MATERNITY PROTECTION COALITION STATEMENT

Opening Session of the Committee on Maternity Protection ILO 88th Conference, Geneva Switzerland, May 31, 2000

Everyone here gathered at the session on Maternity Protection of the 88th ILO Conference will contribute to a historical legacy for the empowerment of the working women particularly the working mothers with babies and young children, our future human resource.

The role of women in particular to its maternal function as lifebearer and nurturer plays a critical role in sustaining humanity, without this reproductive role who in our society will? These life caring roles are both productive and reproductive tasks.

Since 1919 when ILO was founded, the Maternity Protection Convention #3 has recognized the rights of women to maternity protection covering pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding and maternal and child care. It was basically on health reasons. Likewise, in 1952 it had revised the Convention # 3 and had the Maternity Protection Covention # 103 and Recommendation # 95 with improved provisions to support the role of the working mothers.

81 years have passed, what improvements do we have to institute as an international standard of maternity protection? The women's reproductive role has not changed as well as its specific needs in relation to pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care. Mothers have been always working both at home and outside home. A strong support is all the more important to implement the maternity protection in all phases of the reproductive cycle.

Based on medical reasons as what WHO and UNICEF Statements had issued last year in this same Committee on Maternity Protection session as I quote:

"A too early return to work may increase in the risk of acute health implications after birth and long term consequences such as anemia, malnutrition, infection - urinary tract infections, uterine prolapse and mental problems."

Mothers and babies need at least four months together after birth for optimal maternal and child health.

Women who resume work earlier will most likely experience physical and emotional stress affecting their productive and reproductive lives at home and at work. This will contribute to her fears on her health and for her child, consequently affecting her productivity level. If health deteriorates, jobs are at stake.

Mothers are the link between the past and the future. Mothers use their time and energy for nurturing the next generation. They do this reproductive role for all. Everyone benefits when mothers and children are healthy. Otherwise, the country's resources will be depleted in maintaining health by treating sickly mothers and children who have missed the protective benefits of breastfeeding and safemotherhood.

Importantly, working mothers involved in nurturing through breastfeeding contributes to the economy of the country by the following:

1. in Mali, the gross domestic product would increase by 5% if human milk is based on a conservative 1 US dollar per liter . A baby consumes only ? liter of human milk a day.

2. for a mother who exclusively breastfeed for about six months, she is assured of child spacing scientifically at 98 % efficacy

3. above all, breastfeeding contributes to the intelligence and development of the child according to evidence-based studies

4. Working mothers are not asking for coffee breaks but precious time to do their mothering work.

In conclusion we call for the inclusion of four key points:

* in the Convention

1. at least four months maternity leave after birth

2. two half hour remunerated breastfeeding breaks daily for up to one year after birth

3. a clean space for breastfeeding or expression of breastmilk at or near the workplace

* in the Recommendation a clean space for breastfeeding or expression of breastmilk at or near the workplace

Everyone of us here were brought by our mothers, shall we let the next mothers of the millennium continue to struggle for a just and reasonable break while at work?