Namibia: Govt to Decriminalize Baby Dumping
The government, through the ministry of gender equality, has decriminalized baby dumping to allow mothers to leave their unwanted newborn babies at safe places without the risk of prosecution.
Statistics from the Namibian Police show that in 2017/18, only 25 cases of baby dumping were reported, but about 7 300 cases of abortion were recorded. This figure could, however, be even as high as 10 000 because some of the cases went unreported.
The Katutura Intermediate Hospital alone recorded 2 300 cases of abortion.
The deputy director for child and welfare services in the gender equality ministry, Joyce Nakuta, told The Namibian on Wednesday that the new law provides for babies to be left at certain safe places such as hospitals, police offices and registered places of safety.
Nakuta was referring to the child care protection bill passed in 2015 which provides a legislative framework to give effect to the rights of children below 18 years.
She said pregnant women go through a lot without any support from society, which in most cases leads them to dump their babies.
“When we are not able to support the mother, we end up sitting with a baby who will have a problem in the long run. That is if the baby survives. We want to discourage baby dumping and allow people to come forward and say that they do not want the baby, and they want to give it up,” Nakuta explained.
She said the ministry would also not encourage abortion, as the government’s stance is clear on the issue. Abortion in Namibia is illegal, except where a rape victim falls pregnant, or in life-threatening situations.
“The ministry has made a provision in article 227 of the Child Protection Act that we decriminalize abandonment. Mothers are encouraged to leave babies, and they could stay anonymous, as long as the babies are unharmed. They can leave the babies at safe places, and we will not prosecute them. If you (a mother) are considering abortion, rather keep the baby until full term. Give birth, and the government will take over,” she stressed.
Source – AllAfrica
