[ 2016-11-24 ]

Experts call for end to breast-milk substitutes
United Nations (UN) human rights experts have
urged countries to end the inappropriate marketing
of breast-milk substitutes and other foods
intended for infants and young children.

They emphasized the importance and benefits of
breastfeeding for both the mother and her child,
and called for more moves to protect, promote and
support breastfeeding as a human right.

These were contained in a joint statement issued
by the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Right to Food
and the Right to Health, UN Working Group on
Discrimination against Women in Law and in
Practice, and the UN Committee on the Rights of
the Child made available to the Ghana News
Agency.

The statement expressed concern about the lack of
progress made in improving breastfeeding rates
globally and in providing women and children with
the requisite support and protection.

The experts pointed out that there was little
corporate accountability for the adverse
consequences of such marketing practices, which
continued to undermine efforts to improve early
and exclusive breastfeeding rates.

They noted that marketing practices act as
barriers for women to exercise their rights, as
they often negatively affect the choice and
ability of mothers to enjoy the many health
benefits breastfeeding provides.

They welcomed renewed global efforts to protect
and support breastfeeding and to reduce the
inappropriate marketing of commercially prepared
foods for infants and young children.

The experts called on governments to recognize
their core obligations under the Convention on the
Rights of the Child and other relevant UN human
rights treaties.

These relate to the rights to respect, protect and
fulfil children's right to life, survival and
development, right to safe and nutritious foods,
and their right to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health; and to ensure that
women's rights are protected from harmful
interference by non-State actors, in particular
the business sector.

They urged governments to take all necessary
measures including the adoption and enforcement of
comprehensive legislation to end inappropriate
marketing practices, provide adequate maternity
protection, and protect women from discrimination
linked to breastfeeding.

Source - GNA

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