“Stop the pests of the breast.” Will taking pictures of nursing women be punished in England and Wales?

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– British MP Stella Creasy has proposed a law to prohibit the taking of photos and filming of nursing women in public places without permission. Creasy was motivated by Julia Cooper, who approached her after a man took pictures of her with a telephoto camera while she was feeding her daughter in the park. She felt terrible. When she finished feeding, she approached him and asked if he was taking pictures of her. He said yes. She asked him to delete them, he replied that he had not broken any law. She heard the same information when she called the police in the evening. The deputy also experienced this kind of voyerism, when she was traveling by train and feeding her child, a teenager filmed it by phone, reports the Feminoteka Foundation.

“For breaking the ban there is a penalty of up to two years in prison”

It all started with the “Stop the Breast Pest” campaign launched by Stella Creasy, Julia Cooper and several other MEPs. Later, there was a proposal for an amendment to the law that forbids “recording images or otherwise observing breastfeeding without consent or reasonable belief as to consent for the purpose of sexual satisfaction or for the purpose of humiliating or disturbing the victim.”

The amendment was accepted by the Ministry of Justice and presented to the House of Lords. For breaking the ban, there is a penalty of up to two years in prison

– informs the Feminoteka Foundation.

Let’s start with the fact that nobody should be recorded etc without permission. Why is it so hard for people?

Hmmm … in Poland, you can hardly take pictures of anyone unless they are the whole crowd or the event. Here we are talking about a portrait of a private person. This is prohibited by the GDPR. I say this as a photographer

– we read in the comments under the foundation’s post.

– We did it! Thanks to everyone who supported the #stopTheBreastPests campaign, as the government today unveiled a law prohibiting photographing or filming of breastfeeding without consent. It also shows why the “This Mum Votes” campaign involving more mums in decision-making matters. Because their voices should be heard in public policy. And I have not escaped the irony that I will not be able to enter the parliamentary hall to support these amendments, because I am breastfeeding … Do you think that there is something else to change? – Stella Creasy summed up on her Instagram.

Yes!!!! Very good job by everyone involved

Amazing that it was confirmed, but more amazing that it had to come to that

I can’t believe it was ever legal. Congratulations to everyone who led the campaign

– Internet users comment on the post of a British deputy.