Ten Links for 
Nurturing the Future

1. HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure that the human rights to and the responsibility for food security, for good health and a safe environment, particularly for women and children, are fully observed in order to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and sound infant and young child nutrition.

2. FOOD SECURITY

Enable all women to practise exclusive breastfeeding from birth to about six months of age. Enable continued breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond, contributing to household food security. Strengthen government and citizens' actions that ensure adequate maternal nutrition and food security for all l Encourage production and use of appropriate indigenous complementary foods.

3. WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

Develop innovative social support systems for all mothers, including adequate maternity  legislation. Strengthen women's role in decision-making at all levels and provide accurate information about infant and young child feeding.

4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Encourage the development of community support groups, including mother-to-mother support groups. Involve fully the community, including citizen groups, religious leaders and policy makers in educational partnership processes that empower all people to improve infant and young child nutrition, and thereby their own lives.

5. BABY-FRIENDLY CULTURES

Ensure that the practices recommended in the 'Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding' as elaborated in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) are implemented throughout the health care system and by traditional birth attendants.  Expand the "baby-friendly" concept to antenatal clinics, primary health care services, work places and communities, creating an environment where every mother can naturally
and easily breastfeed.

6. INTEGRITY

Refuse any gifts, sponsorship or support from manufacturers of infant feeding products and accessories. Condemn advertising that exploits women's bodies and the use of products that cause waste and harm the environment.

7. INTERNATIONAL CODE

Push for the implemention of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions through the adoption and enforcement of strong national legislation or regulations. Protect consumers and healthworkers from misleading commercial promotion, free trade excesses and misinformation about Codex Alimentarius provisions.

8. CAPACITY BUILDING

Develop the capacity of  health and childcare workers, nutritionists, government officials, social workers, citizen groups and the community in general to understand breastfeeding and sound infant and young child nutrition needs. Ensure that primary health care staff, nurses, midwives, doctors, specialists and other health workers have adequate training in breastfeeding and sound infant and young child nutrition and support the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, related resolutions and other appropriate international instruments.

9. ADVOCACY

Advocate for the implementation of sound national infant and young child feeding policies which include the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and the timely use of appropriate complementary foods. Involve the media and citizens groups in creating social pressure for behavioural change towards supporting breastfeeding and sound infant and young child nutrition. Influence policies and an economic, social, political and physical environment that nurtures sustainable human development.

10. NETWORKING

Contribute to the creation of local and national networks of organisations, individuals and govern-ment agencies working for sound infant and young child feeding, and broader issues of child care. Link and integrate these networks with regional and international movements from all sectors of civil society that seek to nurture a sustainable future.