| Dear colleagues,
In this issue of UNICEF Working to Improve Nutrition at Scale, I am glad to share three recent resources that will strengthen the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, “the Code”, which aims to prohibit the unethical marketing practices that undermine breastfeeding. These resources are:
An introductory online course on the Code, developed by UNICEF and WHO, which is available to UNICEF staff, government counterparts and NGO partners. This training consists of eight modules, that explain why the Code is necessary, its main provisions and what is needed to monitor, implement and enforce it at the national level.
The NetCode toolkit for ongoing monitoring and periodic assessment of the Code, was developed by UNICEF, WHO and partners as a resource to reinvigorate and reinforce ongoing monitoring and periodic assessment of the Code and national laws. This is necessary to ensure that national legislation is enforced and that mothers and infants are protected from the aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
The joint WHO, IBFAN and UNICEF Marketing of breast-milk substitutes: national implementation of the international code, status report 2018 is an update to the 2016 report and provides a regional perspective on the legal status of the Code. It highlights the status of a limited number of specific provisions that the authors consider to be particularly important in addressing and eliminating inappropriate marketing practices.
For additional information on the resources above, please contact David Clark (dclark@unicef.org), Legal Specialist, Nutrition Section, UNICEF New York.
Read and share!
Víctor M. Aguayo, MPH, PhD
Associate Director, Programme Division
Chief, Nutrition Programme | UNICEF New York |
