The star law, a recognition of the life of babies not born in Peru

The Congress of Peru approved the so -called “star law” that allows the voluntary registration of any baby, dead before birth and at any stage of pregnancy, in the National Registry of Identity and Civil Status (RENIEC).

Stefanie Schmidt, perinatal psychologist at the Perinatal Mental Health Network, explained in an interview with Ewtn News that “the star law was promoted thanks to two groups of mothers in duel: the collective circle of support, the group collective law; and also the Peruvian Red of Mental Health,”

Schmidt also said that this rule has three objectives: to declare October 15 as the National Day of the Perinatal and Neonatal Gestational Duel, a record against Reniec, voluntary and symbolic, “for all those deceased babies during pregnancy; and the third point is to prepare a decent attention protocol for all mothers and families that cross the death of their babies during pregnancy”.

On the record that can be done in any Reniec office in Peru, the psychologist stressed that it is important because it allows “to give this child, which was surely very sought after, very desired, identity.”

What is the Peru support circle?

Schmidt explained that “the circle of support is a group of mothers – and parents too – of families in duel, who come together because they begin to share experiences that have lived similar and decide to accompany themselves”

“These neonatal gestational duels are duels that are lived in very particular ways: there is suddenly a lot of silence, some taboos still in society. They are duels that are usually accompanied very little, either because nobody knew you were pregnant or because suddenly it became very difficult for us to speak when someone loses a son in gestation,” said the Peruvian psychologist.

This circle also meets on special dates such as Mother’s Day or Christmas to make children’s memories and keep them present, elaborating “souvenir boxes that are donated or sold to the families that request it, and these donations are for hospitals where there are moms who are admitted and will give birth or suddenly that they become admitted because there are no beats because something happened with their babies”.

The support circle helps people who have lost a child before being born “feel accompanied and sustained.”

You can contact it in https://www.instagram.com/circulodeapoyoperu/

What is the star law in Peru?

Law 32122, entitled “Law that promotes the integral and multidisciplinary care of the mother before death and gestational and neonatal duel”, Was promoted by Congresswoman Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo of the Popular Renewal Party, with the impulse of the Collective Law Star and the Support circle.

Although the standard was approved on October 10, 2024, a few weeks ago the registration of deceased babies has begun before birth in Reniec.

It is called the star law because it is called “star baby” to the one who dies in the womb and who, although he was not born, will always accompany his parents, in one way or another.

What does the star law have?

Article 5 of the law provides that the mother or the father, or a representative, “can request, when clinically possible, the delivery of the mortal remains of the child.”

Article 6.2 specifies that when the baby is not born, deceased before birth, “the names and surnames that the applicant indicates, and, when clinically possible, sex, gestational age, weight at the time of death, the date, time and place of death and the probable cause of death, in addition to the names and surnames of the parents” can be assigned.

The deadline for registration is six months from the baby’s death. And if the death occurred before October 11, 2024, the deadline will defeat on September 27, 2025.