The female infanticide is the killing of the girl child when she is in her post natal or infant stage. Several writers concur that feticide is viewed as a part and parcel of the continuum of aggression on, and devaluing of, the present day girl child. To find out more on the menace of female infanticide, continue reading the article to the very end.

In rule, the slaying of a baby under the age of one year old, and more commonly, any slaying of a newborn baby, is not against the law. Some people view the practice of infanticide as a means of population control, particularly amongst the hunter-gathers as well as nomadic communities where it is not possible for a mother to carry a child within her and still continue with her usual chores. As such, she is usually compelled to get rid of her unborn child so that she can be able to continue with her usual task. In a number of communities, particularly in China and India, most girls are slain compared to boys as a result of the value put on the male child. It is approximated that over one million children all over the world are slain every year just because they are girls. Infanticide is also practiced as a means of getting rid of deformed children or as a form of religious purposes. Some tribes in Africa regard the birth of twins as a taboo and as such one child has to die.

Even though fairly sporadic, instances of infanticide presently get extensive media coverage. The numbers of kids that are being killed by their parents are likely much greater than what the statistics suggest. Nonetheless, as many infant demises are never reported or accounted officially as infanticide, the numbers are likely to be much greater. The laws against infanticide are greatly lacking. This is because women that commit such atrocities usually get non-custodial sentences given that they are regarded as unstable. On the other hand, men who commit such crimes against humanity walk away scot free without any kind of prison sentence.

Female infanticide in China

In China, most families pray for boys than girls. Boys are valued more than girls because boys carry not only the family’s name, but also its honor. The preference for boys in China has led to the killings of over 10,000 female infants in China on an annual basis. If the numbers of female infants that are killed as a result of abortion were to be added to this numbers, the figures could be astronomical.

Female infanticide is a form of discrimination against the girl child and it is important for each and everybody to stand up against it. Legislations alone will not help if you do not stand up to be counted.

Save the Girls in India