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 - L 

Laos 

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: 36%, 1996.
  • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as of December 1998: Many provisions law.
  • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 6 of 146 total.
  • Length of maternity leave: 100 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): 47.
____________________ 
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. 

    •  

    Lativa 

    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: 30%, 1994.
    • 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 of 35 total.
    ____________________ 
    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.

    • 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.
    • 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.
     

    Lebanon  

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding: 

    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as of December 1998: Law. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 18 of 135 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 40 days. 
    • 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): 28. 
    ____________________ 
    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. 
  • 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: 

    • "Should a woman to whom the convention applies, on production of a medical certificate stating the presumed date of her confinement, be entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 12 weeks?" 
    • A minimum of 12 weeks' maternity leave, as stipulated in Convention No. 103, may be one of the reasons that prevented ratification by many countries. It might be advisable for the new instrument to allow for shorter leave periods on economic or financial grounds when member States deem that their economic and financial circumstances demand it. The length of this leave lies at the centre of the proposed instruments and affects practically all their provisions. 
    • "Should the cash and medical benefits be provided: through compulsory social insurance, through public funds or in a manner determined by national law and practice?"- In Lebanon, cash and medical benefits are provided in a variety of manners to private sector employees, civil servants and members of the armed forces. 
    • 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. 
     

    Lesotho  

    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: 54%, 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: 7 of 18 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 12 weeks. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): Non. 
    • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above): 37.
    ____________________ 
    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.  

    •  

    Liberia  

    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: 15%, 1986. 
    • 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: 2 of 50 total. 
    • Women as % of adult (15+) labour force: 29. 
    ____________________ 
    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. 

    •  

    Libyan Arab Jamahiriya  

    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: 50%, 1994. 
    • National Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as of December 1998: Supplies only. 
    • Number of hospitals/maternities officially designated by UNICEF as "Baby Friendly," having fulfilled 10 criteria supportive of breastfeeding: 17 of 98 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 50 days 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 50. 
    • Who pays? The Employer.  
    • Women's share of adult labour force (% age 15 and above): 21. 
    ____________________ 
    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.  

    •  

    Liechtenstein  

    Current situation in the country regarding breastfeeding: 

    • Length of maternity leave: 8 weeks. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 80.  
    • Who pays? The Social Security. 
    ____________________ 
    Sources of information 
     
  • 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. 

    •  
     

    Lithuania  

    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:  
    • 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  
     
  • 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. 

    • 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. 
    • 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. 
     

    Luxembourg  

    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 of 7 total. 
    • Length of maternity leave: 16 weeks. 
    • Cash benefits for maternity leave (per cent of wage): 100*.  
    • Who pays? The Social Security. 
    ____________________ 
    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. 
  • 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 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.
      

      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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