Spain pushes for stronger breastfeeding support and parental leave

Advocates in Spain argue that current legislation does not enable mothers to follow the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. An opinion piece stresses the need for parental‑leave policies, workplace protections and public resources that would allow families to meet scientific guidelines without jeopardising women’s careers.

In Lleida, photographer Ares Juclà is running his sixth‑year campaign during World Breastfeeding Week, photographing 63 mothers nursing their infants to normalise the practice. Participants report lingering social discomfort and call for greater institutional support, echoing the broader demand for reforms that align Spanish labour law with health recommendations.