[NYTr] Venez: Much-Criticized Law Banning Weird Names for Kids Withdrawn
 
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:47:20 -0500 (CDT)

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
[This proposed legislation got almost as much derisive attention in the
international mainstream press as the clock change in Venezuela.
Parents can now safely continue to name their poor kids whatever
bizarre thing they want, apparently a custom in Venezuela (which is
shared by many in the third world as well as the US, especially in the
south). -NY Transfer]

AP via The Washington Post - Sep 13, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091302179.html

Venezuela Backs Off Banning Odd Names

Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan officials withdrew a proposal to bar
parents from giving their children names like Edigaith, Mileidy or
Superman, the state-run news agency reported Thursday.

The National Electoral Council had proposed banning "names that expose
(children) to ridicule, are extravagant or difficult to pronounce" or
raise doubts about whether a child is a girl or a boy.

The council also proposed to draw up a list of traditional names for
parents to use "as a reference" when registering their children.

But the clause prohibiting odd monikers was axed after child protection
officials warned it could violate "the right to liberty," Electoral
Council member Sandra Oblitas was quoted as saying by the Bolivarian
News Agency.

While unusual names appear in many countries, many Venezuelans seem to
have an inclination to give their children nontraditional names. Some
are creative spellings of English names like Maikel or Jhonny; others,
such as Edis or Orlayny, are of uncertain origin.

When opponents of President Hugo Chavez last year sought to question
the accuracy of the country's voter rolls, they noted that even
"Superman" was listed. Electoral officials subsequently confirmed there
are in fact two Venezuelans by that name registered to vote.
 
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