From 11 to 29 January 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) held its 71st session and reviewed the implementation of the Convention in 14 countries (Benin, Brunei Darussalam, France, Haiti, Iran, Ireland, Kenya, Latvia, Maldives, Oman, Peru, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe). IBFAN submitted alternative reports on the situation of infant and young child feeding in Benin and France. Spanish and French summaries of the alternative reports were prepared in order to inform Spanish- and French-speaking members of the Committee (see http://ibfan.org/reports-on-the-un-committee-on-the-rights-of-the-child).

In addition, on the second day of the session, we organized a joint briefing on Breastfeeding and the Child’s Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition with FIAN and UNICEF . The briefing has been very well attended, with the presence 14 CRC members out of 18, and it has allowed us to engage in a very constructive discussion with several CRC members. On this occasion, IBFAN-GIFA and UNICEF jointly released a set of suggested recommendations on infant and young child feeding for the CRC Committee to include in its. Concluding Observations.

As a direct outcome of our advocacy, 8 countries (Benin, France, Ireland, Kenya, Oman, Peru, Senegal and Zambia) received direct recommendations on breastfeeding, while 7 countries (Benin, Haiti, Kenya, Peru, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe) were urged to implement the 2014 OHCHR Technical guidance on child mortality, which calls States to implement and monitor the International Code and to support breastfeeding on the workplace.

• Read IBFAN-GIFA’s full post-session report, which includes a table with all indirect and direct recommendations related to breastfeeding