Publications

This research brief is one of a series of six briefs, which provide an overview of available evidence shown in the Campbell-UNICEF Mega-Map of the effectiveness of interventions to improve child well-being in low- and middle-income countries. Five of these briefs summarize evidence as mapped against the five goal areas of UNICEF’s 2018–2021 Strategic Plan. A sixth special brief was added to focus specifically on COVID-19 and other epidemics and major crises. It is anticipated that the briefs will also be useful for others working in the child well-being space.

The first part of this paper documents the striking changes in population size and structures which have occurred since the beginning of transition, and which have led to a substantial reduction in the child population. It is argued that they have been mainly driven by the drop in birth rates which has characterised the whole region, but which has been most dramatic in the CEE and Western CIS. Some countries in these subregions now rank among those with the lowest levels of fertility in the world, and the shrinking cohorts of children in these countries face the prospect of a growing old-age dependency burden. The second part of the paper discusses recent data on infant and under-five mortality, which are direct measures of child well-being, and of the success of policy measures aimed at improving child survival and development. The paper highlights the marked differences not only in levels, but also in progress in reducing mortality rates across the CEE/CIS.

In 1990 the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding set an international agenda with ambitious targets for action. The Innocenti Declaration reflected both the spirit of the support that was being mobilized for breastfeeding, and the recognition of the right of the infant to nutritious food enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This publication reviews the context of the Innocenti Declaration and analyzes the achievements that have been realized towards the targets that were established in 1990. It describes the continuing and new challenges that exist to optimal feeding of infants and young children, and suggests a way forward towards the global aim of ensuring universal enjoyment of children’s right to adequate nutrition.

En los 15 años transcurridos desde la adopción de la versión original de la Declaración de Innocenti, en 1990, se ha logrado un notable progreso en lo que a mejorar las prácticas mundiales de alimentación de lactantes y niños pequeños se refiere. No obstante ello, las prácticas de alimentación inapropiadas, es decir la alimentación subóptima o la ausencia de lactancia materna y la alimentación complementaria inadecuada, continúan representando la principal amenaza para la salud y la supervivencia infantil en todo el mundo. Una mejor práctica de la lactancia materna por si sola ayudaría a salvar las vidas de más de 3.500 niños y niñas por día, más que cualquier otra intervención preventiva. Guiados por principios aceptados de derechos humanos, en especial aquellos plasmados en la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño, nuestra visión es crear un entorno que permita a las madres, sus familias y otras personas a cargo del cuidado de los niños realizar decisiones informadas acerca de una alimentación óptima, definida como la lactancia materna exclusiva durante seis meses con la posterior introducción de la alimentación complementaria apropiada y la lactancia materna continuada hasta los dos años de edad o más.

Depuis 15 ans qu’a été adoptée la première Déclaration Innocenti, en 1990, l’alimentation des nourrissons et des jeunes enfants a fait des progrès remarquables dans le monde entier. Cependant, des pratiques alimentaires inappropriées - allaitement insuffisant ou inexistant et alimentation complémentaire inadéquate - restent dans le monde ce qui menace le plus la santé et la survie de l’enfant. Une amélioration de la pratique de l’allaitement maternel pourrait à elle seule sauver chaque jour les vies de plus de 3500 enfants, soit plus que toute autre action préventive. Conformément aux principes communément admis des droits de la personne humaine, en particulier ceux énoncés dans la Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant, notre but est de créer un environnement permettant aux mères, aux familles et aux autres personnes qui s’occupent des enfants de choisir en pleine connaissance de cause une alimentation optimale, qui est définie comme un allaitement maternel exclusif jusqu’à l’âge de six mois, suivi par l’introduction d’une alimentation complémentaire appropriée en parallèle avec la continuation de l’allaitement au sein jusqu’à l’âge de deux ans ou audelà.

Nel 1990 con la Dichiarazione degli Innocenti sulla Protezione, Promozione e Sostegno all'Allattamento Materno si è stabilita una agenda internazionale con obiettivi ambiziosi da raggiungere. Nel Novembre 2005 Firenze ha nuovamente ospitato un congresso internazionale per la celebrazione del 15mo anniversario della Dichiarazione degli Innocenti. L'anniversario è stato celebrato per: valutare i progressi fatti nella promozione, protezione e sostegno all'allattamento materno a partire dal 1990; richiamare l'attenzione dei governi, della società civile e dei donanti ad aumentare gli sforzi per l'attuazione degli obiettivi della Dichiarazione degli Innocenti e degli obiettivi addizionali stabiliti nel 2002 con la Strategia Globale per l'alimentazione dell'infanzia e del bambino; accrescere la coscienza intorno al diritto di ogni bambino ad una alimentazione adeguata, e agli obblighi per ogni settore della società ad assicurare che questo diritto venga rispettato. La Dichiarazione degli Innocenti sull'alimentazione dell'infanzia e del bambino riprende i rinnovati impegni presi durante questa storica celebrazione e registra i 5 obiettivi addizionali che sono stati identificati come parte della Strategia Globale in corso sull'alimentazione dell'infanzia e del bambino.

In 1990 the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding set an international agenda with ambitious targets for action. In November 2005 Florence was again the gathering place to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration. The Anniversary was observed to: assess progress made in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding since 1990; call upon governments, civil society and donors to increase efforts to implement the targets of the Innocenti Declaration and the additional targets established in 2002 within the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding; raise awareness of every child’s right to adequate nutrition, and the corresponding obligations on all sectors of society to ensure that this right is realized. The Innocenti Declaration on Infant and Young Child Feeding captures the renewed commitments made at this historic anniversary meeting and records the additional five operational targets that were identified as part of the ongoing global strategy on Infant and Young Child feeding. The Declaration was endorsed by the Standing Committee on Nutrition on 17 March, 2006 and the Call for Action made in the declaration was welcomed by the World Health Assembly on 27 May, 2006.

In 1990 the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding set an international agenda with ambitious targets for action. In November 2005 Florence was again the gathering place to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration. The Anniversary was observed to: assess progress made in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding since 1990; call upon governments, civil society and donors to increase efforts to implement the targets of the Innocenti Declaration and the additional targets established in 2002 within the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding; raise awareness of every child’s right to adequate nutrition, and the corresponding obligations on all sectors of society to ensure that this right is realized. The Innocenti Declaration on Infant and Young Child Feeding captures the renewed commitments made at this historic anniversary meeting and records the additional five operational targets that were identified as part of the ongoing global strategy on Infant and Young Child feeding. The Declaration was endorsed by the Standing Committee on Nutrition on 17 March, 2006 and the Call for Action made in the declaration was welcomed by the World Health Assembly on 27 May, 2006.

In 1990 the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding set an international agenda with ambitious targets for action. In November 2005 Florence was again the gathering place to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration. The Anniversary was observed to: assess progress made in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding since 1990; call upon governments, civil society and donors to increase efforts to implement the targets of the Innocenti Declaration and the additional targets established in 2002 within the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding; raise awareness of every child’s right to adequate nutrition, and the corresponding obligations on all sectors of society to ensure that this right is realized. The Innocenti Declaration on Infant and Young Child Feeding captures the renewed commitments made at this historic anniversary meeting and records the additional five operational targets that were identified as part of the ongoing global strategy on Infant and Young Child feeding. The Declaration was endorsed by the Standing Committee on Nutrition on 17 March, 2006 and the Call for Action made in the declaration was welcomed by the World Health Assembly on 27 May, 2006.

За 15 лет, прошедших с момента принятия в 1990 г. Первоначальной Инночентийской декларации, в улучшении питания детей грудного и раннего возраста во всем мире были достигнуты ощутимые успехи. Вместе с тем, неправильная практика вскармливания, не соответствующая оптимальной, или отсутствие грудного вскармливания и неадекватное дополнительное питание остаются самыми значительными угрозами здоровью и выживанию детей во всем мире. Одно лишь улучшение грудного вскармливания может спасти жизни более чем 3500 детей ежедневно, что превышает показатели любых других профилактических мер.

La presente pubblicazione intende dare maggiore visibilità all’allattamento materno e a tutti gli aspetti relativi all’alimentazione neonatale e infantile, in quanto si tratta di fattori essenziali per aumentare il tasso di sopravvivenza, crescita e sviluppo dei bambini, nonché attirare nuovamente l’attenzione di governi e donatori sul tema. Per farlo, ripercorre la serie di azioni, eventi, documenti e pratiche che dalla Dichiarazione degli Innocenti conduce alla Strategia globale per l'alimentazione del neonato e del bambino.

This publication is intended to raise the profile of breastfeeding and all elements of infant and young child feeding as key interventions for improving child survival, growth and development, and to bring this once again to the attention of governments and donors. In doing so it describes a chain of actions, events, documents and practices stretching forward from the Innocenti Declaration to the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. It describes the continuing and new challenges that exist to optimal feeding of infants and young children, and suggests a way forward towards the global aim of ensuring universal enjoyment of children's rights to adequate nutrition.