Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)
Launch of the Right to Food and Nutrition WATCH 2014
Human rights and breastfeeding at the UN
Breastfeeding at the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Breastfeeding at the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Oral statement on Digital Media and Children’s Rights
Written statement on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Presentation on breastfeeding and human rights during the Regional Training Course on Implementing the Code, Jakarta
What's happening in Switzerland?
Update and reprint of the flyer « Allaitement maternel : Panorama du réseau de soutien en région genevoise et France voisine »
Participation in local events
Press release at the occasion of the review of Switzerland by the CRC Committee
Swiss Première of the movie “Tigers” in Zürich
Projet ANJE
News from francophone Africa
Breastfeeding and the environment
Formula feeding is the formula for disaster for the environment, say experts!
Nestlé's inappropriate marketing
Nestlé bottled water dropped from EXPO 2015 in Milan following protests
No more Nespresso for George Clooney?
Social media
IBFAN-GIFA on Facebook, Twitter and Blogger
RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD AND NUTRITION
Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), Rome, November 2014
IBFAN-GIFA had been involved with other Public Interest Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Social Movements (SM) throughout a year-long preparatory process towards this high-level intergovernmental meeting, held 22 year after the first ICN. With allies, we sought to create synergies and develop a common vision on how to eradicate malnutrition in all its forms, and to hold governments and intergovernmental organizations to account on their obligations and commitments.
The outcome of the ICN2 negotiations (Rome political declaration and Framework for Action) are a welcome step as they focus on malnutrition in all its forms and considerable attention is given to breastfeeding. While CSOs and SMs expressed readiness to play their role in implementation, they consider these outcomes inadequate to confront the scale of the global malnutrition challenge. Therefore, the CSOs and SM statement to the conference declared a worldwide People’s Decade of Action on Nutrition and the final Public Interest Civil Society Organizations´ and Social Movements´ Forum Declaration to the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) asks to tackle the political, social, cultural and economic determinants of malnutrition in all its forms.
For more information on the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition, click here
Launch of the Right to Food and Nutrition WATCH 2014
Ten Years of the Right to Food Guidelines: Gains, Concerns and Struggles
Arguably the single most violated human right in the world, the right to adequate food and nutrition is contending with the emergence of growing threats posed by corporate and economic interests that are increasingly gaining influence in policy spaces and taking control of food systems and natural resources worldwide. In view of this alarming trend, social mobilization and resistance are more critical now than ever before.
The Right to Food and Nutrition WATCH 2014 discusses key policy processes - including the negotiation of the principles for responsible agricultural investment and the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) - and echoes the perspectives and experiences of civil society, academics, and social movements in the global struggle for the right to adequate food and nutrition.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND BREASTFEEDING AT THE UN
Breastfeeding at the Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) held its 67th session from 1st to 19th September 2014 and reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 5 countries. In collaboration with IBFAN national groups, IBFAN-GIFA submitted alternative reports on the situation of infant and young child feeding in all reviewed countries (Croatia, Fiji, Hungary, Moroccoand Venezuela) on which the CRC Committee reflected in its questions and recommendations.
Oral statement to Committee on the Rights of the Child 2014 Day of General Discussion – Digital Media and Children’s Rights
On 15th September 2014, the CRC Committee held its annual Day of General Discussion on the topic of Digital Media. In its oral statement to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, IBFAN sheds the light on these new digital marketing strategies used to promote industrial baby foods at the expense of optimal breastfeeding practices. Indeed, despite the article 5 of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which prohibits baby food companies to advertise and promote their products to the general public, baby food companies are increasingly using social media as well as mobile and web-based technologies to interact directly with pregnant women and mothers.
Written statement on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, IBFAN issued a written statement in order to congratulate the State parties as well as the Committee on the Rights of the Child for the work that they have achieved with the aim of realizing children’s rights at global scale. It recalled that breastfeeding constitutes one of the single most effective interventions in order to fulfill the child’s rights to life and to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and that it is enshrined in the Convention by the article 24.
However, breastfeeding continues to face tremendous commercial pressures from the baby food industry, despite the fact that the CRC Committee has repeatedly re-affirmed the necessity for States to implement and enforce the International Code and its relevant subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions (see CRC General Comment No. 15 on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and CRC General Comment No. 16 on State obligations regarding the impact of the business sector on children’s rights). In view to defend the right of every infant and young child to benefit from the most adequate food possible and creating an enabling environment for breastfeeding, IBFAN express its will to continue to provide information to the CRC Committee and to support the effective implementation of its Concluding Observations in reviewed countries, in particular through the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative.
Breastfeeding at the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
From 20th October to 7th November 2014, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) held its 59th session and reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 8 countries. Expanding the outreach also to this Committee, IBFAN-GIFA submitted alternative reports on the situation of infant and maternal health and work-related issues for 3 of the reviewed countries (China, Guinea and Venezuela).
Presentation on breastfeeding and human rights during the Regional Training Course on Implementing the Code, Jakarta, October 2014
IBFAN-GIFA took part in the Regional Training Course on Implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes organized by IBFAN Asia in Jakarta from 20th to 23rd October 2014 and provided a session entitled “Breastfeeding and the International Code from a Human Rights Perspective” which focused on the different instruments which enshrine breastfeeding and the International Code at the international level and the best way for national groups to contribute to the work at UN level, including by submitting reports to the CRC Committee.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SWITZERLAND?
Update and reprint of the flyer « Allaitement maternel : Panorama du réseau de soutien en région genevoise et France voisine »
Thanks to the support of the department of health of the Geneva Canton and the Loterie Romande, the flyer « Allaitement maternel : Panorama du réseau de soutien en région genevoise et France voisine» (in French) was updated and reprinted (2nd edition) for distribution to new mothers in the Geneva area, in collaboration with relevant partners such as the university hospital HUG, the Service Santé de l'Enfance et de la Jeunesse, the hospital La Tour, the association of midwives Arcade Sage-femmes, the Geneva-based lactation consultants, mother-to-mother support groups (La Leche League and Nuage de Lait). This flyer provides crucial information to mothers, parents, health professionals and relevant persons and institutions on the various types of support available for breastfeeding in the area.
Participation in local events
On 6th September 2014, IBFAN-GIFA took part in the event “Crossing Cultures” organized by the CAGI (Geneva Welcome Center) and held a stand presenting their work on protection promotion and support of breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding, and promoting key messages from the Marchez mangez malin!, campaign of the Department of Health from the Canton de Genève. Indeed, breastfeeding promotion is a crucial component of overweight and obesity prevention in children. Other key messages included promotion of tap water as opposed to sweet fizzy drinks and children were encouraged to take part in a quiz aimed at guessing the amount of sugar in Coca Cola.
In addition, IBFAN-GIFA took part in the World Breastfeeding Week event organized in September 2014 by the university hospital HUG, with a stand in the entrance hall of the maternity.
Press release at the occasion of the review of Switzerland by the CRC Committee
On 20th January 2015, in view of the review of Switzerland by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, IBFAN-GIFA issued a press release (in French) on the situation of infant and young child feeding in the country.
IBFAN-GIFA stressed the lack of a comprehensive national strategy on protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding, as well as the weak political will and national resources allocated to the creation of a favorable environment for mothers to breastfeed, resulting in poor breastfeeding rates. Furthermore, the absence of full implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the lack of independent monitoring of the latter were also highlighted as obstacles to breastfeeding that lead to inappropriate marketing practices.
On 1st October 2014, the movie “Tigers” has been screened for the first time in Switzerland during the Zürich Film Festival. Based on the true story of a former Nestlé baby milk salesman called Syed Aamir Raza, this movie shot by the Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic shows how Aamir Raza took on the industry with the help of IBFAN when he realized that babies are dying as a result of his work pressuring doctors to promote formula.
For more information on the movie “Tigers”, click here
PROJET ANJE
News from Francophone Africa
IBFAN-GIFA, thanks to the support of the Ville and Canton of Geneva, continues to support breastfeeding protection, promotion and support in francophone Africa through the regional IBFAN office in Burkina Faso, with a focus on Gabon, Burkina Faso and Niger. On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week in Gabon, IBFAN members participated in a TV programme to sensitize the public on the importance of breastfeeding, in collaboration with the National Center for Nutrition. Training of health workers and community workers was also pursued in all 3 countries, as well as IEC workshops held to produce materials for breastfeeding promotion.
BREASTFEEDING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Formula feeding is the formula for disaster for the environment, say experts!
BPNI / IBFAN Asia’s latest publication « Formula for Disaster: weighing the impact of formula feeding Vs breastfeeding on environment » is out now. The path breaking publication aims to raise awareness of the positive impact of breastfeeding on our environment and throws light on the negative impact of formula feeding. This publication positions formula feeding as detrimental to global environment, whereas breastfeeding is positioned as healthier for mothers, children and the planet.
NESTLE'S INAPPROPRIATE MARKETING
Nestlé bottled water dropped from EXPO 2015 in Milan following protests
IBFAN joined a group of international organizations to pressure on the Swiss government and Parliament and publicly raised concern about the plan of the Swiss government to promote Nestlé’s bottled water at the Swiss pavilion at the next Universal Exhibition - EXPO 2015 in Milan, Italy. Following questions from Swiss parliamentarians and a letter campaign aimed at the director of Presence Switzerland, the government body responsible for the image of Switzerland abroad, substantial changes have been made and the bottles of Nestlé water have been replaced by empty plastic cups which visitors will fill from taps with water from local aquifers.
Instead of product promotion, the installation will encourage the public to take part in a comprehensive debate on the importance of access to and responsible management of water. Indeed, water is a precious public resource and access to safe, sufficient and affordable water constitutes a human right and is a prerequisite for the realization of all other human rights.
No more Nespresso for George Clooney? IBFAN sends a letter to George Clooney asking him to cease its advertisements for Nestlé
IBFAN sent a letter to George Clooney and his new wife, the human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, to urge the actor not to advertise for Nestlé anymore. In its letter prepared shortly after the Swiss premiere of the film “Tigers” to the Zurich Film Festival, IBFAN referred to the marketing of Nestlé baby milk in third world countries, which can lead to the death of infants. George Clooney faced already several times harsh criticism because of his Nespresso advertising. Among other things, he was blamed as capsule coffee was not at all environmentally friendly.
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