World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration celebrated every year from 1st to 7th August in more than 120 countries in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. It is a global campaign aiming to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding.
It was started in 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, community support, ecology, economy, science, education and human rights. Since 2016, WBW is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.
Optimal breastfeeding is vital to the lifelong good health and wellbeing of women and children.WHO and UNICEF recommend:
- Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life.
- Continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond, with introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at 6 months.
The 2021 theme for World Breastfeeding Week is Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility. This year’s campaign will focus on how breastfeeding/chestfeeding contributes to the survival, health, and wellbeing of all, and the imperative to protect breastfeeding/chestfeeding worldwide.
The themes of each year are as follows:
2021
Theme: Protecting Breastfeeding : Where Lies the Responsibility?
2020
Theme: Support Breastfeeding for a healthier planet
Covid-19 is an opportunity to strengthen action on breastfeeding
2019
Theme: Empower parents, enable breastfeeding: Now and for the future!
2018
Theme: BREASTFEEDING FOUNDATION OF LIFE
BREASTFEEDING NOURISHMENT FOR LIFE
2017
Theme: SUSTAINING BREASTFEEDING: Building Alliances without Conflicts of
Interest
2016
Theme: BREASTFEEDING – A Key to Sustainable Development
2015
Theme: BREASTFEEDING AND WORK – LET’S MAKE IT WORK!
2014
Theme : Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal – for Life!
2013
Theme: BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT- Close to Mothers
2012
Theme: Taking Stock of Policies and Programmes
2011
Theme:: Talk to me! Breastfeeding – a 3D Experience
2010
Theme : Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way
2009
Theme : Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response
2008
Theme: Mother Support: Going for the Gold
2007
Theme : Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour – Save ONE million babies!
2006
Theme: The IMS Act: Making it Known to People
2005
Theme: Breastfeeding and Family Foods: Loving & Healthy
2004
Theme: Exclusive Breastfeeding: the Gold Standard
2003
Theme: Breastfeeding in a Globalised World for Peace and Justice
2002
Theme: Breastfeeding: Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies
2001
Theme: Breastfeeding in the Information Age
2000
Theme: Breastfeeding It’s Your Right
1999
Theme : Breastfeeding: Education for Life
1998
Theme : Breastfeeding: Best Investment
1997
Theme : Breastfeeding: Nature’s Way
1996
Theme : Breastfeeding: A Community Responsibility
1995
Theme: Breastfeeding: Empowering Women
1994
Theme: Protect Breastfeeding: Making the Code Work
1993
Theme: Women, work and breastfeeding: Everybody benefits!
1992
Theme: Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)
