Anne Veneman recently took over the post of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), but has already made some startling changes to the organization. Veneman, who was picked by President Bush for the position, has announced that UNICEF will no longer provide legal assistance for governments in order to enact the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes into national legislation. Since the International Code was passed in 1981, UNICEF has helped 64 countries legislate some form of the Code, and 23 additional countries now have similar laws pending. The withdrawal of UNICEF’s support in this process seriously damages the ability of any further nations to pass the International Code into law.
A lack of strong legal measures controlling the marketing of breastmilk substitutes puts infants and young children at risk and will surely impede the achievement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal of reducing global infant mortality by two thirds by 2015. This decision by Veneman clearly runs counter to UNICEF’s mandate of protecting the health of infants and young children the world over.
Veneman’s action is all the more disheartening because of her links to major food companies. Before becoming Secretary of Agriculture under George W. Bush, she served on the International Policy Council on Agriculture, Food and Trade, a group funded in part by Nestle, the world’s largest baby food manufacturer and the greatest single violator of the International Code.
While many doubt that Veneman’s experience as a corporate lawyer for major food companies qualified her to head UNICEF, unfortunately she has already been appointed and the international community will have to do its best to cooperate. This is a drastically important issue and urgent action is needed. Please inform Veneman that cutting support for the International Code is an absolutely unacceptable decision that will cost young lives.
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The Human Lactation Information blog is where I note research, articles, links and advocacy materials. Hence, I noted this action alert from INFACT Canada. If you don't like their opinion, talk to them, and don't rip into me for merely noting it.
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