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Maternity protection is a key component of the transformative policies called for in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is essential to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Maternity protection ensures income security for pregnant women and mothers of newborn children and their families, and also effective access to quality maternal and child health care. It also promotes equality in employment and occupation.  Extending paid maternity leave provisions and non-contributory maternity cash benefits is an important means of improving income security and access to maternal and child health care for pregnant women and new mothers, particularly for women living in poverty.