I have rarely seen mention of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative on Lacnet.

It strikes me that the attention paid to removing institutional and other
barriers to breastfeeding in the Baby Friendly 10-steps programme is what
hospitals all over the world need - and of course it is an international
standard.

All the 10 steps are researched based. In the UK at any rate UNICEF is very
good at supplying background material which shows why the 10 steps are the
minimum, and at giving training for professionals involved in setting up a
committment to Baby Friendly.

How is Baby  friendly doing in the countries represented on Lactnet? In the
UK we have about 7 units who have the global award, about the same number
have a UK version of it, and about 50 have a certificate of committment.
Many many more places are working towards it and it has proved very
influential.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK