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FIFTY-NINTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
WHA59.21
Infant and young child nutrition 2006
The Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly, Having considered the report on infant and young child nutrition which highlights the contribution of optimal infant feeding practices to achievement of the internationally agreed healthrelated development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration;1 Recalling the adoption by the Health Assembly of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (resolution WHA34.22), resolutions WHA35.26, WHA37.30, WHA39.28, WHA41.11, WHA43.3, WHA47.5, WHA49.15, WHA54.2 and WHA58.32 on infant and young child nutrition, appropriate feeding practices and related questions; Reaffirming in particular resolutions WHA44.33 and WHA55.25 which respectively welcomed the 1990 Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding and endorsed the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding as the foundations for action in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding; Welcoming the Call for Action contained in the Innocenti Declaration 2005 on Infant and Young Child Feeding; Mindful that 2006 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and recognizing its increased relevance in the wake of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, rising frequency of complex human and natural emergencies, and concerns about the risks of intrinsic contamination of powdered infant formula, 1. REITERATES its support for the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding;
2. WELCOMES the Call for Action made in the Innocenti Declaration 2005 on Infant and Young Child Feeding as a significant step towards achievement of the fourth Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality; 3. URGES Member States to support activities on this Call for Action and, in particular, to renew their commitment to policies and programmes related to implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Health Assembly resolutions and to revitalization of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative to protect, promote and support breastfeeding; 4. CALLS on multilateral and bilateral donor arrangements and international financial institutions to direct financial resources for Member States to carry out these efforts; 5. REQUESTS the Director-General to mobilize technical support for Member States in the implementation and independent monitoring of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Health Assembly resolutions. (Ninth plenary meeting, 27 May 2006 – Committee A, fifth report)
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Document A59/13.