Experts urge countries to end marketing of breast milk substitutes

The United Nations human rights experts have called on member countries, including Guyana, to do more to protect and support breastfeeding as a human right and to end the “inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children”.

Emphasising the importance and benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child, the experts stated that they are concerned about the lack of progress made in improving breastfeeding rates globally and in providing women and their children with the support and protection they are entitled to.

However, their concerns focused more on the continued misleading marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children. They pointed out that there is little corporate accountability for the adverse consequences of such marketing practices. They stated that this continues to undermine efforts to improve early and exclusive breastfeeding rates.

They added 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 posited that governments should do more, and emphasised that breastfeeding is a human rights issue for babies and mothers, and should be protected and promoted for the benefit of both.

They called on governments to recognise their core obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant UN human rights treaties to respect, protect and fulfil children’s right to life, survival and development; their 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.

Governments were urged to act upon their obligations and take all necessary measures to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, and end the inappropriate promotion of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children up to the age of three years.

These measures include the adoption and enforcement of comprehensive legislation to end inappropriate marketing practices, provide adequate maternity protection, and protect women from discrimination linked to breastfeeding.

Currently, the Public Health Ministry and the Social Protection Ministry are looking to extend the months of maternity leave for women so as to promote the “golden standard” of breastfeeding. Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has indicated that in 2017, her Ministry would install a facility so that mothers in the workplace of the Ministry can go to breastfeed their babies.

She hopes that this measure would be adopted in other Government buildings and also in the Private Sector community.