The Government has this week introduced an Equality Bill into Parliament, including a clause to protect breastfeeding in public.

The clause is designed to give women more confidence that the law is on their side when they are breastfeeding outside of the home. Discriminating against a woman breastfeeding in public has been unlawful (under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975) for more than 30 years, however, this Bill makes it explicit that it is unlawful to force breastfeeding mothers and their babies out of places like cafes, shops and public transport.

Indications last year that the wording of this clause would inadvertently undermine the right of a woman to breastfeed a child over six months in public led to the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition, of which UNICEF UK is a member, lobbying Harriet Harman (who is leading on the Bill) to ensure that legislation clearly protected the right of women to breastfeed regardless of the age of their child. These concerns have now been taken on board.

The bill has it second reading on 11 May. The Act will apply to England and Wales. Scotland already has legislation to protect the right of women to breastfeed in public.