> The solution to these problems IMO is to make maternity leave protected strongly by law, and make paternity leave exactly equivalent. Make no distinction by gender when it comes to maternity and paternity leave.

In Germany, there's the "parental leave" (not maternal or paternal leave) [0]. The time period is 12 months with parental allowance : 2/3rds of your income - 300 to 1800 €. If the mother and father share the parental leave, the leave extends until 14 months. Of course, there are other benefits like child care etc. [1] after the child has grown up.

[0] http://www.bamf.de/EN/Willkommen/KinderFamilie/Elterngeld/el...

[1] http://www.bamf.de/EN/Willkommen/KinderFamilie/Kinderbetreuu...