Loss of Unicef post raises concern among child nutrition pressure groups

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7519.720-a

BMJ 2005;331:720 (1 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7519.720-a

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Loss of Unicef post raises concern among child nutrition pressure groups

London Owen Dyer

Non-governmental organisations working in the field of child nutrition have expressed their alarm at proposed staffing changes at Unicef, the United Nations children�s fund. They say the changes will undermine implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), an umbrella organisation representing 200 local groups in 100 countries, is concerned that Unicef plans to abolish the post of headquarters legal officer in the nutrition section. The post is currently held by David Clark, a lawyer who advises national governments on how to implement the code in their regulation of the marketing of breast milk substitutes.

Unicef has been under new leadership since May, when the former US secretary of agriculture Ann Veneman was appointed executive director. But Unicef says the proposed changes have been under consideration since before Ms Veneman�s appointment. IBFAN says that the number of legal . . . [Full text of this article]

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BMJ 2005 331: 796. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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