An initiative launched in Guangdong Province attracts public attention as it aims to set up S henzhen’s first “baby box” for abandoned babies in 2014.

Under the initiative, the shelter would be a steel structure installed with an incubator, a time-delay alarm button and an LED sign. Costing about 150,000 yuan ($24,600), the facility would be next to the security booth of the local welfare house. No surveillance cameras would be installed at the site so that parents could leave their babies anonymously. When workers at the welfare home hear the alarm, they would move the babies from the baby box to inside the home as soon as possible.

Tang Rongsheng, Director of the Shenzhen Welfare Center, said the shelter embodies the idea of prioritizing the interests of the child. “Although the shelter won’t stop parents from abandoning their babies, the outcome will be different if the abandoned ones could receive proper protection,” he said.

Shenzhen is not a pioneer in setting up such facilities. Shijiazhuang, capital city of north China’s Hebei Province, launched one in 2011 and has received 170 infants since establishment.

As the plan was released, some applauded, saying that the move is aimed at respecting life and prioritizing children’s rights and interests. They call for similar facilities to be set up across the nation. Others raised concerns that it will encourage irresponsible parents to abandon their unwanted babies.

Pro

Yang Yanming Yanzhao

Evening News

I don’t think the practice will indirectly encourage people to abandon their unwanted babies. People who are resolute in leaving their children won’t be affected no matter whether there is such a facility or not. And caring parents won’t abandon their children because of the appearance of the box. And the situation in Shijiazhuang proves no increase in the number of abandoned infants after the baby box was set up in 2011. As long as this is well understood, it can be known that the decision is actually about valuing human life and protecting children. However, setting up a baby box is only a starting point. The facility could save a child’s life, but there should be more mechanisms to give them a “second life,” like a security system guaranteeing the infants get necessary help after being abandoned, and an adoption system where abandoned babies can not only live in a welfare institute but also have more choices to be adopted through non-governmental channels.

Con

Editorial Lifetimes

Setting up such a facility is just a move mending the fence after the sheep has been stolen and will encourage irresponsible parents to abandon their babies. The safe haven for infants is not the facility. Establishing such a box is supposed to help save abandoned babies, and proves to be a success in some developed countries. However, it is not certain that something that proves to be successful in foreign countries could survive in China where parents in rural areas prefer boys to girls and would take any chance to have a baby boy. Under this circumstance, will the facility encourage parents to abandon baby girls so that they can have another one? It is reported that parents’ privacy can be protected as the facility won’t be equipped with surveillance cameras. Isn’t it encouraging irresponsible parents? Although there is no growth in the number of abandoned babies since the first baby box in China was put into use in 2011, no one can guarantee such a potential hazard in the future. Objectively speaking, infants’ rights to live sound should be protected. The bill of those irresponsible parents shouldn’t be paid by innocent children. But at the same time, we should not ignore the negative consequence the facility will bring. The effective cure is to change the core causes of the problems. Only with restrictions by moral and harsh punishment by the law, could children acquire genuine security and happiness.

Pro

Dou Yupei

Vice Minister of China’s Civil Affairs

As early as June 2011, when Shijiazhuang first set up the baby box, experts and representatives of non-governmental organizations and local authorities, after elaborate discussion, have reached a consensus on its feasibility. Controversy doesn’t mean that we are wrong. Infant abandonment has been a headache in the past and at present, home and abroad. Many foreign countries have adopted such a move to protect abandoned babies.Chinese people frown upon anyone who abandons their own children. It is also illegal to do so. Therefore, as long as they are determined, parents will abandon the infants in covert and hidden ways at unnoticeable places. Some babies may die and some others’ illnesses may deteriorate and can never be cured without timely help. Establishing a baby box is respecting life and prioritizing children’s rights and interests. It is in line with Chinese legislation on protecting juveniles and is not contradictory to the Criminal Law’s provision on cracking down on abandoning infant crimes.

Con

Guang Qian

Media commentator

From a legal perspective, abandoning babies is brazen disregard for and severe challenge to human rights. The law shows zero tolerance to such crimes. The time-delay alarm that parents can press and leave without being traced seems to be considerate, aimed at protecting the “privacy” of those who don’t want the newborn babies. But the protection actually goes against the law and can be seen as helping irresponsible parents commit the crime of abandoning. No independent department is competent in eliminating the phenomenon of baby abandoning. Pure mercy is of no help, but may encourage more irresponsible parents to abandon their unwanted children. Establishing the baby box is, in my opinion, irrational especially against the backdrop of growing premarital pregnancy. The baby box may also be taken advantage by some people who would shirk the responsibility of raising their children and choose an appropriate time to get the children back when the child grows up. Everything is possible and there is no stipulation in the law that parents couldn’t have their abandoned children back. The fundamental solution to eliminate the irresponsible phenomenon is to boost the economy so as to improve the education of nationals and provide better public welfare.

Pro

Shu Shengxiang

Guangzhou Dailya

Before questioning establishing the baby box, I think at least three prerequisites should be clarified. First, most parents cherish their children as treasure and only a tiny minority will be cruel enough to abandon their babies. Second, for irresponsible parents who would abandon the children, talk of guilt is not worthwhile to mention since it wouldn’t change their mind. We couldn’t leave their abandoned babies without help just to arouse their feelings of guilt. And third, saving the infants with the baby box doesn’t mean that the police will stop investigation. Setting up such a facility doesn’t contradict the legal provision that forbids abandoning. This legal provision sticks to basic ethical norms of respecting life when the phenomenon of abandonment cannot be eradicated. As long as the practice exists, we must ask why parents would choose to separate from their own blood. One important reason is that some cannot afford the high cost of curing their babies’ diseases and hope that they will be treated for free by the welfare institution.

Pro

Bian

Guangchun Legal Daily

People abandon their children for many reasons. Some are too young or too poor to assume the responsibility of supporting a baby. Some leave the infant because the child is born with incurable diseases or disabilities. No matter what reasons, abandoning a child is wrong and cannot be tolerated. But intolerance couldn’t stop someone from doing so. The proper attitude toward the phenomenon should be, on the one hand, unequivocally opposing such behavior with moral condemnation and legal punishment. Relevant legislation should also be improved to prevent the phenomenon from getting worse. On the other hand, the abandoned babies should be protected so that their rights and interests entitled by the law can be respected and fulfilled. Abandoning infants is illegal, but the child is innocent. Establishing the baby box is protecting the vulnerable children. The practice and the tentative plan not only convey the warmth and solicitude of the government, the policy or the letter of law, but also illustrate and call for more humane love. Warming every abandoned baby with the hand of our government is not a difficult job. In fact, establishing a baby box in one city and setting up the facility are far from enough to care for and protect the vulnerable group.