Every year, WBW is celebrated in the first week of August. It is observed globally to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and its benefits. Its main aim is to support and encourage breastfeeding as a vital aspect of health and well-being for both mother and child.
This year’s campaign, themed ““Let’s Make Breastfeeding at Work, Work” orchestrates a symphony of efforts aimed at nurturing the next generation and ensuring a brighter, more compassionate world.
WBW 2023
The WBW takes a bold step forward, shining a spotlight on the intricate interplay between breastfeeding and the modern workforce. Working parents find themselves at the epicenter of this movement, as the commemoration of the breastfeeding week seeks to empower them to embrace breastfeeding while also demanding transformative changes in workplaces and societal attitudes.
The clarion call rings clear – “Let’s Make Breastfeeding at Work, Work” – beckoning a harmonious convergence of efforts from governments, policymakers, health sectors, employers, communities, and parents worldwide.
At the heart of this significant week lies a symphony of perspectives, thoughtfully composed to showcase the intimate connection between breastfeeding and employment.
This week-long event embraces a diverse audience, inviting them to share their experiences and insights, fostering an authentic understanding of the challenges faced by working parents. By amplifying their voices, WBW2023 paves the way for crafting effective solutions that nurture both families and the dreams of the next generation.
Breaking Barriers
Breaking barriers and bridging gaps becomes a cornerstone of WBW2023’s key objectives. The campaign underscores the critical importance of paid leave and robust workplace support in enabling breastfeeding.
Like anchors grounding a ship, these pillars offer stability and confidence to parents, creating a nurturing environment for their children.
Collaboration emerges as the heartbeat of progress, with the campaign sparking dynamic engagement between individuals, organizations, and institutions.
By knitting together a tapestry of support for breastfeeding in the workplace, WBW2023 catalyzes a collective momentum that fosters positive changes in working conditions and breastfeeding support.
WBW2023 holds workplace limitations as the silent culprit in the timeless struggle for women to breastfeed as countless mothers find themselves unable to initiate or sustain breastfeeding due to a lack of support at work.
Even with generous maternity and parental leave, without breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, the cherished bond between a mother and her child faces jeopardy. To address this issue, WBW2023 urges employers to invest in breastfeeding-friendly policies that lead to reduced absenteeism, enhanced productivity, and a healthier workforce.
Existing policies
The global picture unfolds as a kaleidoscope of maternity and paternity leave policies worldwide. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has laid the groundwork for improved working conditions, with policies evolving over the decades.
From the 1919 C 3, which allowed a woman six weeks of leave after childbirth and two daily breaks to feed her child, to the more recent recommendation 191, proposing 18 weeks of leave, progress has been made in supporting working parents.
However, findings show that only 43 countries ratified Maternity Protection Convention 183, meeting a 14-week standard with breaks and facilities, and only 18 countries achieved or surpassed the 18-week standard proposed by ILO recommendation 191.
Strikingly, 70 countries offer no breastfeeding breaks, with most limiting breaks to just six months, despite the WHO-recommended duration of two years or beyond for breastfeeding.
The blueprint for success in nurturing breastfeeding in the workforce takes shape, calling for maternity leave that matters, anchoring support through equitable parental leave, empowering supportive workplaces, and mobilizing societal change.
In commemoration of the WBW, stakeholders urges governments to pass laws providing paid maternity leave for more than six months, while improving coverage of paternity and parental leave legislation.
Employers are encouraged to guarantee six months of paid maternity leave and paternity leave, create breastfeeding rooms, offer flexible work schedules, and advocate for longer leave options.
Role of health sector
The health sector plays a vital role in embracing breastfeeding as a critical occupational issue, supporting expectant parents, and fostering a breastfeeding-positive culture.
The WBW plants the seeds of change, cultivating a nurturing culture through a warm chain of support for breastfeeding. Healthcare sectors, workplaces, and communities harmonize their efforts to empower working parents, celebrating breastfeeding’s role in securing a brighter future.
Importance of breastfeeding
As the global community converges to commemorate WBW, the incredible power of breastfeeding becomes evident. Beyond its immeasurable health benefits, breastfeeding serves as an investment in the future generation, nurturing the dreams of millions of children worldwide.
This significant occasssion transcends borders, championing a universal quest for equity in breastfeeding support. It is a time to celebrate the progress made, acknowledge the challenges, and envision a world where every working parent can nourish their child’s future while realizing their own dreams.
As the week unfolds, we are reminded that nurturing dreams begins with nourishing bodies. The path to a breastfeeding-friendly future winds through the collective determination of working parents and the steadfast support of their communities. With every step, they redefine possibilities and blaze a trail for generations to come.