LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION recognizing World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7,
2010

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding is a vital emergency response and when a disaster
strikes, everyone should be ready; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize World
Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world; infants and
young children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, illness and
death in these situations; whatever the emergency -- from earthquake to
conflict, from floods to the flu pandemic -- the story is the same:
breastfeeding is a lifeline and a shield that protects infants in emer-
gencies; and
WHEREAS, From 1-7 August 2010, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding
Action (WABA) and breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries
worldwide will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the
19th year; and
WHEREAS, WABA is a global network of individuals and organizations
concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding
worldwide; and
WHEREAS, WABA teams up with the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and
the International Baby Food Action Network-Geneva Infant Feeding Associ-
ation (IBFAN-GIFA) who represent an international collaboration of
United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (IFE Core
Group) concerned with protection and support of safe and appropriate
infant and young child feeding in emergencies; and
WHEREAS, Together, they call for the active protection and support of
breastfeeding during emergencies and the prevention and refusal of
donations of breastmilk substitutes as well as bottles and teats that,
too often, do more harm than good; and
WHEREAS, When an emergency strikes, simple measures can make all the
difference in the world; emergency preparedness is the key to quick
appropriate actions; mothers need to be secure and have priority access
to food for the family, water, shelter and safe places to breastfeed;
and
WHEREAS, The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommenda-
tions -- early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding until six months
of age and continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond -- are even
more critical in emergencies; and
WHEREAS, Breastfeeding is the one safe and secure source of food and
fluid for infants -- instantly available, providing active protection
against illness and keeping an infant warm and close to his/her mother;
it also reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage in the mother, the
leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide; in the challenging and
risky environment of an emergency, how infants are fed is key to their
survival; and
WHEREAS, Protecting breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding
from inappropriate marketing influences is an essential component of
emergency intervention; violations of the International Code of Market-
ing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions
are frequent; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action.