Join us on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT or Washington DC time) for the webinar "Prioritizing Breastfeeding in Latin America and the Caribbean: Toward Sustainable Support Systems." The virtual event will promote intersectoral policies and strategies that strengthen sustainable support systems to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding.
Objectives of the webinar
- Highlight the main challenges faced by breastfeeding individuals in Latin America and the Caribbean in exercising their right to breastfeed.
- Identify public policies and intersectoral strategies that ensure enabling environments for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding.
- Emphasize the key role of civil society and academia in building breastfeeding-friendly environments.
RECORDING
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
- DAY: Thursday, August 7, 2025
- TIME: 11:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EDT) [See the bottom of this page for times in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: English, Spanish, and Portuguese with simultaneous interpretation in those languages
- REGISTRATION: https://paho-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p-qsXIAERBSru9d4Jw3o5g#/registration
Agenda
10:00 a.m. Opening Remarks
- Juan Rivera, President of ALSANNA
- Peter Baffoe, Maternal and Child Health Specialist (representing the Regional Advisor on Health and Nutrition), UNICEF
- Vanessa Garcia Larsen, Chief of the Risk Factors and Nutrition Unit, PAHO
10:10 a.m. Breastfeeding in Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Overview
- Michelle Alvarez, Food Systems Specialist, UNICEF LACRO
- Quetzalli Ramos, Regional Consultant in Support of the Code Implementation in LAC
10:25 a.m. Creating Protective Environments for Breastfeeding
- Audrey Morris, Regional Advisor on Food and Nutrition, PAHO
10:35 a.m. Industry Interference and Digital Marketing
- Mishel Unar, Researcher, INSP
10:45 a.m. Panel: The Role of Civil Society, Academia, and Governments in Creating Protective Environments for Breastfeeding
- Facilitator: Lilia Pedraza
- CISS Bienestar – Lourdes Jiménez, Attorney
- Brazilian Ministry of Health – Priscila Olin, Technical Advisor for the Coordination of Health Care for Children, Adolescents, and Youth
- IBFAN – Vilma Chavez, IBFAN Representative in Latin America
- INCAP – Mónica Mazariegos, Researcher
11:00 a.m. Experiences in Strengthening Breastfeeding Support Systems
Guatemala: Strategy for Midwives to Promote Breastfeeding
- Vianca Lemus, Technical Assistant, Department of Health Education, Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance
11:10 a.m. Experiences in Strengthening Breastfeeding Support Systems
Mexico: Breastfeeding in the Workplace
- UNICEF Mexico - Francesca Iturbe, Corporate Partnerships Officer
11:20 a.m. Questions and Answers
- ALSANNA - Lilia Pedraza
11:25 a.m. Closing
- ALSANNA - Dr. Juan Rivera
Background
World Breastfeeding Week is observed during the first week of August each year. In 2025, under the tagline "Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future," World Breastfeeding Week will shine a spotlight on the ongoing support women and babies need from the healthcare system throughout their breastfeeding journey. This means ensuring that every mother has access to the support and information she needs to breastfeed as long as she wishes to do so.
During World Breastfeeding Week 2025, PAHO/WHO will focus on efforts to strengthen:
- Health systems that offer skilled, sustained breastfeeding support from pregnancy through early childhood.
- Policies, laws, and programs that prioritize women, babies, and breastfeeding; and,
- Community solidarity to uphold every woman and baby’s right to breastfeed anytime, anywhere.
Breastfeeding delivers a hopeful future not only for children, but for societies. It reduces healthcare costs, boosts cognitive development, strengthens economies, and sets children up with healthy beginnings.
Time in other cities
- 8:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 9:00 a.m. – Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San José (CR), San Salvador, Tegucigalpa.
- 10:00 a.m. – Bogotá, Panama City, Kingston, Lima, Quito.
- 11:00 a.m. – Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, Havana, La Paz, Port of Spain, Port-au-Prince, Nassau, Ottawa, San Juan, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Washington D.C.
- 12:00 p.m. – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 5:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, please check the local time on this link.