Thousands of mothers take to the streets to mark World Breastfeeding Week (Photos)

Mothers around the world have bared their chests in an event to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.

From the Philippines to Romania, breastfeeding mothers have taken to the streets armed their infants to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week which is held every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries.

First celebrated in 1992 WBW promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

Mothers proudly breastfed their children while holding up signs such as 'breast is best', 'new generation mums love breastfeeding' and 'breastfeeding is nation building'.

One mother said she was proud to have breastfed her daughter for more than three years.

Breastfeeding is protected by various laws in the Philippines, which grants mothers the right to breastfeed in public and taking breastfeeding breaks at work.

Dozens of Romanian mothers gathered at a museum in Bucharest to breastfeed their babies to promote the freedom of mothers to breastfeed in public.

Mothers dressed in embroidered traditional peasant blouses sat, chatted and fed their children Saturday at the event at the picturesque Village Museum.

Alexandra Hulea, a 31-year-old marketing specialist, still feeds her 13-month-old twins Eva and Dominic. She says 'people look strangely at you, but I don't care because my children are my priority.'

Pediatrician Iulia Balint-Boia said that only 12.6 percent of Romanian mothers still breastfeed their babies at six months.

She added, 'It benefits both mothers and children, but not everyone is used to seeing it in our society.'

DailyMail