The United Kingdom’s Infanticide Act of 1938 was a law which allowed women who had killed their newborn babies to be prosecuted for the lesser charge of infanticide instead of murder. The Infanticide Act of 1938 recognized that some mothers, due to mental illness or other circumstances which may have contributed to their inability to understand the full consequences of what they did, should not be punished as harshly as those who were convicted of homicide.
I believe this act is an important piece of legislation as it helps protect vulnerable individuals from receiving overly harsh sentences while also recognizing that there are often extenuating circumstances which can influence a person’s decision-making. Furthermore, I think it is significant in terms of providing recognition for mental health issues – particularly since many countries still lack adequate laws/services related to this field.