Tan Sri
MONOGRAPH No. 1
MONOGRAPH seRIes • 2008
Baby-dumping and Infanticide
by
Dianne Hubbard
Gender Research & Advocacy Project LeGAL AssIstANce ceNtRe No. 1, Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 Baby-dumping and Infanticide – Monograph Windhoek, Namibia
i
Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge the contributions to this paper by the following persons:
Rachel Coomer of the Legal Assistance Centre Rachel Thompson, visiting intern at the Legal Assistance Centre Christa Rudolf von Rohr, Masters student in Social Anthropology and African Studies at the University of Basel in Switzerland.
This publication was made possible through support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID.
© Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 4 Körner Street Windhoek P.O. Box 604 Windhoek Namibia 264-061-223356 264-061-234953 Email – info@lac.org.na Website – www.lac.org.na
An Adobe Acrobat (pdf) version of this publication is posted on the LAC website. Printed and bound by John Meinert Printing (Pty) Ltd in Windhoek. ii Baby-dumping and Infanticide – Monograph No. 1, Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 ISBN 978-99945-68-33-8
Baby-dumping and Infanticide by Dianne Hubbard
Gender Research & Advocacy Project of the Legal Assistance centre
I
nfanticide and baby-dumping are crimes, but these acts are also cries for help. New mothers – especially young mothers – may feel overwhelmed by the idea of parenthood. They may have difficulty coping with the drastic physical and emotional changes they are experiencing. They may be suffering from the depression sometimes brought on by the hormonal changes associated with giving birth. They may be convinced that they will be unable to provide for the child, and they may feel that there is no one they can turn to for help. They may fear the shame of having given birth
MONOGRAPH seRIes • 2008
Baby-dumping and Infanticide
by
Dianne Hubbard
Gender Research & Advocacy Project LeGAL AssIstANce ceNtRe No. 1, Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 Baby-dumping and Infanticide – Monograph Windhoek, Namibia
i
Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge the contributions to this paper by the following persons:
Rachel Coomer of the Legal Assistance Centre Rachel Thompson, visiting intern at the Legal Assistance Centre Christa Rudolf von Rohr, Masters student in Social Anthropology and African Studies at the University of Basel in Switzerland.
This publication was made possible through support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID.
© Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 4 Körner Street Windhoek P.O. Box 604 Windhoek Namibia 264-061-223356 264-061-234953 Email – info@lac.org.na Website – www.lac.org.na
An Adobe Acrobat (pdf) version of this publication is posted on the LAC website. Printed and bound by John Meinert Printing (Pty) Ltd in Windhoek. ii Baby-dumping and Infanticide – Monograph No. 1, Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 ISBN 978-99945-68-33-8
Baby-dumping and Infanticide by Dianne Hubbard
Gender Research & Advocacy Project of the Legal Assistance centre
I
nfanticide and baby-dumping are crimes, but these acts are also cries for help. New mothers – especially young mothers – may feel overwhelmed by the idea of parenthood. They may have difficulty coping with the drastic physical and emotional changes they are experiencing. They may be suffering from the depression sometimes brought on by the hormonal changes associated with giving birth. They may be convinced that they will be unable to provide for the child, and they may feel that there is no one they can turn to for help. They may fear the shame of having given birth
Links: accessed 27 April 2008. See also www.adopting.org/adoptions/new-study-shows-safe-havenlaws-causing-problems-not-solving-them-press-release.html, accessed 2 April 2008. S v Rufaro, 1987 (1) SA 431 (ZS). At page 434. At pages 434-5. 39 69 70 71 Baby-dumping and Infanticide – Monograph No. 1, Legal Assistance Centre, 2008 Another judge in the case (Beck JA) dissented on this point, noting that a mother might callously kill her child and still be able to receive a sentence of only five years