"Advisor to a Social Security official and former minister suggests intervention by CPCJ, citing uncommon practice of a woman nursing beyond two years"
In a recent article, journalist Joana Ascensão delved into the controversy surrounding Elsa Gomes's suggestion regarding breastfeeding mothers. It is important to clarify that Joana Ascensão is not related to Elsa Gomes or Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho.
Elsa Gomes, a former advisor to Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, suggested that cases of mothers breastfeeding after the age of two should be intervened by CPCJ (Commissions for the Protection of Children and Youth). However, the article written by Joana Ascensão does not specify whether Elsa Gomes's statement was in support of or against breastfeeding mothers beyond the age of two.
It is noteworthy that the age of the breastfed children in question is over two. Portuguese labor law supports breastfeeding breaks up to one year old by regulation, with recent political debate around potentially limiting paid breastfeeding breaks to the first two years. However, no formal law currently extends or restricts breastfeeding beyond infancy.
Regarding interventions by the CPCJ, there is no publicly available evidence or official documentation indicating that CPCJ intervenes specifically to regulate or limit breastfeeding practices after the age of two in Portugal. CPCJ’s mandate focuses broadly on child protection and well-being but does not typically address breastfeeding duration unless there were exceptional child welfare concerns involved. There are no reports of CPCJ actions targeting mothers breastfeeding beyond two years, suggesting no regulatory stance or intervention exists in this regard.
Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho has been appointed as the deputy director at the National Pensions Center. It is not specified whether Elsa Gomes is currently an advisor to Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho. The article written by Joana Ascensão does not provide any new information about the appointment of Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho as the deputy director at the National Pensions Center or about Helena Bento.
Elsa Gomes wrote on social media about breastfeeding mothers, sparking the controversy. However, the article does not provide any new information about Helena Bento or the age of the breastfed children in question. It also does not mention any specific intervention methods that CPCJ might take in such cases.
In summary, Portuguese labor law supports breastfeeding breaks up to one year old by regulation and debates exist about extending or limiting these breaks to two years, but no formal restriction on breastfeeding itself after age two is in place. CPCJ’s child protection role does not appear to extend to regulating breastfeeding duration, and there is no record of interventions regarding breastfeeding after two years. The practice remains a personal and family decision rather than an issue subject to state regulation or intervention.
The science of health-and-wellness for family-health and women's health includes breastfeeding, a practice that has been supported up to one year in Portugal according to labor law, with ongoing debate about extending support to two years. Elsa Gomes, a former advisor to Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, suggested that cases of mothers breastfeeding after the age of two should be intervened by CPCJ. However, the article written by Joana Ascensão does not specify whether Elsa Gomes's statement was in favor of or against breastfeeding mothers beyond the age of two, and there is no publicly available evidence or official documentation indicating that CPCJ intervenes specifically to regulate or limit breastfeeding practices after the age of two in Portugal.
