The Garden of Hope (GOH) Foundation yesterday urged the government to pay more attention to young unmarried mothers so that they don’t have to take care of their children while facing discrimination alone.
Ministry of the Interior statistics show that more than 3,800 children were born out of wedlock to girls under the age of 19 in 2008, GOH executive director Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) told a press conference in Taipei yesterday.
“Most of these girls panic and don’t know what to do when they learn they’re pregnant,” Chi said. “They definitely need outside support — especially from the government — but they usually cannot find any.”
She said the public has the misconception that young unmarried mothers are irresponsible girls who would either desert their children or give them up for adoption.
“Based on our own experiences in assisting young parents, we found that most actually want to keep their children, but are forced to give them away because of economic difficulties, employment or school issues,” Chi said
She urged the government to allocate more resources to young unmarried mothers, especially at a time when the government is trying to boost the birth rate.
“A lot of young unmarried mothers face an unfriendly environment and all kinds of discrimination,” GOH southern district office director Chang Nai-chien (張乃千) said. “It’s not fair because it takes a couple to have kids, but in the end it’s the young mother who has to endure the criticism and humiliation alone.”
One young unmarried mother, nicknamed Ling (小綾), who put her newborn child up for adoption in March, read a message to her own child in a pre-recorded clip.
“I gave you away because I could not afford to raise you and I don’t want you to suffer as I do now when you grow up. I hope my decision will give you a happier life in the future,” she said. “I hope you will not blame me for my decision — it was hard for me to make that decision.”
“Please forgive me — no matter how far away from me you will be, my thoughts will always be with you,” she said.
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