Cape Town – Baby Savers South Africa staged a peaceful protest at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday to oppose the proposed amendment to the Children’s Act, which classifies the use of Baby Savers as “unsafe abandonment” — effectively criminalising the organisation.
Protesters gathered at 09:30 on Madiba Street to voice their concerns and call for the protection of safe alternatives for vulnerable infants.
“We right with urgecy and deep concern about recent proposals to Amend the Children’s Act and relate the DSD guidance to expressly classify safe relinquishment, including placement of a newborn in baby Saver boxes as abandonment.
“Evidence and recent South African data indicate that criminalising or banning safe surrender mechanisms will predicably increase unsafe infant abandonment, near natal deaths, and the marginalisation and criminalisation of desperate mothers.
“We respectfully request your immediate intervention, to halt any steps that would make safe relinquishment illegal and to instead commission and urgent independently veiled that protects infants’ lives, while upholding children’s and mother’s rights.
According to Baby Savers, reports suggest that there is an estimate of 100 to 1000 newborn infants that are abandoned each year in the country, with many found dead or in critical conditions.
A statistic which justifies the operation of Baby Savers across the country according to the organisations spokesperson.
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Picture: Facebook/Baby Savers SA
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
