New breastfeeding laws, please sign the petition

[GreenMonkies]

The new law is ONLY valid until the child is six months of age.

At any time beyond that, a woman breastfeeding in public can be charged with INDECENCY. Yes, you read that right. In a culture of page three girls and pornographic magazines visible in shops where children can see women's breasts being exploited for sexual gratification and lust, women who meet their child's biological needs in public will be considered criminals

petitions.pm.gov.uk/breastfedright/

Sign it and pass it on!!!

Monkies

[Jackstini]

Signed - ridiculous to have an age limit of 6 months

[chipmonkey]

Can't sign as not in the UK, but you go girls! Or come to Ireland on hols, bfing allowed anywhere here!

[InTheDollshouse]

As I understand it, the law is prevent discrimination with regard to the provision of goods and services. It addresses a whole lot of different potential grounds for discrimination, e.g. it would not longer be legal to deny someone insurance because of their age. The bit about breastfeeding comes under "maternity" - you couldn't kick a breastfeeding mother out of a cafe because that would be discrimination on grounds of maternity. But she could only claim discrimination if her baby is under 6 months. So does this mean they have now defined maternity as 6 months post-natally? And if so, what does this mean for things like being able to get free dental treatment for 12 months - is that going to be reduced to 6 months?

I think there might well be a lot of misunderstanding about this law - already it's being interpreted as making it illegal to breastfeed in public after 6 months and even though this is incorrect, it's worrying enough in itself as public perception is what makes women afraid to breastfeed in public.

[InTheDollshouse]

www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080963_en_1

[jeanjeannie]

have signed...am quietly raging here in the home counties!

[mummypig]

thanks for that link dramasequalzero, but isn't this new Equality Bill in addition to the sex discrimination amendment that you linked to? In any case the Amendment looks like it was made law in April.

I have no legal training whatsoever, so apologies if I am just a bit confused by what is being proposed, and by the suggested implications.

[InTheDollshouse]

Sorry mummypig, yes I've linked to the wrong thing and now I can't find the page on the new bill. aaargh...

[KnickersOnMaHead]

Message withdrawn

[mum2oneloudbaby]

have signed the petition. although i think the discussion here has got side tracked. does anybody know where the arbitrary 6 months came from.

now i may be mistaken but i believed that the WHO recommend breastfeeding should continue to 24 months.

I have been told that it is not until 1 year that breastmilk or formula should be replaced as the main drink.

am i mistaken? so why choose 6mos?

[tiktok]

I would be very surprised indeed if the Bill goes ahead with the 6 mths ceiling. It's out for consultation with stakeholders at present and many will make this very point.

There is no ceiling to breastfeeding - WHO does not say 'until 2 years' at all; in fact it says something to the effect about benefits being shown 'up to 2 years and beyond'.

My guess is that civil service drafting of this Bill has just got it wrong.

No need for anyone to be outraged - it is almost certain to be changed.

[tiktok]

And of course there is no legislation that makes it illegal for women to breastfeed in a public place....ridiculous, and ridiculous for journalists to get it wrong.

[mum2oneloudbaby]

tiktok i am not saying there is a ceiling to breast feeding but as it stands at present the 6mos part is ludicrous and totally defeats the objective of the whole exercise imo.

i hope you are right and that the civil service have just got the drafting wrong.

good for you in having some faith in our government to actually listen!

[BouncingTurtle]

Tiktok - I actually complained to The Times when they ran an article recently and entitled it Mothers win the right to breastfeed.
It is a real bugbear of mine, that the Meeja still persist in reporting this incorrectly. It does not do breastfeeding any favours.
I never got a reply.

[scaryhairycat]

Signed.

[kneedeepinthedirtylaundry]

signed.

Do children's rights really mean so little in this country?

[theSuburbanDryad]

The petition is fab - and of course I've signed - but if people would like to do something more physical then there is a new bf-ing picnic being organised. Thread here

[turtle23]

Signed

[Annner]

I've signed. I fully share the interpretationm of the law that we currently have no law preventing breastfeeding - but things have gone so far, and there are so many stooopids out there, that a clear legal statement that This Is What Norks Are For is sadly needed.

Also, I have no faith that bonkersly phrased bills will always be improved just because everyone realises that they are bonkers. There is plenty of nutty legislation on the statute books, and plenty of people with an axe to grind that breastmilk really should be finished with or at least seen as an eccentricity as soon as possible after the magic 26 weeks marker post.

Blardy cynical old bag that I am.

Annner

[Sails]

I breastfed my 7 month old in a park today ofcourse I didnt expose myself Im always discreet so how could I be charged with exposure? Unsure if I should sign this petition or not I`m a bit confused!

[AnyFuleKno]

I have signed this - those in power need to know the weight of opinion behind this issue - that is the right of women to bf unharassed which is not diminished the moment your baby (who still very much needs the milk) turns six months.

[SpeckledHen]

Signed.

[Loriycs]

signed

[c4it]

Signed

[meglet]

signed.