|
January
2000: IBFAN meets with WHO
Left to right: Dr. A Gupta, Dr. J. Tulloch, Dr. G. Clugston,
R. Saadeh, Dr. P. Singh, Dr. T. Turmen, P. Rundall, A.
Linnecar, Dr. F. Savage, Mr. G. Laviolle, M. Epoulou.
[Photo
courtesy of IBFAN-GIFA]
"UNICEF continues to support the implementation of the
International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
and its policy on breastfeeding remains unchanged. This
policy is guided by related resolutions of the World Health
Assembly and the 1990 Innocenti Declaration on the Protection,
Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding. We continue to
support global, regional and country level actions to
monitor and enforce Code compliance and we encourage and
support governments in their efforts to implement and
enforce the Code through national legislation.
Consistent with that policy, UNICEF firmly believes that
companies that manufacture and market breastmilk substitutes
have a corporate responsibility to ensure that their marketing
practices in no way interfere with or influence a woman's
decision on feeding her infant.
UNICEF also believes such companies have a responsibility
to comply with the Code in all countries and in all contexts,
regardless of whether countries have enacted binding legislation."
Ms. Bellamy acknowledges the significant contribution
made by the business community in the lives of people
in all parts of the world and says that:
"UNICEF will work with all whose corporate behavior and
commercial practices are consistent with the principles
of the United Nations Charter, and uphold national and
international standards for the protection of children's
rights, and national laws. The overarching principle for
UNICEF's work with the business community is the best
interest of the child established by the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. These principles guide us in
our decisions on whether to accept donations from the
business community. For this reason, UNICEF does not accept
donations from manufacturers of infant formula which violate
the Code."
Ms. Bellamy's statements are encouraging and IBFAN groups
will press UNICEF to extend its prohibition on donations
to all manufacturers of products under the scope of the
International Code.
All Newsletters
Contents | Current Newsletter
Contents | Next Story
| Previous Story
|
