Thursday, May 14, 2009

Breastfeeding in Public

If you believe that you should have the right to breastfeed your baby in public in the UK without any risk of interference then you should read this article. We have an opportunity to clarify the law regarding breastfeeding in public in the Government's new Equalities Bill. But at present, the proposed Bill does not go far enough to protect breastfeeding mothers. The problem concerns interference with a feeding mother: it does not state clearly whether it is illegal to approach her and ask her to stop feeding (as opposed to throwing her out of the building). To bring this to your MP's attention, there is a ready drafted letter on the link above: all you need to do is find your MP on findyourmp.parliament.uk and paste the drafted letter into an email. There is also a petition on number10.gov.uk that says:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to bring in new and specific legislation in England and Wales, to make it an offence to prevent a parent or caregiver feeding milk to a hungry child, in any location the child has a right to be. We also ask that this legislation makes it a specific offence to intimidate or harass the parent or caregiver feeding their child.

Click here to sign the petition.

Make democracy work! If you do feel strongly about your rights to feed in public, please take 5 minutes to sign the petition and send an email.

4 comments:

Joxy34 said...

I've signed so many petitions on this matter, I'm beginning to wonder if it makes any different. I have though fired and email off to my MP asking for clarification on the proposed bill.

Thanks for the links though, I had wondered where we were at with the bill... and by the looks of it, disapointingly no-where really.
I don't understand why it is so difficult for the government to protect a woman from interference when breastfeeding.

Joxy.

Cave Mother said...

Especially as women in Scotland are protected. Thanks for signing the petition.

Liz said...

Yes, I've signed various things about this too, and also am awaiting a response from my MP on the question. I think he's a bit busy apologising for his expenses though...

Eco Yogini said...

wow this is being put forth in your legislation?? this makes me wonder if Canada has anything... probably not. Although I have started seeing mothers breastfeeding in public and I think it is beautiful. I have a funny feeling that Canada has a ways to go on this issue...