Most of you will know that I have been involved in campaigning for rights for breastfeeding women and babies for a little while now. I try to do some small things, and regularly write to my MP about issues.
The latest thing is the Equality Bill currently being considered. Morgan sums up the problem brilliantly as normal. Basically the government are fobbing breastfeeding women off with inadequate protection – certainly far less than what Scotland already has.
I wrote to my MP expressing my concerns about this – I sent her the following letter
Dear Julie Kirkbride,
The time of year has come around again where I am organising a picnic
in Birmingham to highlight the issue of the lack of legislation
protecting the rights of babies to be fed in public places. You may
remember that we organised one last year at short notice, but managed
to get some publicity. We hope that you will be able to join us this
year, knowing that you share our interest in protecting and promoting
breastfeeding.
We are holding the picnic on 20th July to coincide with the
parliamentary recess, coordinating with another picnic in London and
other regional picnics.
Tying in with this are the issues of the proposed Equalities bill that
is being touted as providing protecting for breastfeeding mothers.
I would like you to seek clarification from the Government on the
details of how breastfeeding in public spaces is protected under the
proposed Equalities Bill. Specifically, could you ask what would happen
if a mother was asked to stop feeding her child, and leave a cafe?
Would she have to leave, when asked, and then bring a claim after the
event?
I’d also appreciate you enquiring what protection a mother has if she
is approached in the street, or on premises, from a passer-by and not
the staff or owner of the premises? If a fellow passenger on the train,
for instance, starts to demand she stop feeding and leave the carriage,
what protection would the mother have under the Equalities Bill?
I am also concerned that 26 weeks after birth is specifically mentioned
- even if the proposed legislation was sufficient, protection for the
first 6 months will not help mothers to reach the target of at least 2
years recommended by the WHO.
As you know, if this took place in Scotland, the mother could have
either staff, or passer by, charged for an offence liable to a £2500
fine. I’m greatly concerned that the proposals in the Equalities Bill
are not equal to this and would ask that you seek clarification on my
behalf.
Many thanks for your assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Kat Goodwin
I recently received a reply, passed on from Vera Baird QC, MP
I haven’t had a chance to scan it yet, but this is what it says:
Thank you for your letter of 13 May 2009 … passing on correspondence from your constituent, This letter has been transferred to me as the Equality Bill forms part of my Ministerial responsibilities. Your constituent is concerned about discrimination associated with breastfeeding and shows support for the Equality Bill which is now being taken through parliament.
I am very pleased that your constituent supports protection against discrimination for breastfeeding mothers contained in the Equality Bill
The Government recognises the important contribution which breastfeeding can make to the health of mothers and infants. That is why we are doing everything we can to encourage mothers to breastfeed and to make sure that they are aware of its benefits. But, for many mothers, the uncertainty surrounding where they can breastfeed is a real deterrent. Babies do not get hungry to order and mothers have to be confident that they can feed their infants in a cafe, restaurant or shop without the embarrassment of having the owner as them to stop. This is what the Bill will do.
In the past, the law has not been as clear as it could be on this. People have been unsure of their rights and their responsibilities in this area. That is why the Equality Bill makes it clear that women who are treated less favourably outside work just because they are breastfeeding are protected from such discrimination.
Your constituents comments on this important piece of legislation are welcome. I am particularly encouraged at the strength of support and enthusiasm within the community and especially mothers for our efforts to eliminate breastfeeding discrimination.
Clearly I did not express support for the legislation, and none of my questions were answered. I shall have to try again.
Continue reading The Equality Bill and Protecting Breastfeeding Rights
