Beijing begins distribution of baby-on-board badges

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-25 00:15

BEIJING -- Beijing on Tuesday started handing out buttons reading "to-be mum" to pregnant women in hope they would be protected in public places.

The move was initiated by the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, Beijing Women's Federation and China Women's News.

It was the first time Beijing had officially handed out baby-on-board badges. Five maternity clinics in the Haidian, Chaoyang, Huairou, Tongzhou and Daxing districts handed out free badges to women in the early stages of pregnancy.

A Beijing Women's Federation official said the move aimed at creating a better social environment for pregnant women and protecting their legal rights and interests.

Before the official initiative, some people in Beijing and Shanghai had voluntarily made and handed out similar badges themselves.

Such badges can also be seen in other countries. For instance, Tokyo's subway company had been handing out pink and blue buttons reading "There is a baby in my belly" to pregnant women in hope they would be given seats on the city's commuter trains.