Public Breastfeeding--We want Privacy, Our babies want Privacy!

Your RIGHT to breastfeed anywhere, anytime is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

However - DESPITE this, breastfeeding is still an endangered practice. The entrenchment of a bottle-feeding culture, public policy, institutional practices and negative attitudes towards breastfeeding have all minimized and undervalued the contribution breastfeeding women make to the health and well-being of our society. As a result, they still risk harassment - stares, leers and even expulsions - when feeding their baby in public places.

Breastfeeding IS best and perhaps if our city supported and encouraged women, it would be a much easier decision as its something that should come as second nature. More women are choosing to bottle feed because of all of the reasons listed above so perhaps if we could stand together as a community and provide that extra support we could be the change in our community. Although it is our undeniable human right to feed our babies it does NOT change the fact that we also have a right to privacy--our babies have a right to privacy. 

We are asking----that any place that have a public washroom also have a small private area which is SEPERATE from the washroom--exclusively for mother's to nurse their babies. Especially in establishments that are garnered toward or open to babies/children/parents/families.

We know that it is impossible to expect this of EVERY public establishment in HRM however just getting the word out there--providing the knowledge and the tools to our businesses--something as small as a 'Breastfeeding Welcome' sticker on display in the windows of those shops that support the cause would be more than inspiring and supportive. 

You may say to yourself that its already a Human Right--But Did you Know??? 

In the event of Harassment----
 
We report the incident to the Human Rights Commission in our province.

Here comes the catch----Because commissions don't handle many complaints about breastfeeding, Individual officers may be unfamiliar with the issue and require some explanation as to WHY this is discrimination, or WHY the provision of an alternative place to breastfeed is not enough. You must then go the extra step of contacting womens rights activits to support you, if you feel you are not being heard. 

UNACCEPTABLE!

One Community. One Heart. --- Let's support our MOM's