Crime of baby dumping: a review of Islamic, Malaysian and Nigerian laws
Islam prohibits all acts that endanger the life of a child or exposes children to abuse including dumping of babies. Those acts are crimes punishable under the law. In a similar vein, internationally, baby dumping and all acts that expose children to danger are prohibited under the United Nation’...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
UPM Press
2015
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/45427/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/45427/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/45427/1/06_JSSH_Vol_23_%28S%29_Oct_2015_pg67-82.pdf |
| Summary: | Islam prohibits all acts that endanger the life of a child or exposes children to abuse including
dumping of babies. Those acts are crimes punishable under the law. In a similar vein,
internationally, baby dumping and all acts that expose children to danger are prohibited
under the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC). Malaysia and
Nigeria, like most nations of the world, are signatories to most international legal frameworks
on child protection including the CRC. In Malaysia and Nigeria, baby dumping is an alarming
phenomenon. Many babies suffer or even die as a result of the act of baby dumping. This
article intends to examine the laws relating to the protection of babies from dumping in
Malaysia and Nigeria. Discussions will include the position of baby dumping in Islam to
serve as a comparison. Examination will extend to analysis on whether the laws in Malaysia
and Nigeria are adequate to address the problem of baby dumping and to fully protect children
from baby dumping. The study is basically a library based research where reference is made
to books and articles. A comparative legal research methodology is employed in looking at the
positions in Islam, Malaysia and Nigeria. It is hoped that the findings on child protection laws,
particularly those related to baby dumping in the Islamic, Malaysian and Nigerian laws, will
provide better protection for babies and prevent them from being dumped. |
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