(LI SHEN)

Chinese media recently reported several incidents of babies being killed or abandoned, showing an alarming increase in this tragic phenomenon. Unable to bear the financial and mental pressures, growing numbers of young unwed mothers are resorting to these extremes when faced with the future prospects of their illegitimate children. Observers feel that if left unchecked this issue will have serious repercussions on social harmony.

Seizing the initiative, Zhang Xiaomei, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), proposed to set up the Aid Fund for Unwed Mothers during this year's annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC. Her proposal includes providing temporary accommodation, and professional psychological counseling for unwed mothers, and hiring lawyers to fight for their children's legitimate rights and interests. The proposal immediately became a hot button issue.

Research shows that the number of unwed mothers is increasing at a rate of 10-13 percent per year in recent years in China. Generally, there are more unwed mothers in big cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, where society tends to be more tolerant toward premarital pregnancies. Unlike single mothers, the term "unwed mothers," applying to those 28 and younger, refers to mothers who have babies but have never married. As many of these mothers are young and cash-strapped, they can't afford to raise their babies alone, and therefore lead arduous lives burdened by expenses and social prejudice.

Some people believe that setting up the aid fund is in line with the objective of protecting women and children's rights. Others argue that it may encourage premarital pregnancies, and question the legitimacy of the government financially supporting unwed mothers, as this is not in keeping with China's ethical values and family planning policy.

Yes

Yu Jing

Senior lawyer, hostess of Legal Forum in CCTV

It is legally permissible and feasible to set up the Aid Fund for Unwed Mothers. Undoubtedly, premarital births should not be encouraged as it contradicts the principles of the Marriage Law and the Population and Family Planning Law. However, we should face up to this reality that premarital births have become a social problem. Living conditions of unwed mothers and their children are so worrying that it requires a proper solution. Setting up such a fund is a good measure to deliver more care and support to unwed mothers and their children by means of social assistance.

It is widely known that unwed mothers are groups of people with totally different circumstances. Should we therefore treat these groups differently? My answer is yes. For those who have babies in premarital relationships, we should encourage them to get married and have families. Those women who have babies when cohabiting with married men, or those who get pregnant voluntarily in the hope of obtaining men's commitment, should be warned that both they and their children run the risk of being abandoned financially by the men they have chosen. Those who have babies because of immaturity and ignorance are also part of the target group we must assist and counsel.

Only by finding the reasons behind why women are unwed mothers and treating these causes, can we solve this problem fundamentally. Caring doesn't mean supporting and I think we should focus on preventing the increase in numbers of unwed mothers by helping foster in young women morally sound values and outlook on love, marriage and life.  

Jean (requested anonymity)

An unwed mother

I think it is reasonable for society to give us unwed mothers more support and care. Whatever the situation is, human life should be respected. In modern society [in China] where abortion is legal, I believe every unwed mother must have suffered much more, both financially and mentally, than those who have abortions, as it is much easier for a single woman to get an abortion than bear the baby. These unwed mothers who show their respect for human life with extraordinary courage deserve care from society. In addition to financial assistance, more supportive measures from social institutions are required for these women, including providing government subsidies for child rearing and ensuring their children's formal education as is done with married couples.  

Xia Huiping

Shanghai Legal Daily

Because of immaturity and financial incompetence, many unwed mothers lead poor lives under great pressure. Some even abandon or kill their babies.

Children are innocent and should not be punished because of their mothers' mistakes. It is inhumane if our society allows babies to suffer by being abandoned or through the hardships brought by lack of support. In this sense, Zhang's proposal is full of humanitarian spirit. If this fund is set up, people will view society as progressing and becoming more tolerant. The issue of unwed mothers also appears in other countries. Many Western countries have set up some kind of fund to help them in various ways and achieved good results. In this regard, we can learn from their experiences.

I don't think encouraging premarital pregnancy is necessarily related with setting up the Aid Fund for Unwed Mothers. No one would rush to be an unwed mother because of such an aid fund. Effective ways to fundamentally reduce the number of unwed mothers are to improve overall social trends and women's awareness of self-esteem, self-respect and self-love.  

Liu Tingting

A university student in Beijing

Support for unwed mothers should be improved in terms of protecting the right to life.

The right to survive is the most basic human right, which cannot be deprived of by anyone. No matter what mistake an unwed mother has made, her baby is innocent and deserves to enjoy the same rights as all other children. Although unwed mothers are adults, the mental and financial burden of raising children is a great burden for them, which will directly influence the healthy growth of their children. Caring for unwed mothers is a way to protect their babies' survival rights. It is ridiculous to talk about the issue of unwed mothers while ignoring the right to life. 

No

Ding Zhengyu

Blog.sina.com.cn

An Aid Fund for Unwed Mothers is probably feasible abroad, but not in China. My reasons are:

First, premarital pregnancy is legally prohibited in China. If this fund is set up, it may send the message that premarital pregnancy is protected by law, which will contradict legal principles.

Second, based on China's reality, premarital pregnancy should be forbidden. As the most populous country, China implements family planning policy under which only couples in wedlock can have babies after obtaining necessary approval. With this fund set up, it may be seen as an encouragement of illegitimate births and could see some people have more than one child through this fund.    

Third, setting up this fund contradicts Chinese traditional ethics. In China, an essential prerequisite for having babies is getting married.

Fourth, setting up this fund may cause greater harm to women. The purpose of Zhang's proposal is to protect women, while the result may actually turn out to be the opposite. Setting up this fund is encouraging premarital sex to some extent, which does not protect women, but is in fact disrespect for women, and will lead to increase in the number of unwed mothers.

Given these reasons, I don't think it is feasible to set up an Aid Fund for Unwed Mothers in China.

Liu Daliang

A company employee in Beijing

The appearance of unwed mothers is an immoral social trend that should not be promoted, but be resisted. In this regard, this fund should not be set up. As an adult, one should be responsible for what he or she has done. Before bearing babies, unwed women should be fully aware what they have to face in the future. Even if the baby was born, it is his or her parents who should support them, not society or the government, as they are not baby-sitters of irresponsible people. Public welfare should serve the vulnerable members of society, such as those living with disabilities and the poor.

In addition, setting up such a fund may come across as a rubber stamp for recognition of illegitimate births, which will consequently increase the number of unwed mothers. In fact, the risks of bearing the baby is much greater than getting an abortion for an unwed woman, because bearing a baby means she has to raise the child for the next 10 or 20 years alone, which will not only change the unwed woman's life but influence the child's healthy growth.

Jia Qingjie

A company employee in Yunnan

For the sake of protecting legitimate marriage and reducing the divorce rate, there should not be an aid fund for unwed mothers. In the context that many rights in wedlock cannot be safeguarded owing to the existence of extramarital affairs, are we saying that those who are immoral can acquire assistance from society? If such a fund was set up, people may regard it as an encouragement of premarital sex to some extent, which will consequently violate the sanctity of marriage.

Also, it is ok to respect the right to life, but it can't be an excuse for someone to be a marriage wrecker. Therefore, to handle the issue of unwed mothers, more severe penalties should be imposed on irresponsible men and more restrictions on rearing the children out of wedlock.