UN News Today 1 August 2024 |

UNICEF and WHO chiefs call for equal access to breastfeeding support

The heads of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called for greater access to breastfeeding support to both reduce health inequity and ensure mothers and babies can survive and thrive.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the appeal in a joint statement to mark the start of World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from 1 to 7 August.

They said improving breastfeeding rates could save over 820,000 children’s lives each year, citing the latest available data.

Although 48 per cent of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed, persistent challenges remain to reach the WHO target of at least 50 per cent by 2025, they noted.

An estimated 4.5 billion people – more than half the world’s population – do not have full coverage of essential health services. As a result, many women do not receive the support they need to optimally breastfeed their babies, which includes “trained, empathetic and respectful health advice” as well as counselling.

The UN agency chiefs called for action such as increased investment in programmes and policies that support and protect breastfeeding, including in the workplace.

Mothers caught in emergencies should also receive breastfeeding protection and support as part of routine health coverage.

Guinea: Senior UN officials welcome verdict in 2009 stadium massacre trial

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has welcomed the long-awaited verdict in the trial into the September 2009 massacre at a stadium in Guinea.

At least 156 people were killed, many disappeared and at least 109 girls and women were subjected to sexual violence, including sexual mutilation and sexual slavery, when security and military forces attacked a peaceful political rally at the stadium in the capital, Conakry.

On Wednesday, a court in the West African country found former President Moussa Dadis Camara and several other military leaders guilty of crimes against humanity.

“After nearly 15 years, the victims, survivors and their families have the right to full justice and transparency,” said UN rights chief Volker Türk.

It is also necessary that Guinea continues on the path towards an end to impunity and ensuring that all those responsible for human rights violations are brought to justice, he added.

Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict, also welcomed the trial’s outcome.

She said the verdict sends a powerful message that impunity will not be tolerated and reaffirms commitment to upholding the rights of survivors.

Gaza: UNRWA programme aims to get children back to learning

Finally, to Gaza where the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, launched a programme on Thursday to get boys and girls “back to learning” – and to just being children – amid the ongoing conflict.

Scott Anderson, UNRWA Director in Gaza, said the programme will give youngsters “safe spaces to play, learn, grow, reunite with old friends and make new ones”.

Children make up half the population in Gaza, or more than one million people. Since the start of war last October, they have been “witnessing what no child should live through”, UNRWA said.

The first phase of the Back to Learning programme will see an expansion of ongoing psychosocial support activities focused on arts, music and sports as well as raising awareness on the risks of explosive ordnance.

The second phase will transition to include informal learning activities, with reading, writing and math lessons.

UNRWA plans to provide formal education for children in Gaza as soon as conditions permit.

Mr. Anderson said “for this, Gaza urgently needs an immediate, durable ceasefire for the sake of children and their futures.” 

Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved