What this petition is asking for:

Since the update to the Equality Act 2010, it has become clear that the law is not easily enforceable at protecting breastfeeding women or a person bottle feeding a child in public. Many people and businesses are unaware of the current law or it is simply disregarded and as a result some women, who are breastfeeding, are suffering discrimination which is having a detrimental effect on the levels of breastfeeding in the UK and the wellbeing of mothers and their babies.    

We the under signed, request for the Equality Act 2010, to be amended to bring England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under one law, so that any person has the right to breastfeed, or bottle feed in public and that it be a criminal offence, to prevent a person feeding milk products either via breastfeeding or bottle feeding to a child of any age, in any place in which the public has access to and in which a child is entitled to be.

Background Information

In October 2010 the Equality Act was amended to make it clearer as to what women’s rights were when breastfeeding in public. The Act made it clear that women were legally allowed to breastfeed their children in any public area or premises that serviced the public, without fear of harassment or discrimination.

Currently the law in the UK states the following:

England & Wales – The law states it is discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding. It applies to anyone providing services, benefits, facilities and premises to the public, public bodies, further and higher education bodies and association. A woman cannot be asked to stop breastfeeding in public and there is no age restriction on the child she is breastfeeding. Currently this law is a civil law. 

Scotland – In Scotland a person has a right to breastfeed or bottle feed a child under two and it is a criminal offence to try to stop or to prevent a woman from breastfeeding a child under two in any place in which the public has access and in which a child under two is entitled to be. Anyone who tries to stop or prevent a person feeding milk to a child under the age of two can be prosecuted and can face a claim under the Equality Act.

Northern Ireland – In Northern Ireland there is currently no clear law to protect nursing mothers or a person bottle feeding in public. They are very loosely covered in The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 under direct discrimination and there is also a document called “Breastfeeding - A Great Start A Strategy for Northern Ireland 2013-2023.” which explains how Northern Ireland is going to increase Breastfeeding in NI.