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Following the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary (IPU)
Assembly, UNICEF and Alive & Thrive will co-host The Role of
Parliamentarians in the Fulfillment of Child’s Rights to Nutrition and
Developmentconference in collaboration with the National Assembly of
the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
Leaders and parliamentarians from Asian countries will gather
to recognize the vital role of parliamentarian leaders in advancing child
nutrition and development on April 2nd 2015.
The conference will open with remarks from H.E. Mr. Uong Chu
Luu, Vice President of Viet Nam’s National Assembly. “I am thrilled to join
UNICEF and Alive & Thrive today to discuss the important role of
parliamentarians in child health and nutrition,” said Mr. Uong Chu Luu.
“Strong and dedicated leadership across the South and East Asian region
will help ensure investments in child nutrition and health are prioritized,
and that nations have the human capital to remain competitive in today’s
growing global economy.”
Many Asian countries have committed to improving child
nutrition, a fundamental human right, through the Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC). Yet despite strong investments made by countries,
progress on infant and young child nutrition across the region has stalled.
After 25 years of adopting the CRC, at least half of all
children remain stunted in six countries in East and South Asia. Stunting,
or being too short for one’s age, reduces physical, social, and cognitive
capacity throughout childhood and into adulthood.
At a young age, stunted children tend to score lower on tests
and are less likely to be in the appropriate grade for their age at school.
As adults, they earn 20 percent less than their non-stunted peers
“Countries across the South and East Asian regions continue to
pay high economic costs for not addressing child stunting, including
increased health and education costs,” said Ms. Fackhuda Zahra Naderi,
Member of Parliament of Afghanistan. “These compounding factors can reduce
a country’s GDP by up to 3 percent.” “We can no longer afford to put the
issues of child stunting and undernutrition on the backburner”, said the
Irish Ambassador to Viet Nam, Mr Damien Cole. The irish Government has been
a strong supporter of the Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement. ”One of the best
opportunities to achieve our vision is to ensure there are strong goals and
indicators for food security and nutrition in the post-2015 Sustainable
Development Goals”.
Conference presenters will discuss how policymakers and
parliamentarians can support families to improve infant and young child
feeding practices, particularly breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding is one of the
simplest, smartest and most cost-effective ways we have of supporting
healthier children and stronger families," Daniel Toole, UNICEF
Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, said. "It’s
absolutely the best first food for newborns, providing all of the essential
nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Breastfed children
are sick less often and have higher IQ than their non-breastfed peers.”
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that
all mothers breastfeed their children exclusively for the first six months,
giving them only breastmilk and no other foods or liquids. At 6 months of
age, children should be introduced to appropriate, nutritious, and diverse
complementary foods, while continuing to be breastfed to 24 months and
beyond.
However, baby food and formula companies have targeted the
Asia-Pacific region for years, increasing rates of artificial feeding and
impeding the region’s progress towards improved breastfeeding rates. In
addition, weak maternity entitlements have contributed to low exclusive
breastfeeding rates in the first six months after birth and continued
breastfeeding upto 24 months are low or declining.
Parliamentarians can support families by strengthening
legislation around the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes (BMS Code) and maternity protection. The BMS Code is designed
to support optimal infant and young child nutrition by regulating how and
where breastmilk substitutes (including baby food and formula) are
marketed, and prohibiting all forms of promotion of breastmilk substitutes.
Strong maternity protection policies help ensure that mothers
can be employed in the formal sector and have the support they need to
exclusively breastfeed their child for the first 6 months of life and
continue to breastfeed till their children are 24 months of age.
“In 2012, Viet Nam extended paid maternity leave to six months
and expanded the ban of advertising of breastmilk substitutes for infants
from 6 months to 24 months. These landmark decisions have helped ensure
that all mothers and families have adequate support to choose the safest
and most nourishing methods of feeding their children,” said Mr. Tran Van
Hang, Director of Viet Nam’s Committee of Foreign Affairs. “At today’s
conference, parliamentarians will come away with strong recommendations and
solutions to improve policies supporting child nutrition and development in
their countries. Together, we are building a brighter future for our
children, and a stronger future for our nations”./.
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Vietnam joints to recognize children’s right to nutrition
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All comments [ 12 ]
Twenty four years ago, Viet Nam demonstrated its global leadership in recognizing the rights of children by being the second country in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We are delighted and proud that Viet Nam has once again shown its
The ratification of the CRPD represents a major landmark in Viet Nam's human rights journey and builds upon the important steps the Government has taken in relation to the seven million people, and children, with disabilities.
Viet Nam joins 151 countries across the world that are committed to enhance inclusion and break down barriers faced by children and adults with disabilities.
The creation of Viet Nam's first ever specialized children's court – the Family and Juvenile Court – with the passage of the Law on Court Organization signifies an important step forward to ensure that children are better served and protected by the justice system.
It addresses a critical recommendation that has been strongly advocated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child urging Viet Nam "to... establish a specialized juvenile court .."
Countries across the South and East Asian regions continue to pay high economic costs for not addressing child stunting, including increased health and education costs.
One of the best opportunities to achieve our vision is to ensure there are strong goals and indicators for food security and nutrition in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals
The right to meals and nourishment is a vital right for all human beings. Food is an essential element without which human beings cannot survive.
Balanced meals and nourishment are predicated on the correct balance between necessary proportions of nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, vitamins, fiber and water. In this manner, one can avoid malnutrition and problems linked to either excessive eating or dietary insufficiencies.
As a result, the children do not benefit from nutritional elements that are essential to their development and are consequently exposed to serious health problems.
taking care for children always is a priority in our goverment's policies
the children in rural and mountain area often lack nutritions and not are taken care carafully due to poor conditions.
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