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Fifteen years ago, at the Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence, Italy, August 1990,
participants, including representatives from 30 governments, produced and
adopted the
Innocenti Declaration
on the Protection, Promotion and Support of
Breastfeeding. The occasion was the WHO/UNICEF policymakers' meeting
on "Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global
Initiative."
on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding, and the Declaration,
adopted by all WHO and UNICEF Member States, has been a key strategy on
improving health of infants and young children through optimal nutrition
To mark the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Innocenti Declaration the
Regional Authority of Tuscany and the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre will
co-host a celebration in Florence on 21 and
22 November 2005. This celebratory event is jointly organized by a
wide coalition, including WHO, UNICEF, the Italian National Committee for
UNICEF, USAID, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, the International
Baby Food Action Network, La Leche League International and the International
Lactation Consultant Association. Invitations to attend this event have been
sent to 250 individuals and organizations.
The 15th Anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration provides a unique opportunity
to take stock of progress made in the protection, promotion and support of
breastfeeding since 1990, including the implementation of the Global Strategy
for Infant and Young Child Feeding, adopted by the World Health Assembly and
endorsed by the UNICEF Executive Board in 2002. It also aims to raise awareness
of every child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health and the role
breastfeeding plays in contributing towards this right. Every right comes
with corresponding obligations. The meeting will thus highlight the
responsibility of all sectors of society to ensure that the realization of this
right is given high priority. An internationally endorsed statement from the
meeting is expected to call on all relevant parties to fulfill their obligations
and responsibilities articulated in the Global Strategy. Further information
about this event and subsequent documents and activities will be provided as it
becomes available.
Many individuals and organizations around the world have worked tirelessly over
the past 15 years to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. If you are one
of these persons or your organization works with breastfeeding, please join in
the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration
by responding to the following two questions and helping to demonstrate the
strength of all those who work tirelessly for the benefit of maternal and
child health through breastfeeding
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