Penny van Esterik

tating that it is a child's right to breastfeed seems to suggest that it is a woman's duty to breastfeed. Caring relationships, according to many Forum participants, are reciprocal relationships which ensure that both parties benefit. This is what Penny Van Esterik reminds us when speaking about the concept of Liang or Liangloo as care or nurture. In our current culture, however, where the ethics of individuals' rights prevail over reciprocal relationships, the mandate of child's rights - without equal consideration of women's social condition - does lend itself to this dilemma.

It is thus not surprising that in advocating for breastfeeding, women at the Forum have simultaneously reminded us of the need to speak about women's health, reproductive rights and development. Here are three statements from feminist participants at the Forum:

Shameem Ahmed, Bangladesh International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research

"A child's 'right' to be breastfed stems from the mother's right. Women should be ensured of her basic rights. Women should be protected from discrimination, violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation."

Vanessa Griffen, Fiji. Coordinator, GAD-APDC, Malaysia

"We must recognise the fact that women are prevented from breastfeeding not because of their physical inability to do so, but often by circumstances beyond their control - such as economic need which forces them to work outside their home. Many women are burdened with child care and housework, harassed by domestic violence. Women have the right to live in peace "peace at home and peace in the world."

Ana Vasquez, Peru CESIP

"We must fight for the appropriate conditions for successful and gratifying breastfeeding. Therefore, we are fighting for women's fundamental rights, such as the right to know, to control and to decide about her own body; for the right to working conditions that allow women to exercise their rights to maternity. Individuals and organisations working for breastfeeding must therefore take up the fight for women's sexual and reproductive right. There can be no breastfed child without a mother who breastfeeds."