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The International Baby Food Action NetworkIBFAN |
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What is IBFAN ?
The formation of IBFANIBFAN is one of the longest-surviving single-issue organisations. IBFAN was founded on October 12th, 1979 after the joint meeting of WHO and UNICEF on Infant and Young Child Feeding. One of the founding members stated:
The International CodeThe groups that formed IBFAN were instrumental in putting the marketing of baby foods onto the health agenda, resulting in the 1979 meeting referred to above. IBFAN then campaigned for a strong and effective marketing code. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981. Through continued vigilance, new marketing strategies and developments in thinking on infant nutrition have been brought to the attention of delegates at the World Health Assembly leading to the adoption of further Resolutions which aim to protect infant health and mothers' rights. A global action networkIBFAN is an International Network. Structured like a net, it encompasses the Earth. Groups are diverse: they may work on infant feeding issues alone, or they may be mother support groups, consumer associations, development organisations or citizen's rights groups. Some are staffed by volunteers, some have full time staff. What all groups have in common is they take Action to bring about implementation of the International Code and the subsequent, relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly. These are the main tools that IBFAN uses with the aim of ensuring that the marketing of Baby Food does not have a negative impact on health. Coordinating the Network's ActivitiesThe Regional Coordinating OfficesIBFAN is arranged into five main regions:
IBFAN is divided regionally with
representatives from each region making up the IBFAN Coordinating
Council (IBCoCo). Because of the occasionally sensitive nature of
our work, all enquiries about IBFAN in a particular country must go
through the REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. They are:
Regional meetings are held about every 2 years to enable groups to share experiences, formulate policy and train each other. Regional Representatives are elected at these meetings to sit on the IBFAN Coordinating Council (IBCoCo). IBCoCo also meets about every 2 years to coordinate policy for the global network. A
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The
International Baby Food Action Network, IBFAN, consists of public
interest groups working around the world to reduce infant and young
child morbidity and mortality. IBFAN aims to improve the health and
well-being of babies and young children, their mothers and their families
through the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and
optimal infant feeding practices. IBFAN works for universal and full
implementation of the International Code and Resolutions.
growing network
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How to become an IBFAN group ?
"Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret MEAD, Anthropologist
To join IBFAN, read entirely the section:
"What is IBFAN?" to make sure
that your aims fit in with IBFAN's.
IBFAN cherishes the differences between the groups that make it up,
believing that people themselves know how best they can contribute
towards our common aims.
The only requirements of an IBFAN group are as follows:
FUNDING: IBFAN values its independence and groups are required to give a written undertaking not to seek or accept funds, donations or sponsorship from the infant feeding and related products industry. IBFAN groups should aim to include a clause to this effect in their constitution or statutes and ask for a clarifying statement from potential donors when requesting funds or support.
Many IBFAN groups refuse any kind of commercial support as links between companies are not always obvious. In addition, our NGO partners working on other campaigns may have difficulties with a particular company and accepting funding from it may undermine their work. We cannot be too vigilant in this matter.
To get an application sheet for membership of the IBFAN Network, please contact your nearest Regional Coordinating Office.
Alliances and partnership
The meaning of partnership
IBFAN's strength at regional and national level is valuable for the work of other organisations. Just as we tap into their resources so they tap into ours. In any joint venture it is important to insist on true partnership. Partnership involves mutual respect and consideration. If IBFAN groups do the groundwork, then there must be some basic rules, in particular that IBFAN's input is acknowledged and that credit is given where credit is due.
Networking and communication are vital within the IBFAN network but equally valuable beyond it. In all our activities, it is important to look further afield, to think who else could best use the information we circulate. Such collaboration is a two-way process: IBFAN groups not only need to share their own activities and campaigns with other groups but also need to tap into and use the resources and skills of sister networks, coalitions and alliances. This will increase the impact of our joint action.
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)
WABA was formed in 1991 to help UNICEF and governments reach the operational targets of the Innocenti Declaration. In the words of Our Common Goal, "WABA believes that breastfeeding is the right of all children and mothers and dedicates itself to protect, promote and support this right. WABA acts upon the Innocenti Declaration".
Social mobilisation to raise public awareness is a major WABA activity. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1st-7th and the themes chosen take the breastfeeding movement far beyond the traditional circle of health workers, consumers and breastfeeding advocates. From 1992-1997 themes have included: the baby-friendly hospital initiative; the breastfeeding rights of working women; the implementation of the International Code; breastfeeding and the empowerment of women; breastfeeding as a community responsibility; breastfeeding and ecology and the economic aspects of breastfeeding. The WABA secretariat provides brochures, posters and web sites. In particular, the action folder produced annually for World Breastfeeding Week provides many ideas on how to involve other groups and reach new constituencies.
Contact: WABA secretariat, P.O. Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia
http://www.waba.org.my/
Consumers International (CI)
Consumers International, formerly the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU), was one of the NGOs which founded IBFAN in 1979 to combat marketing abuses by baby food manufacturers. CI has continued to be a partner in the struggle to improve infant health and in the implementation of the International Code and Resolutions. CI and IBFAN join forces especially in our work with the World Health Assembly and with the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Consumers worldwide can be important allies in the infant feeding issue to contribute to the universal implementation of the Code. Consumer movements are usually widespread, articulate and well-organised. Forming partnerships with consumer groups is an effective means to enhance our work to protect breastfeeding by documenting and investigating company malpractice.
Contact: Consumers International,
24 Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX, UK.
http://www.oneworld.org/consumers/
Health Action International (HAI)
Many of the major pharmaceutical companies also market baby milks and foods. Health Action International (HAI) campaigns against unethical marketing of medicines and on the conflict of interest created by industry sponsorship. HAI groups have worked on the withdrawal of the indication for bromocriptine as a lactation-supressant. Marketed under the name of Parlodel, this drug has dangerous side-effects. IBFAN groups have been associated with HAI's campaign which has resulted in many countries in the discontinuation of its use to suppress lactation. HAI is also working on unethical drug promotion via the Internet.
Contact HAI-Europe, Jakob van
Lennepkade 334 T, 1053 NJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
http://www.haiweb.org/
Linkages
The LINKAGES Project is the U.S. Agency for International Development's global program on breastfeeding, LAM, complementary feeding, and related maternal nutrition. LINKAGES focuses on optimal feeding for sustained child growth, including exclusive breastfeeding for six months, timely complementary feeding with appropriate foods, and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond. LINKAGES' partners include La Leche League International, Wellstart International, and Population Services International. Specific activities at country level are carried out with three partner NGOs: CARE, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision. Collaboration is critical to the success of this project; IBFAN groups can bring their support to ensure that the protection of breastfeeding through policy and advocacy work remains a high priority.
Contact Jean Baker, Director, The
LINKAGES Project, Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Connecticut
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, USA
http://www.linkagesproject.org/
Breastfeeding Support Groups
Breastfeeding Support Groups provide an important grass-roots base for our work and we should in turn support them in their activities and include them in ours. The members of these voluntary groups are the most exposed to hospitals, paediatricians and marketing systems. They are on the receiving end of health care systems as well as of company practices. New mothers are best placed to judge the Baby-Friendliness of their local hospital and to document any changes for the better or worse in hospital practices. Mothers can help press for hospitals to remain sustainably Baby-Friendly. They can increase outreach and education through participation in ante- and post-natal classes and their regular group meetings. As the recipients of gift and discharge packs, advertisements and publicity by mail and in magazines, they can help document new marketing techniques.
Many groups have a resource centre and IBFAN groups can help by supplying documents and publications. As mothers of young children, often with full- or part-time jobs as well, women who run Breastfeeding Support Groups may have little time to work on campaigning for breastfeeding, but many often go on to become competent and informed Code monitors. To provide the extra training they need in monitoring techniques and in the International Code it is important to remember to involve these groups in the Code training courses and Code monitoring exercises organised by IBFAN.
Contact IBFAN-GIFA Office for addresses, or
Arbeitsgemeinschaft
Freier Stillgruppen, Rüngsdorfer Str. 17 D-53173 Bonn-Bad Godesberg
www.afs-stillen.de
Lactation Consultants (LCs)
A Lactation Consultant (LC) is a health care professional whose scope of practice is focused upon providing education and management to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems and to encourage a social environment that effectively supports the breastfeeding mother/infant partnership. LCs take the examination of the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), adopt the IBCLC Code of Ethics into their practices and charge a fee for their services. The Code of Ethics includes an obligation to disclose conflicts of interest and ensure that professional judgement is not clouded by commercial influences. LCs possess a thorough knowledge of lactation physiology, the details of the breastfeeding relationship and counselling skills. The LCs' professional organisation, the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), has a Committee on the International Code. IBFAN groups can listen and learn from LCs and include ILCA in our advocacy activities.
Contact: International Lactation
Consultants Association, 4101 Lake Boone Trail Suite 201,
Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
http://users.erols.com/ilca/ilca.html
