Unlike the embellished labels that do not stick, there are other attempts to help these children, such as promoting the culture of adoption using legal controls that safeguard the rights of all parties. In this way, couples unable to conceive are able and more likely to adopt a child of unknown origin. Amina Hatem from Babil told Al-Monitor she had been married nearly three decades and was unable to conceive, and this is why she adopted a child. Such stories are positive signs. But Haider Hassan, who works in an orphanage in Babil, confirmed to Al-Monitor that adopted children are still perceived as inferior.
There is also the role of foster care homes, which take abandoned children in, rear them, care for them and provide them with education in schools until they grow up or are adopted.
Other initiatives to raise awareness of "honor crime" murders and the alienation of those abandoned at birth include the Facebook page “Together to Stop Honor Crimes."
However, the phenomenon of "throwing out" children continues. Experts say solving the problem will require governmental efforts to support families who adopt and raise abandoned children. This situation also requires competent social workers to apply the necessary measures to stop this phenomenon and launch an awareness campaign to end Iraqi society's perception of innocent children as inferior.
(Baby image via Shutterstock)
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