Luxembourg presented its consolidated 3rd
and 4th periodic report on the situation of the implementation of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child in the country. The combined 5th
to 6th periodic report is expected by October 2019.
IBFAN submitted an alternative
report on the situation of infant and young child feeding in
Luxembourg. The report highlights the fact that breastfeeding rates are insufficient. Only 6% of infants are
exclusively breastfeeding during the first 6 months; this rate has indeed
decreased since 2001. In 2005, the government of Luxembourg assured it will
establish a national plan for promoting and protecting breastfeeding. Until now
two plans have been adopted, one between 2006 and 2010 and the other between
2011 and 2015. Unfortunately, the action plan has not been backed with
sufficient budget, leading to restricted implementation. More and more women
stop breastfeeding their children before they reach 6 months. The report also
underlines the fact that only half of the four maternity hospitals are baby-friendly,
while there is a lack of information to mothers about breastfeeding from
midwives and breastfeeding counselors. The report states that the
implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
and resolutions is weak as it conforms to the EU Directive 2006/141/EC and not to the WHO Code. Concerning maternity protection at work,
breastfeeding breaks are paid by the employer and women need to present a
medical certificate for the whole duration of breastfeeding. This may lead
certain women to feel pressured not to ask for the break or not taking them for
the entire breastfeeding period, which in turn could explain the decreasing
rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months.
Discussion on infant and young child feeding
During
the dialogue with the government delegation, CRC Committee has raised questions
on breastfeeding. The Committee members pointed to the fact that exclusive
breastfeeding is practiced by always fewer women. They asked whether health
professionals receive training on breastfeeding, and on the impact of cesarean
section on breastfeeding rates. The Committee members asked whether promotion
of breastmilk substitutes is authorized in hospitals. They highlighted the fact
that the promotion of infant formula in hospitals, and lack of regulation of
their marketing together with a lack of support to understand the importance of
exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, can undermine the successful
breastfeeding by mothers, and recommended to Luxembourg to have strong
regulations on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes coupled with a good
monitoring of the Code and resolutions, as well as adequate maternity
protection for working women so that mothers are really supported to
breastfeed. The Committee also addressed the need to turn all four hospitals
into baby-friendly.
The Luxembourg delegation reported that
concerning the decreasing rate of exclusive breastfeeding, it is mainly women
of low social and economical background who stop more and more breastfeeding
their children after 6 months. The government of Luxembourg highlighted the
fact that it is currently working in collaboration with international partners
on the project to change the image of breastfeeding in order to convince
mothers to continue breastfeeding their child until 6 months.
Concerning the Baby-Friendly Hospital
Initiative, the delegation of Luxembourg said that one of the objectives of the
national programme is to put BFHI in the national criteria for maternity units.
Concluding
Observations
Although issue related to breastfeeding
such as the BFHI, the marketing breastmilk substitutes, adequate budgeting of
the national action plan and maternity protection were tackled during the
Committee, we regret to see that no recommendations on this issue in the Concluding
Observations were given to Luxembourg.
For more information on breastfeeding in Luxembourg please see http://www.liewensufank.lu/fr
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