60TH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Governments to Strengthen Their Laws To Fully Comply With International Code

 The 60^th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) took place from 29^th May to 15^th June 2012, in Geneva. The Committee reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 6 countries: Algeria, Australia, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and Viet Nam.

IBFAN presented alternative reports on the situation of infant and young child feeding for all of the 6 countries. The reports of Australia, Greece and Viet Nam were prepared in coordination with the regional and local IBFAN groups. The reports of Algeria, Cyprus and Turkey were written by the Geneva Infant Feeding Association (IBFAN-GIFA).

In its concluding observations, the CRC Committee made observations and recommendations on infant and child feeding and breastfeeding to the 6 countries.

The CRC Committee expressed particular concern over the low exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months of age in the countries under review: e.g. less than 1% n Greece, 7% in Algeria, 13% in Viet Nam and nearly 15% in Australia. In its recommendations, the CRC Committee told governments to take all necessary efforts to improve the situation.

The Committee made strong recommendations on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes. It recommended the governments of Australia, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Viet Nam to strengthen their laws in order to fully implement the International Code and the relevant subsequent resolutions. In the case of Cyprus, it pointed out that the European Union Directive 2006/141/EC on infant formulae and follow-on formulae is less comprehensive than the International Code, and thus the government was recommended to “strengthen its legislation regulating the marketing of breastmilk substitutes with a view to fully complying with the standards of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.” This recommendation applies equally to all the other European countries such as Greece that have adopted the same Directive.

In addition, the CRC Committee recommended the establishment of effective monitoring mechanisms in order to give effect to the International Code. The Committee was particularly concerned about the widespread practice of free samples of formula in the hospitals of Greece and Viet Nam, therefore it recommended the governments to take actions in cases of violations of the International Code.

In general, the CRC Committee recommended governments to adopt comprehensive nutrition policies, strategies and legislation related to positive infant and young child feeding practice. To Australia, the CRC Committee recommended to adequately fund the National Breastfeeding Strategy and to stop including industry representatives in the process of its implementation.

The health system has an important role to play in the promotion, protection and support to breastfeeding and thus attention was to the Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative, which should be strongly promoted, implemented and systematically monitored by all governments.  

The Committee considers important the sensitization of the general public, parents and professionals on breastfeeding. It recommended governments to monitor the situation of infant and young child feeding in their countries, strengthen efforts to promote breastfeeding, and sensitize and train health workers, government officials and parents.

In the case of Australia, the CRC Committee also paid attention to the issue of maternity protection. Australia received a recommendation to review its Parental Leave act so as to allow working mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for 6 months.

On issues related to child nutrition more generally, the Committee expressed its concern with regards to child malnutrition and health disparities.  It focused on the need to improve equal access to health care services, increase budget allocations to the health sector, in particular for maternal, newborn and child health, etc.

Child Rights and Business

The CRC Committee paid attention to the obligation of the States to hold business corporations accountable for their human rights violations in their territories and abroad, in the cases of Australia and Turkey. These recommendations apply to all business sectors including the baby food sector and may be understood as a recommendation for strengthening monitoring of compliance by baby food companies with the International Code.

For more details on the recommendations related to infant and young child feeding (IYCF) to each of the countries, please refer to the the complete report here

Cyprus: Scarce information on infant and young child feeding

Cyprus reported for the third time at the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) on 30^th of May 2012. Cyprus delegation was composed of 11  members,  one of which was from the Ministry of Health, Ms. Myrto AZINA-CHRONIDES (Medical Officer 1^st class). She responded the questions of the Committee pertaining to health issues.

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) sent an alternative report on the situation of infant and young child feeding in Cyprus, which led to several questions being posed by the members of the CRC Committee on this subject.

Committee members acknowledged the fact that there is no data on breastfeeding, including exclusive breastfeeding or other infant feeding practices. They also asked for information on the efforts being made to promote the baby friendly hospital initiative as presently there are no certified baby-friendly hospitals in the country.

The delegation stressed that the government of Cyprus is committed to protecting and promoting breastfeeding and announced that a multidisciplinary committee is preparing a breastfeeding promotion plan. However no information was provided on breastfeeding rates in the country. According to the delegation only one hospital, Makarios, is baby-friendly, even though it is unclear when the certification of this hospital has occurred and whether it has been re-assessed.

According to the government representative, awareness raising programmes on adolescent health and nutrition focus on school as the basis for these programmes. However, Committee members noted that this is not sufficient as there are teenagers that are out of the school system, and most importantly because infant and young child feeing which is vital to the child’s health, cannot happen in school but it starts with pregnancy, birth and then breastfeeding and young child feeding.

Cyprus has adopted the EU Directive 2006/141/EC on infant formulae and follow-on formulae, as a measure to implement the International Code of Monitoring of Breastmilk Substitutes. The CRC Committee asked for more information on the efforts taken to implement and monitor the International Code. To these questions the delegation responded very briefly by saying that breastmilk substitutes are monitored by environmental inspectors on a 24 hour basis. It is thus unclear what are the results of such monitoring and what is the procedure in cases of violations.

The Committee also raised questions regarding the maternity protection of working women.  The delegation said that the government is very strict with promoting breastfeeding, and that women are given a leave anytime they need to breastfeed. While such an approach is welcome, it is unclear whether there is a policy in place to ensure breastfeeding breaks and favourable working conditions for breastfeeding women that work not only in the public sector but also in the private and informal sector.