Dear Ros,

Here is the breastfeeding  language that appears in the Platform for Action
from the Fourth World Conference on Women,1996.  My comments are in square
brackets.

Peace.  Chris.

Paragraphs which call for action in support of breastfeeding

In C. Women and Health

Strategic objective C.1. Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to
appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information and related
services
Actions to be taken
Paragraph 106.  By Governments, in collaboration with non-governmental
organizations and employers' and workers' organizations and with the support
of international institutions:

(r)  Promote public information on the benefits of breast-feeding; examine
ways and means of implementing fully the WHO/UNICEF International Code of
Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and enable mothers to breast-feed their
infants by providing legal, economic, practical and emotional support.

[This paragraph calls for response from a number of organizations as well as
on governments.  It is a statement whose language meets the three goals put
forth by WHO/UNICEF in 1989: promoting, supporting, and protecting
breastfeeding.  "Enable" is a strong word which calls for action.  "Examine
ways and means of implementing fully" is much weaker and implies that
governments don't really have to act to pull in the reins on the
multinationals.]


In F. Women and the economy

Strategic objective F.1.
Promote women's economic rights and independence, including access to
employment, appropriate working conditions and control over economic
resources
Actions to be taken
Paragraph 165.  By Governments:

(c)  Eliminate discriminatory practices by employers and take appropriate
measures in consideration of women's reproductive role and functions, such as
the denial of employment and dismissal due to pregnancy or breast-feeding, or
requiring proof of contraceptive use, and take effective measures to ensure
that pregnant women, women on maternity leave or women re-entering the labour
market after childbearing are not discriminated against.

Strategic objective F.5.
Eliminate occupational segregation and all forms of employment discrimination
Actions to be taken
Paragraph 178.  By Governments, employers, employees, trade unions and
women's organizations:

(d)  Eliminate discriminatory practices by employers and services for women's
reproductive roles and functions, including refusal of employment and
dismissal of women due to pregnancy and breast-feeding responsibilities.

Strategic objective F.6.
Promote harmonization of work and family responsibilities for women and men
Actions to be taken
Paragraph 179.  By Governments:

(c)  Ensure, through legislation, incentives and/or encouragement,
opportunities for women and men to take job-protected parental leave and to
have parental benefits; promote the equal sharing of responsibilities for the
family by men and women, including through appropriate legislation,
incentives and/or encouragement, and also promote the facilitation of
breast-feeding for working mothers.


ONE MORE PARAGRAPH WHICH MENTIONS BREASTFEEDING

[The following paragraph was not requested by the breastfeeding lobby.  The
issue of HIV/AIDS and breastfeeding is still unresolved.  There is some
evidence that AIDS can be transmitted to a previously uninfected baby through
breastfeeding.  There is also evidence that factors in breast milkcan attack
the AIDS virus and disable it in vitro, and that the other factors in
mothers' milk which support the baby's immune system can be important to the
health of a baby who is HIV positive.  WHO's current recommendation is that
in regions where babies can safely be fed on breast milk substitutes, HIV
positive mothers should not breastfeed, but that in regions where a high
proportion of artificially fed babies die from diarrhea and malnutrition, HIV
positive women should breastfeed.  This paragraph may lend support to the
makers of infant formula, since it implies that under some circumstances,
there is a legitimate need for their product.  Other options for feeding
babies whose mothers are HIV positive, such as treatment with AZT, wet
nursing, or human milk banking, are rarely discussed.]

Strategic objective C.3.  Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address
sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health
issues
Actions to be taken
Paragraph 108.  By Governments, international bodies including relevant
United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors and
non-governmental organizations:

(i)  Give all women and health workers all relevant information and education
about sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and pregnancy and the
implications for the baby, including breast-feeding.