What Does Conscience Say About Infant Deaths/Murder?

(Written on Infant Death/Killing in Our Country)

Babies and children are the most vulnerable and needy individuals in society. However, in modern society and states, especially in commercialized and profit-oriented systems, the fundamental rights of babies and children are frequently violated. These violations are observed in many areas of life, from education to health, from nutrition to shelter. The drive for profit and interest overshadows the conscience of individuals and institutions, and the rights of children that need to be protected are neglected. In this case, it has become an inevitable necessity to introduce the concept of conscience and protect babies from these materialistic, sadistic approaches.

The Role of the Concept of Conscience in Protecting Babies

Conscience is the ability of individuals to distinguish right from wrong and is directly related to universal values such as human rights, justice, and equality. Children's rights, especially the right to life of babies and meeting their basic needs, are among the most basic requirements of conscientious responsibility. However, profit and interest-oriented approaches suppress conscience and cause these rights to be ignored.

Babies’ right to life, just like adults’, is a universal human right. However, today, the drive for profit and benefit in many areas jeopardizes babies’ fundamental rights that need to be protected. The fact that even basic services such as health, nutrition and shelter have become commercial commodities can prevent babies from living a life worthy of human dignity. At this point, re-introducing the concept of conscience to individuals and institutions can play a critical role in protecting babies’ rights.

Effects of the Drive to Gain and Benefit on Babies

Profit and profit-oriented approaches have come to threaten even the most basic rights of babies and children. Rights such as babies’ ability to grow up healthy, to receive love and affection, to have proper nutrition and access to health services are often overshadowed by commercial interests. For example, a profit-oriented approach in the health sector can make it difficult for babies to receive quality care. Commercialization in education can limit children’s access to equal opportunities.

At this point, profit and benefit-oriented approaches cause children and babies to be seen as mere “costs.” In such systems where conscience is out of the picture, human values are pushed to the background and children’s rights are considered as a by-product of commercial decisions. For this reason, conscience needs to be put back into circulation against this materialist approach.

Circulating the Umbrella of Conscience: Conscience as a Shield Against Profit-Oriented Impulses.

Conscience is not only an individual responsibility, but also a tool for social solidarity. The revival of conscience in all segments of society can serve as a powerful shield to protect babies and children against profit-oriented approaches. Conscience compels individuals to look out not only for their own interests, but also for the rights of others. For babies and children, this reminds them that they are under the responsibility of protecting not only their families, but also the entire society.

The umbrella of conscience can be put into circulation in the field of children's rights in the following ways:

1. Conscience Education and Awareness Campaigns:

The ability of conscience to function as a moral guide for individuals can be strengthened through education. Children, families, and community members must understand that babies and children must be protected and that the profit motive undermines this responsibility. The link between children's rights and conscience can be strengthened by including conscience education in educational curricula.

2. Media and Campaigns that Arouse Social Conscience:

The revival of conscience at a social level can be made effective through the media. Incidents such as infant deaths, violations of children's rights, and negligence can be brought to the agenda more frequently in the media, and social conscience can be activated. The reactions of individuals and institutions that bear conscientious responsibility in the face of such incidents can be increased.

3. Conscience-Based Social Policies and Legal Regulations:

Social policies and legal regulations based on conscientious foundations should be developed to ensure the protection of babies and children against commercial interests. For example, special protection laws for babies and children can be enacted against the commercialization of health services.

4. Conscientious Institutions and Practices:

Institutions should be encouraged to develop conscience-based policies. Even for-profit health institutions should be reminded that they must have a conscientious responsibility when it comes to babies and children, and appropriate practices should be implemented.

Overcoming the Obstacles to Conscience: A Reconsideration of the Materialist Approach

Strengthening conscience can prevent individuals and institutions from surrendering to the drive for profit and benefit. Babies and children are too valuable to be subject to cost-benefit analyses. The loss of society's conscience will result in babies and children being deprived of their most basic rights. Therefore, conscience should be put into action as the most effective way to protect babies.

While profit and benefit-oriented approaches provide short-term gains, they erode social conscience in the long run and lead to the damage of universal values such as children's rights. Putting the umbrella of conscience into circulation is one of the most effective ways to prevent this materialist approach. Conscientious individuals and institutions should prioritize human values beyond the drive for profit and interest in order to ensure the protection of children's rights.

Conclusion: Building a Conscientious Society

Babies and children are the most vulnerable individuals in society, and protecting them is not only a responsibility of their families, but also of the entire society. While profit and interest-oriented approaches violate the rights of babies and children, the intervention of conscience can prevent these violations. Conscience should be the guide not only of individuals, but also of institutions and states. The most important protection that will ensure that babies are protected against the drive for profit and benefit is to put the umbrella of conscience into circulation in every segment of society.

First with Conscience…