World Breastfeeding Week 2023 : Theme
On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) lauded the progress made by several countries in increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates, while also highlighting the potential for further advancements if breastfeeding is protected and supported, particularly in the workplace.
- World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually during the first week of August in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration.
- In 1990, the Innocenti Declaration was signed by government policymakers, UN health agencies, and other organisations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
- In 1991, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed as a global network, and since 1992, the world has marked Breastfeeding Week, annually.
- Since 2016, WBW has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Breastfeeding can help achieve many of the 17 SDGs, including goals on poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, and sustainable consumption.
- Theme 2023: “Let’s make breastfeeding at work, work”.
- UNICEF and WHO called on governments, donors, civil society and the private sector to step up efforts to help eliminate barriers women and families face to achieving their breastfeeding goals and reach the global 2030 target of 70%.
