ISRAEL’S BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES ARE IMPROVING

On Monday 3^rd May 2013 the situation of children’s rights in Israel, including the Occupied Palestinian Territories, have been reviewed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) at its 23^rd session.

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) presented an alternative report on the situation of infant and young child feeding.

The issue of breastfeeding was tackled by the CRC Committee that asked about the absence of a database for the collection of data and of a law on marketing of breastmilk substitutes and about the situation of BFHI and of maternity protection at work.

In particular, one Committee mentioned the maternity protection law providing that a female employee who is prohibited from working at certain jobs by law because of her breastfeeding is entitled to be excused from work and this absence is tantamount to leave without pay and asked clarification on its interpretation in order to avoid discrimination of women that decide to breastfeed.

The delegation could not answer all the questions due to time restraints; however they reported improvements in breastfeeding rates as they already reached the goals set by the government for the year 2020. To further support breastfeeding, each government facility must provide space for breastfeeding or for expressing breastmilk.

The delegation also explained how the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is enforced is some situations, for example vis-à-vis advertising companies. In addition, they mentioned the 2003 Remedia case concerning a bulk of imported infant formula that lead to some children dying and some other being irreversibly harmed due to lack of a fundamental vitamin, and as a result all imported formula is now carefully examined. It was also noted that HIV positive mothers are given free breastmilk substitutes.

Finally, the Committee was concerned by reports of delays at checkpoints also involving pregnant women that are seeking medical assistance.

The delegation informed that within the West Bank all roadblocks have been removed and therefore there are no restrictions on the freedom of movement. To enter Jerusalem there still are checkpoints and roadblocks but there are not recent reports of delays in passage of pregnant women and all the military personnel is specifically trained to let though medical cases as expeditiously as possible.

MALTA Committed to Protect Breastfeeding

The situation of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Malta has been revised by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at its 62^nd session on January 17^th 2013. IBFAN has prepared an alternative report on the situation of breastfeeding in Malta. 

During the interactive dialogue with the Committee, the issue of breastfeeding was tackled.

The Committee members raised questions concerning the measures Malta is taking for increasing breastfeeding – whose rates are very low in the Country – as it is an important component for raising emotionally healthy children. The Maltese delegation stated that health campaigns to encourage breastfeeding have raised the rate of breastfeeding from 35% in 1990 to 56% in 2011*. There are ongoing efforts and initiatives to promote breastfeeding such as guidelines for breastfeeding rooms in public places, new breastfeeding policy in hospitals (created last November).

The Committee asked the delegation what measures are in place to regulate the marketing of infant formula which may explain the low rates of breastfeeding in the country. The Committee wanted to know whether there are baby friendly hospital initiatives in the country and what support is given to mothers in the hospitals, noting that births mostly occur in those premises and data in the possession of the Committee show very low initiation to breastfeeding. The Maltese delegation informed that services for breastfeeding are available within the hospitals and in community health centers. There are regulations on the marketing of baby formula and a directive is being discussed that, once adopted, will put Malta in line with the European Union.

The Committee members also noted that maternity leave from work has been recently elevated to 18 weeks and this could have an effect on breastfeeding. The delegation pointed out that it is not yet possible to assess the impact of the new law on breastfeeding as it has been operative for only 3 weeks now. In any case, working mothers have the possibility to use family friendly measures, work more from home, have more flexible work hours or have a reduction of working hours.

Overall, breastfeeding is on the increase, even though the statistics are still not satisfying. The delegation agreed that breastfeeding is the best solution for the child and they committed to increase awareness campaigns on breastfeeding.

 *The delegation of Malta probably referred to the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 0 months, as it is the only data available along with initiation to breastfeeding.

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