UNICEF and WHO urge stronger breastfeeding support as public acceptance declines in Europe

UNICEF and the World Health Organization issued a joint statement urging governments to strengthen health systems to provide mothers and newborns with high‑quality breastfeeding support. They called for investments in community‑based counselling, paid maternity leave, workplace policies, and full implementation of the International Code on marketing breast‑milk substitutes. Executives Catherine Russell (UNICEF) and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO) highlighted breastfeeding’s role in child survival, immunity, cognitive development and in reducing maternal risks such as breast‑cancer, ovarian cancer and type‑2 diabetes. They noted progress in global breastfeeding rates but said coverage remains uneven, especially in low‑income, fragile and humanitarian settings.

A survey by infant‑product maker MAM and market‑research firm TQS conducted during World Breastfeeding Week in Austria found that one‑fifth of respondents consider public breastfeeding inappropriate once a child reaches its first birthday. The finding reflects persistent stigma despite WHO’s recommendation that children be breastfed for at least two years. The “Austrian Breastfeeding Seal” programme, launched in 2023, now includes more than 250 businesses and public venues aiming to create more breastfeeding‑friendly environments.