Towards a Common Advocacy Agenda Outcome of the discussions during the WABA global forum-II-Arusha September-23-27,2002

Breast Feeding is a human right Breast feeding SUPPORT means CHANGES in all social environments and policies Gender Equity is basic to breast feeding movement Right to life and survival Right to choose free of commercial, medical and political pressure Right to FOOD irrespective of race, class, caste, religion, region, age…

Towards a Common Advocacy Agenda Breastfeeding is a basic human right and it is agreed that protection of women’s right to breastfeed is shared position of the women’s movement and breastfeeding movement. Women can fully exercise this right only where there exists an appropriate social and political environment whereby women’s contribution to productive and reproductive work including nurturing, is recognized.

Need for social transformation at all levels to bring about gender equality. Women’s groups and breastfeeding groups have decided to put on their advocacy agenda the following demands: To recognize the common concern of the adverse effect of globalization and privatization on healthcare services and the increasing feminization of poverty

Demands Women’s right to accessible, affordable, comprehensive, high quality and gender- sensitive women’s health services. Women’s right to breastfeeding based on informed choice, free of commercial, medical and political pressure.

Demands Social recognition and value of women’s work at home as care givers and nurturers. Implementation of maternity protection for women at paid work in the formal and informal sectors. Women’s right to food, adequate nutrition, rest, safe water and shelter.

Strategies - Collaboration of breastfeeding activists and women’s groups working out common activities for the following goals: To improve women’s status so as to restore their self-esteem and ensure their well-being throughout their life cycle. Common actions on ensuring the right of survival of both mother and child.

Goals Protection of women workers during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and caring. Collaborating on research and monitoring studies to monitor quality and availability of breastfeeding service

SAVE AMINA LAWAL LIFE a Breast feeding mother Condemned to death by stoning for allegedly committing adultery in Nigeria

We learnt from women at this conference that in a number of countries, the World Food Program is selective about the people who benefit from their distribution of food. For example, in some African countries, those are considered workers, mainly men, and those who go to school, that is, children over five years old, are given food. Mothers who work as much as 18 hours a day caring for the family, growing and preparing food even during pregnancy, breastfeeding the children for at least two years - these mothers are not considered workers and not given emergency food.

We as supporters of breastfeeding urge the World Food Program to feed all members of the community suffering from inadequate nutrition, beginning with women who are the carers of new life and all life, and with the most vulnerable children, those who are malnourished or under five. Such food need not always be imported, but can sometimes be bought locally from those subsistence farmers, mainly women, who have a surplus which they cannot sell commercially because the prices are so low. An adequate price for such local producers can also encourage their farming work to feed others in dire situations.