A non-legislative resolution passed by the European Parliament has called upon members states to provide more support for single mothers.
The resolution stresses that the number of single mothers is growing in all advanced and industrialised countries, as a result of divorce, separation or never having been married.
The resolution calls for a number of new initiatives and objectives, including:
- Giving single mothers housing support, and priority on waiting lists for houses to rent.
- Tax deductions for single-parent households.
- Education and information about the sexual and reproductive rights of women, in particular for younger women, to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.
- Ensuring that non-custodial parents pay child support regularly.
- Ensuring that single fathers benefit from all the initiatives set up to help single mothers.