Asian leaders and parliamentarians gathered at a conference in Hanoion April 2 to recognise the vital role of parliamentarian leaders inadvancing child nutrition and development.
Theconference, dubbed “the Role of Parliamentarians in the Fulfilment ofChild’s Rights to Nutrition and Development,” was jointly held byUNICEF, the Alive & Thrive organisation and the Vietnam ’sNational Assembly following the success of the 132nd Assembly of theInter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132).
Addressingthe event, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said strong anddedicated leadership across the South and East Asian region will helpensure investments in child nutrition and health are prioritised andnations have the human capital to remain competitive in today’s growingglobal economy.
Many Asian countries have committedto improving child nutrition, a fundamental human right, through theConvention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Despite strong investmentsfrom these countries, progress on infant and child nutrition across theregion has stalled.
A quarter century post-CRCadoption, at least half of children are still stunted across sixcountries in East and South Asia . Stunting, or below average heightfor one’s age, reduces physical, social, and cognitive capacitythroughout childhood and into adulthood.
Accordingto Member of the Afghanistan Parliament Fackhuda Zahra Naderi, countriesacross the South and East Asian regions continue to pay high economiccosts for not addressing child stunting, including increased health andeducation costs.
These compounding factors can reduce a country’s GDP by up to 3 percent, she noted.
Participants at the event discussed ways policymakers andparliamentarians can support families to improve infant and young childfeeding practices, particularly breastfeeding.
Theysaid parliamentarians can support families by strengthening legislationaround the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes(BMS Code) and maternity protection. The BMS Code is designed to supportoptimal infant and young child nutrition by regulating how and wherebreast milk substitutes are marketed.
Strongmaternity protection policies help ensure that mothers can be employedin the formal sector and have the support they need to exclusivelybreastfeed their child for the first 6 months of life and continuesupplementary breastfeeding through 24 months of age, they said.
During the event, parliamentarians also suggested proposals andmeasures to ensure nutrition for children in each country, contributingto making effective legislative adjustments and implementing policies ineach country across the Asia-Pacific region.-VNA
Theconference, dubbed “the Role of Parliamentarians in the Fulfilment ofChild’s Rights to Nutrition and Development,” was jointly held byUNICEF, the Alive & Thrive organisation and the Vietnam ’sNational Assembly following the success of the 132nd Assembly of theInter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132).
Addressingthe event, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said strong anddedicated leadership across the South and East Asian region will helpensure investments in child nutrition and health are prioritised andnations have the human capital to remain competitive in today’s growingglobal economy.
Many Asian countries have committedto improving child nutrition, a fundamental human right, through theConvention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Despite strong investmentsfrom these countries, progress on infant and child nutrition across theregion has stalled.
A quarter century post-CRCadoption, at least half of children are still stunted across sixcountries in East and South Asia . Stunting, or below average heightfor one’s age, reduces physical, social, and cognitive capacitythroughout childhood and into adulthood.
Accordingto Member of the Afghanistan Parliament Fackhuda Zahra Naderi, countriesacross the South and East Asian regions continue to pay high economiccosts for not addressing child stunting, including increased health andeducation costs.
These compounding factors can reduce a country’s GDP by up to 3 percent, she noted.
Participants at the event discussed ways policymakers andparliamentarians can support families to improve infant and young childfeeding practices, particularly breastfeeding.
Theysaid parliamentarians can support families by strengthening legislationaround the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes(BMS Code) and maternity protection. The BMS Code is designed to supportoptimal infant and young child nutrition by regulating how and wherebreast milk substitutes are marketed.
Strongmaternity protection policies help ensure that mothers can be employedin the formal sector and have the support they need to exclusivelybreastfeed their child for the first 6 months of life and continuesupplementary breastfeeding through 24 months of age, they said.
During the event, parliamentarians also suggested proposals andmeasures to ensure nutrition for children in each country, contributingto making effective legislative adjustments and implementing policies ineach country across the Asia-Pacific region.-VNA
