Practices of anonymous infant abandonment in Europe and the USA: the diversity of approaches

The article describes technologies of anonymous infant abandonment available in different countries: special places (“baby-boxes”) for abandonment (Germany, Latvia), possibility to abandon an infant at a healthcare of emergency service (“safe haven law”, USA), anonymous delivery (France). The connections between socio-psychological aspects of prevention of infanticide and social orphancy are outlined. Conceptual and applied issues of anonymous infant abandonment practices – such as addressing “wrong” target group of women who could have asked for help to raise children on themselves; violation of fathers’ rights; lack of possibility to learn about the origins of an abandoned person – are discussed. The experts’ attitudes towards implementation of “baby boxes” in Russia are analyzed briefly.

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