Taiwan Today

The Legislative Yuan passed a law Nov. 8 protecting the right to breastfeed in public, providing for the establishment of nursing rooms in public places and fines for those who attempt to prevent breastfeeding. The Act Governing Breastfeeding in Public Places stipulates that anyone who interferes with nursing in public will face a fine of NT$6,000 (US$199) to NT$30,000. “Passage of the act is a symbol of progress regarding women’s rights,” said Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Sue-ying, who actively promoted it. She said advocates of breastfeeding rights began to push for such an act after a number of women nursing their babies were asked by the Taipei Story House to leave in October 2005. According to the new law, government offices, state-run enterprises, train stations, airports, public transit areas, department stores and malls must set up nursing rooms within one year of the promulgation of the act. A failure to do so, or lack of clear signs to the room, will be met with a fine. Even so, the establishment of breastfeeding rooms does not make it legal to ask a mother not to breastfeed in other areas. The Legislature also passed a resolution asking the Department of Health to promote breastfeeding; however, a mother’s decision on whether to breastfeed must be respected as well. (THN)