Equality for newborns

From the start of Plan’s relationship with a community, there must be a clear agreement of the core principles by which we work.  One of these, for example, is our insistence on the equality of all children, regardless of gender.

In some cultures, however, the birth of a son is celebrated while that of a daughter is not. Where this view is widely and deeply held, there are real dangers for both the unborn and newborn female child. Equally, girls who do survive may well face life as ‘second-class citizens’, where food and nurture is focused on sons and where they have little chance to realise their most basic rights.

In India, the relatively recent advent of techniques such as ultrasound scanning and amniocentesis has been matched by a sharp decline in the number of female children under the age of six. Despite moves on the part of the government to make it illegal to perform sex determination tests, female foeticide continues.

Working with some of the poorest and most isolated communities, where traditional practice has remained the same for years, we were in an ideal position to raise awareness of the issue. In partnership with the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, we produced a short film in the hugely popular ‘Bollywood’ style that reinforced the laws of the country and challenged the preference for a son.

Dubbed into relevant languages, the film has been shown throughout India. And it is having an impact. As one father of four explained: “This film really changed my psyche completely. Now I realise how heinous a crime it is to go for sex selective abortion.”