The CRC reporting process and
how to link it to the WBTi
Camille Selleger / IBFAN-GIFA
Geneva, May 2015 – WBTi/WBCi training workshop
The CRC
A Convention…
and
a monitoring body
See Convention: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx
Breastfeeding
from the CRC perspective
Which rights are involved?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Right to non-discrimination (2 CRC)
Right to life-survival-development (6 CRC)
Right to adequate assistance for parents (18 CRC)
Right to to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health (24 CRC)
Right to adequate food (24.2(c) CRC)
Right to education and correct information (17, 24 (e)
CRC)
Right to social security (26 CRC)
Right to a decent standard of living and living conditions
(27 CRC)
Article 24 CRC: Highest attainable
standard of health
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and
rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to
ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of
access to such health care services.
Article 24 CRC: Highest attainable
standard of health
2. States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in
particular, shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To diminish infant and child mortality; […]
(c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the
framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, […] the
provision of adequate nutritious foods […];
(d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care for
mothers;
(e) To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and
children, are informed, have access to education and are supported
in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the
advantages of breastfeeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation
and the prevention of accidents; […]
CRC General Comment No 15
(2013)
44. Exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months of age should
be protected and promoted and breastfeeding should continue
alongside appropriate complementary foods preferably until two
years of age, where feasible. States’ obligations in this area are
defined in the “protect, promote and support” framework, adopted
unanimously by the World Health Assembly.14 States are required to
introduce into domestic law, implement and enforce […] the
International Code on Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and
the relevant subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions […]
14
See WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Global Strategy for Infant and
Young Child Feeding (Geneva, 2003).
CRC General Comment No 15
(2013)
81. Among other responsibilities and in all contexts, private
companies should […] comply with the International Code of
Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and the relevant
subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions […]
THIS PROVISION SETS A DIRECT OBLIGATION FOR PRIVATE
COMPANIES TO COMPLY WITH THE CODE UNIVERSALLY!
See http://www.ohchr.org/en/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx
-> General Comments -> General Comment No 15
CRC General Comment No 16
(2013)
57. States are also required to implement and enforce
internationally agreed standards concerning children’s rights,
health and business, including […] the International Code of
Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant subsequent
World Health Assembly resolutions.
See http://www.ohchr.org/en/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx
-> General Comments -> General Comment No 16
OHCHR Technical guidance on
child mortality (2014)
77. Adopting and enforcing laws and policies that promote
access to high-quality maternal and newborn care in both the
public and private sectors is a key component of a human rightsbased approach to preventing neonatal mortality. This
encompasses laws and policies for: […] implementing and
monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk
Substitutes.
78. In addition, workplace policies are important to support
women during pregnancy and in the postnatal period by
protecting women from physical demanding work and
supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Children/TechnicalGuidance/Technic
alGuidancereport.pdf
Reporting cycle to the CRC
Source: Child Rights Connect
New CRC reporting procedure
(LOIPR)
LOIPR: List Of Issues Prior Reporting
 ‘Simplified reporting procedure’ gradually implemented from
2016 onwards
 State report will prepare its report in reply to the LOIPR
issued by the CRC
 No further written information will be required from the
State until the dialogue with the CRC
 LOIPR will complicate work of NGOs (different types of
reporting, risks to see BF/IYCF side-lined and not included in
the LOIPR)
By now, no full clarity on the introduction of LOIPR to CRC!
CRC reporting: what outcome?
Armenia - May-June 2013
42. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Undertake measures to resume its baby-friendly hospital
initiatives and ensure its maternity hospitals meet the required
standards and are certified as baby-friendly under the BabyFriendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI);
(b) Ensure regular monitoring of existing international
marketing regulations relating to breast-milk substitutes and
take necessary actions against those who violate these
regulations and accelerate the adoption of the draft Law on
Breastfeeding;
(c) Promote proper infant and young child feeding practices
through a health-care system in institutions and communities.
CRC reporting: what outcome?
Portugal - Jan 2014
56. The Committee recommends that the State party take action
to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for the first
six months, through awareness-raising measures, including
campaigns, the provision of information and training to relevant
officials, particularly staff working in maternity units, and
parents. The Committee also recommends that the State party
strengthen the monitoring of existing marketing regulations
relating to breast-milk substitutes.
CRC reporting: what outcome?
Croatia – Sept 2014
49. The Committee recommends that the State party take action
to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, through
awareness-raising measures, the provision of information and
training to relevant officials, particularly staff working in
maternity units, and parents. The Committee also recommends
that the State party take all the necessary legislative and
structural measures, including monitoring, to control the
marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
CRC reports: how to leverage
WBTi assessments?
• Assessment-Analysis-Action
 CRC report leads to Concluding Observations which urge
State to take ACTION
• CRC template report is consistent with WBTi
indicators
 CRC report is easy to draft once the WBTi is made
 WBTi report card can be directly used to inform CRC
Committee during a LOIPR reporting procedure
• Also the other way around…
 CRC report could be used as a basis to start a WBTi
assessment
Conclusion
Once you have achieved your WBTi assessment,
do not forget to use it to draft your report to the
CRC !
Thank you!
Individually, we are a drop.
Together, we are an ocean.
Ryunosuke Satoro