Cocendi Opens Comfortable Space for Lactation

Female academics, staff, and students at this institution can now breastfeed and express milk under dignified conditions.

Rocío Castañeda

To ensure safety and dignity for women at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) and as a result of aspirations, convictions, and struggles towards achieving substantive equality, the Coordinación de Centros de Desarrollo Infantil (Cocendi) has inaugurated a Lactation Room at its facilities.

This project is a collaborative effort between the Unidad Politécnica de Gestión con Perspectiva de Género (UPGPG), the Gender Networks of the Centro de Investigación en Computación (CIC), the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico (Cidetec), as well as Cocendi. It addresses the vital need to provide a dignified, private, and hygienic space for women in their lactation period within their work environment.

The head of the UPGPG noted that this is the first of many spaces that will help guarantee the right of women and their children to breastfeed. She emphasized that in this comfortable space, female academics, staff, and students at this institution can breastfeed and express milk.

She indicated that the Lactation Room not only has a positive impact on the health of newborns but also contributes to the emotional well-being of the polytechnic mothers. This is crucial for eradicating gender inequality and ensuring that motherhood is not an obstacle in the educational or professional paths of women.

In turn, the General Secretary reaffirmed IPN's commitment to creating equal and discrimination-free spaces for the polytechnic community, particularly for women, by providing them with a dignified place to fully exercise their maternity. This initiative aims to consolidate fundamental values promoted by IPN such as respect, equity, inclusion, and solidarity.

Gaceta Politécnica #1788. (April 30th, 2024). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.