UN warns lack of support for breastfeeding mothers globally

Breastfeeding rates are climbing globally, yet the United Nations cautioned that millions of mothers and families continue to lack essential services and protection needed to feed their infants safely. The warning follows the release of a UN report that highlights a disparity between the upward trend in breastfeeding and the persistent gaps in health‑system support, legal safeguards, and workplace accommodations.

The report notes that while many countries have achieved modest improvements in exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, over 200 million infants remain at risk due to insufficient access to skilled lactation counseling, inadequate maternity leave policies, and limited enforcement of regulations against aggressive breast‑milk substitute marketing. Regions with the highest shortfalls include sub‑Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of Latin America, where health‑facility staffing shortages and cultural barriers further impede safe feeding practices. The UN agencies involved stress that strengthening community‑based support, expanding training for health workers, and ensuring compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast‑milk Substitutes are critical to closing the protection gap.

The United Nations urges governments, donors, and private sector partners to prioritize investments in comprehensive breastfeeding programs and to enact policies that safeguard mothers’ rights to breastfeed. By addressing the identified service deficits, the UN aims to translate rising breastfeeding rates into sustained health benefits for children and families worldwide.