58TH CRC Committee recommends governments to regulate unhealthy foods

The CRC Committee has shown a growing concern about the increasing rates of obesity among children both in developed and developing countries, due to unregulated marketing of foods to children and infants and early introduction of complementary foods

The 58th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) took place from 19 September to 7 October in Geneva. The Committee reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 6 countries: Iceland, Italy, Republic of Korea, Panama, Seychelles, Syria.

IBFAN presented alternative reports on the situation of infant and young child feeding, for all 6 countries under review. In 4 cases these reports were written by IBFAN groups in the countries (Iceland, Italy, Republic of Korea, and Seychelles). The reports on Panama and Syria were written by the Geneva Infant Feeding Association (GIFA).

In its concluding observations, the CRC Committee referred specifically to breastfeeding in 5 out of the 6 countries. With the exception of Korea, all the other countries received concluding observations on infant and child nutrition and breastfeeding in particular. Unfortunately in the case of Korea, the late submission of IBFAN’s alternative report may have prevented the CRC Committee from making use of the information contained in the report.

The CRC Committee has shown a growing concern about the increasing rates of obesity among children both in developed and developing countries, due to unregulated marketing of foods to children and infants and early introduction of complementary foods. Thus the Committee has recommended that State parties establish regulations to restrict the marketing and advertisement of unhealthy foods and breastmilk substitutes for children and infants (Iceland, Italy and Seychelles).

The Committee has paid particular attention to the awareness among the public generally about the importance of breastfeeding and the risks of artificial feeding. It recommended concrete actions such as increasing access to materials on breastfeeding and to education and campaigns. The Committee also considers important the sensitization of government officials, parents and staff working in maternity units. It has also recommended that breastfeeding should be included in nursery trainings (Italy, Panama, Seychelles, Iceland, Syria).

The Committee has once more stressed the importance of the strict enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes by Sate parties including through strengthening of national laws whenever necessary, and the need for action in cases of violations (Syria, Seychelles, Panama, Italy, Iceland). 

Moreover, the Committee has recommended that countries establish a National Breastfeeding Committee, improve data collection on breastfeeding and promote baby friendly hospitals (Syria).

On health more generally, the CRC Committee has focused on the need to improve equal access to health care services, and decrease inequalities in access to health care (Korea, Panama, Syria), with particular focus on children of immigrants (Iceland and Italy), disadvantaged areas, low income families (Korea). It has recommended that state parties increase their allocation to the health sector, with a focus on primary health care, and improve the training of their health personnel.

More Information
IBFAN´s Alternative Reports on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child