THE increased occurrence of girls and young women dumping their newborn babies in plastic bags and toilets should re-open the debate on providing safe, legal abortions, the Ombudsman has said.

"Abortion, baby dumping and infanticide is a grave concern, but we should come up with measures to address these concerns," John Walters said on Monday while launching the 2009 human rights report of the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR).

"Is legalising abortion such a holy cow that we should not debate it and engage all stakeholders in constructive dialogue? All I am suggesting is a way to find a solution to the problem," the Ombudsman said.

The 2009 NSHR report lists several newspaper reports about abandoned babies and doctors allegedly performing illegal abortions.

According to statistics, about 20 babies a year are dumped. Since the Police stopped issuing crime bulletins from the start of 2010, no figures are available for the past four months.

"Most women who carry out abortions were said to be teenagers and students who were made pregnant by either 'sugar daddies' or whose boyfriends denied paternity. The young mothers are afraid of being stigmatised having fallen pregnant outside wedlock," the NSHR report states.

"Absence of safe sex, irresponsible behaviour of teenagers, babies born with deformities, poverty, unemployment and urbanisation have all contributed enormously to abortion and baby dumping in the country."

When answering questions after the presentation of the report, NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh said the NSHR supported the legalisation of abortion.

"It is the position of this institution that abortion should be legalised. We don't say baby dumping is good but you cannot hold the women alone accountable," ya Nangoloh said.