The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals
& organisations concerned with the protection, promotion & support of breastfeeding worldwide.
WABA action is based on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the
Global Strategy for Infant & Young Child Feeding. WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF & an NGO
in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
  
WABA
Countries - A 

Afghanistan   

Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview: 25%, 1998.
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: No information
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 1
  • Length of maternity leave: 90 days.
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 100.
  • Who pays? The Employer.
  • Women as % of adult (15+) labour force: 9.
__________________ 
Sources of information  
  
  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999.
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994.
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998.
  • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above) - UNDP. Human Development Report 1998. 
  • Woman as % of adult (15+) labour force - The World's Women 1995, Trends and Statistics, United Nations. Social Statistics and Indicators Series K No. 12.

    •  

    Albania   

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: Being studied.
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 0.
    __________________  
    Sources of information    
        
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999.

    •  

    Algeria   

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview: 48%, 1995.
    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: 
    • Few provisions law.
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 2 of 454 total.
    • Length of maternity leave: 14 weeks.
    • Length of paternity leave: 3 days.
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 100.
    • Who pays? The Social Security.
    • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above): 24.
    ____________________  
    Sources of information  
      
  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999.
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994.
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998.
  • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above) - UNDP. Human Development Report 1998. 

    •  

    Relevant quotes from the ILO Report V (2): Maternity Protection at Work regarding: Maternity leave, Financing of benefits and Provisions for nursing mothers:  
      

    • A woman to whom the Convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks. It would be advisable to foresee a progressive approach given the problems that certain countries might face, especially developing countries.
    • The cash and the medical benefits should be provided through compulsory social insurance.
    • The woman should be entitled to daily break(s) to nurse her child and the breaks should be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly.
      

    Angola    

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview: 6%, 1997. 
    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: Being studied. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 3 of 27 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 13 weeks. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 100. 
    • Who pays? The Employer. 
    • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above): 46. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information   
      
  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994. 
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998. 
  • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above) - UNDP. Human Development Report 1998. 

    •  

    Relevant quotes from the ILO Report V (2): Maternity Protection at Work regarding: Maternity leave, Financing of benefits and Provisions for nursing mothers:   

    • A woman to whom the Convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks. 
    • The cash and the medical benefits should be provided in a manner determined by national law and practice. 
    • The woman should be entitled to daily break(s) to nurse her child and the breaks should be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly. 
      

    Anguilla    

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 0. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information  
      
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 

    •   

    Antigua/Barbuda    

    Current situation in Antigua/Barbuda regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 0 of 1 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 13 weeks. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 60. 
    • Who pays? The Social Security and possible employer supplement. 
    • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above): 39. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information  
      
  •  Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994. 
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998. 
  • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above) - UNDP. Human Development Report 1998. 

    •   

    Argentina    

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview: 14%, 1997. 
    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: Being studied. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 15 of 500. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 13 weeks. 
    • Length of paternity leave: 2 days. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 100. 
    • Who pays? The Social Security. 
    • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above): 31. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information   
      
  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994. 
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998. 
  • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above) - UNDP. Human Development Report 1998. 

    •  

    Relevant quotes from the ILO Report V (2): Maternity Protection at Work regarding: Maternity leave, Financing of benefits and Provisions for nursing mothers:   

    • A woman to whom the Convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks. CGT: "Encouragement should be given to extending this period to 16 weeks." 
    • The cash and the medical benefits should be provided through compulsory social insurance. 
    • The woman should be entitled to daily break(s) to nurse her child and the breaks should be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly. 
      
    Armenia   

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview: 21, 1996. 
    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: Being studied. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 0. 
    • Women as % of adult (15+) labour force: 48. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information   
      
  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Woman as % of adult (15+) labour force - The World's Women 1995, Trends and Statistics, United Nations. Social Statistics and Indicators Series K No. 12. 

    •   

    Australia   
        

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: Voluntary. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 192. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 52 weeks. 
    • Length of paternity leave: Federal: 52 weeks, State: 52 weeks. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 0. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information   
      
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994. 
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998. 

    •  

    Relevant quotes from the ILO Report V (2): Maternity Protection at Work regarding: Maternity leave, Financing of benefits and Provisions for nursing mothers:   

    • A woman to whom the Convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks. 
    • The cash and the medical benefits should be provided through compulsory social insurance, public funds and in a manner determined by national law and practice. 
    •  Should a woman be entitled to daily break(s) to nurse her child? If so, should such breaks be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly? - Australia's agreement is conditional on revised wording. Rather than "to nurse her child", Australia prefers "for lactation purposes" to cover mothers who choose to express milk at work, rather than to breastfeed their infant. Further, in English "to nurse" has multiple meanings, including to care for the sick and to nurture. Lactation or breastfeeding is the preferred terminology. 
    • ACTU: Yes. 
      

    Austria    

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: 
    • Many provisions law. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNCEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 3. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 16 weeks 
    • Length of parental leave: 1 year 
    • Who Pays? The Social Security 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information   
      
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994. 
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998. 

    •   
    Relevant quotes from the ILO Report V (2): Maternity Protection at Work regarding: Maternity leave, Financing of benefits and Provisions for nursing mothers:   
    • A woman to whom the Convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks. 
    • "The prospective mother should be entitled to be excluded entirely from work, both before and after confinement (i.e. employment should be declared inadmissible during this period). The term "leave" could be replaced by "maternity release from work"." 
    • "Austrian Confederation of Trade Unions (ÖGB): Recommendation No. 95 specifies a period of 14 weeks and this should be incorporated in the Convention and made binding." 
    • The question of financing of benefits should be determined with reference to Article 53(2) of the revised European Code of Social Security. 
    • The woman should be entitled to daily break(s) to nurse her child and the breaks should be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly. Article 5 of Convention No. 103 (breaks for nursing) should be maintained in the Convention. 
      
    Azerbaijan   

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding:   

    • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview: 53%, 1998. 
    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes: No information. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 5 of 20 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 18 weeks. 
    • Length of parental leave (including maternity leave): 3 years. 
    • Women as % of adult (15+) labour force: 43. 
    ____________________  
    Sources of information   
      
  • Percent of all infants aged 0-4 months who were exclusively breast-fed the day before a survey interview - BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF, February 1999 
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - This table was prepared with the assistance of the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC). - Nutrition section, UNICEF, December 1998 
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding - Country Profiles (BFHI analysis report, Nutrition section, UNICEF), February 1999. 
  • Length of maternity, paternity and parental leave -The World of Work, No. 24. April 1998; and for those not included there, Conditions of Work Digest: Maternity and work, Vol. 13, 1994. 
  • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage) and Who pays? - ILO. The World of Work, no 24. April 1998. 
  • Woman as % of adult (15+) labour force - The World's Women 1995, Trends and Statistics, United Nations. Social Statistics and Indicators Series K No. 12. 

    •  
    Relevant quotes from the ILO Report V (2): Maternity Protection at Work regarding: Maternity leave, Financing of benefits and Provisions for nursing mothers:   
    • Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation: - A woman to whom the Convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks. 
    • The cash and medical benefits should be provided: through compulsory social insurance; through public funds - Only cash benefits; in a manner determined by national law and practice - Medical benefits. 
    • Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation: The woman should be entitled to daily break(s) to nurse her child and the breaks should be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly. 
     
    Country Situation Files  - Alphabetical order

    A    |    B    |    C    |    D    |    E    |    F    |    G    |    H    |

    I     |    J    |    K    |    L    |    M    |    N   |    O    |    P    |

    Q    |    R   |    S     |    T   |    U    |    V   |    W   |    Y    | Z

        

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
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