Portugal government urged to enhance breastfeeding protection for families

The Commission for Equality between Women and Men (CIMH) of the CGTP‑IN, together with the social activism project Direitos & Politiquices, sent an open letter to the Portuguese Government and the President of the Republic urging stronger protection for breastfeeding and family rights. The letter, released ahead of World Breastfeeding Week (1‑7 August), cites that many mothers return to work too early and face discrimination and lack of support, despite constitutional guarantees and WHO recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued nursing up to two years or beyond. It recalls a previous public debate where a proposal limited the exemption for breastfeeding to two years and suggested reporting mothers who breastfeed longer to child‑protection commissions. The government has continued to require a medical declaration for working mothers who breastfeed from day one. The signatories stress that “the weaning decision must be free, natural and respected, never an ideological imposition or result of workplace difficulties.”