of the urgent needs for countries with developing and transition economies is to ensure equitable access to quality child care options for working women and their families. Investments are needed in resources that can ease the tension caused when household members, particularly women, have to allocate time and energy in one set of activities to the detriment of others. Policy needs to focus on the responsibilities and obligations of all actors (state and non-state) to support the child care needs of working families in order to fill the gap between demand for and investment in child care. Development (2001) 44, 86–92. doi:10.1057/palgrave.development.1110243