Infanticide is the masculine noun that indicates the voluntary act of killing a child. Infanticide is usually committed against a newborn.
In the Brazilian penal code, infanticide is addressed by article 123, which indicates that infanticide involves killing a baby during or shortly after childbirth, being under the influence of the puerperal state. The penalty provided is detention that can go from 2 to 6 years.
puerperal state
The puerperal state is the condition in which the mother is from the moment after childbirth until she returns to the state before pregnancy. The time span may vary from woman to woman.
During this period, several changes occur in women, both physically and psychologically. In this postpartum state, the mother may experience depression, which can lead to rejection of her child.
Indigenous infanticide
Infanticide is a common practice in several Indian tribes. In many tribes, children with physical or mental disabilities, twins or the result of extramarital relations are killed.
Several indigenous elements demonstrated against this practice. One of the best known cases was that of Muwaji, a mother from the Suruwahá tribe, who managed to prevent her daughter (a mentally handicapped person) from being murdered. Later, bill 1057/2007, also known as "Lei Muwaji", emerged, which aims to protect children from infanticide.