4. Women and Work

Since the last Forum, progress has been made around the world in ratifying and implementing the new ILO Maternity Protection Convention 183 and Recommendation 191. Breastfeeding advocates need to continue being involved in the process of ratification, strengthening legislation or any other improvements regarding maternity protection. On the micro level, how do we ensure mother-friendly workplaces and develop child-friendly crechè? Join brainstorming and project planning efforts to extend work on breastfeeding rights of working women, including those in the informal sector.

I. Maternity Protection Campaign (MPC Part 1): Orientation and Regional Highlights - Chris Mulford, ILCA/WABA, USA, Facilitator

This workshop will be an orientation and update on the concepts and happenings of maternity protection, ILO conventions, regional MP campaign highlights, and trade union strategies. The information provided here is essential to developing your own country campaigns on maternity protection.

• Orientation - Chris Mulford, ILCA/WABA, USA

• Regional overview/highlights - Amal Omer-Salim, IMCH/WABA, Sweden and regional facilitators

• Trade union strategies - Roselinder Simiyu, ICFTU

• Facilitated discussion - Regional facilitators

II.  Maternity Protection Campaign (MPC Part 2): Action Steps - Amal Omer-Salim, IMCH/WABA, Sweden, Facilitator

This workshop will be a sequel to MPC 1. It will give an in-depth explanation of the MPC kit materials, followed by group work by region to give participants a feel for the steps that are entailed in a campaign or plan of action. Participants will also have a chance to examine their region to better understand the pitfalls and opportunities that may arise. This will hopefully lead to recommendations that can be taken to the plenary.

III. Maternity Protection in Action:  Setting Up Crèche at Workplaces - Ines Fernandez, ARUGAAN Philippines, Facilitator

With a focus on employers and workplaces, this workshop will provide specific information on how to most effectively set up a child-friendly crèche or day care centre at or near the workplace.  It will introduce the mother and baby-friendly concepts, the Mother Friendly Workplace Initiative (MFWI) and include visual presentations, examples and information about the key players in this action-oriented initiative to support working mothers. Organised by ARUGAAN, Philippines.

15. Information, Education, Communication/ IT

I. How to Develop Effective Health Communication Materials - David
    Curtis, Healthlink Worldwide UK, and Dr. Rob Vincent, Exchange               
    Programme, UK, Facilitators

This session was an active participatory workshop that drew on participants' experience in developing resources. It did not follow the format of a traditional presentation. The session looked at the particular problems and challenges faced in the process of developing resources and offered an introduction to the QUEST methodology - a hands-on approach to material development. The group shared ideas and experience and together built an outline of the common challenges experienced in producing resources.

II. People's Media and Breastfeeding Arts - Dr. Rob Vincent, Exchange      
     Programme, UK, Facilitator  

A workshop combining the skills of mobilising popular media such as pop singers (eg. Madagascar) and local songs and lullabies in breastfeeding promotion, and a slide presentation on "Breastfeeding in the Arts" featuring artists of all centuries from the Egyptians to portraits of Holy Mary. Participants were invited to share other examples of how they have successfully utilised alternative media strategies (eg. theatre, songs) and breastfeeding art in their advocacy work.

• A pop-singer as a breastfeeding ambassador: an innovative approach in Madagascar - Dr. Agnes B. Guyon, LINKAGES-AED, Ethiopia

• Nurture baby's natural process of learning through lullabies while breastfeeding  - Amara Peeris, Sarvodaya Women's Movement,  Sri Lanka

• Breastfeeding in the arts - Anne-Marie Kern, IBCLC Austria

III. Using Information Technology in Breastfeeding Promotion - Dr. Rob Vincent, Exchange Programme, UK, Facilitator

This workshop helped participants feel more comfortable working with information technology as part of their day-to-day networking on breastfeeding promotion and advocacy. It also looked at a more creative use of websites and other e-communications to enhance networking nationally and across the globe and provided information on how to set up information resources (such as e-groups and websites) for countries without. 

IV. Props-Making and Acting, the Pantomime Mums - Ines Fernandez,
       ARUGAAN, Philippines, Facilitator

Learn the art of advocacy through a new means of expression and practice your performance skills. This workshop will provide a lesson about how to use props, make-up, music and motion to communicate invaluable messages.