World breastfeeding week 

and  the health of the planet

Guatemala City, August 30, 2020

World Breastfeeding Week highlights in 2020 the links between breastfeeding and the health of the planet, defined as “the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends”.

Ensuring the health of the planet is an urgent task for each of us. Much advocacy is needed to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for 2015-2030, the goals of the Paris Agreement and the goal of the World Health Assembly for 2025 in relation to the goal of breastfeeding. Sustainable production and consumption patterns are expected to protect our natural resources, our environment and help mitigate climate change.

Breastfeeding contributes positively to the health of the planet in several ways: it is sustainable, ecological and good for human health. The current world scenario, with slow progress in improving breastfeeding rates, increasing production of breast milk substitutes, and continuing emergencies, are a real concern.

Strategies to protect, promote and support breastfeeding are well known and need to be implemented and monitored. Breastfeeding counseling is known to be an effective tool and should be offered as a critical form of support to all breastfeeding families.

Also, it is important to take into account that an effective chain of support from the family, the community, the work environment, etc. creates an enabling environment that empowers all women / mothers to breastfeed optimally.

WABA and the 2020 campaign

Every year, WABA, an international network of people and organizations that works in coordination with WHO and UNICEF, is in charge of organizing World Breastfeeding Week, for which it proposes a series of topics to be discussed and developed internationally related to breastfeeding and the rights of women and their children, in 2020 highlights the links between breastfeeding and the health of the planet and proposes the slogan Let's support breastfeeding for a healthy planet. Together, we can achieve a win-win situation for all, humanity and the planet.

When and since when is it celebrated

World Breastfeeding Week, officially established by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1992, is currently the most widespread social movement in defense of breastfeeding. It is celebrated in more than 120 countries during the first week of August of each year.

Source: WABA