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Romanian adoptees coming of age

Romanian adoptees coming of age
My siblings didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Romanian, but somehow I could still communicate with my brother, writes CIAN TRAYNOR 
WITH HIS arms tightly folded, head bowed, Nicusor O’Driscoll is uncomfortable with the thought of being among the first to leave the ruins of Romania’s communist regime.
He doesn’t remember the overpopulation, the food rationing, the lack of plumbing or the power cuts. Instead his first memories are of Ireland, having been adopted soon after the execution of Romania’s dictator Nicolae Ceausescu on Christmas Day, 1989.
Following the Iron Curtain’s collapse, an exposé of Romania’s squalid orphanages made headlines around the world. The sight of these “crying rooms” overcrowded with starving children inspired unprecedented numbers of Irish people to volunteer for adoption.
Within six months of Nicusor’s arrival in Cork, there were 28 other Romanian children in his hometown of Carrigaline. By the time he asked his mother where babies came from, adoption was such a familiar topic in his household that his younger sister, Elena, piped up with, “well, they come from Romania, Ukraine, Russia, China . . . ”
Still, while his parents were open about his background and kept in contact with his biological parents, Nicusor felt Irish. It was just easier to leave things as they were. Then, at the age of 19, he received news that his paternal grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer and that a nephew had been born blind from a hereditary condition. He knew he had to go. Within a week, he was travelling back to Romania with his Irish parents.
“The day we arrived in Romania was the anniversary of the day my mum had first seen me, 19 years before. The day we left was the anniversary of when I came to Ireland, so that added to the weight of it all. It was a big deal to my parents; they were probably more emotional about it than I was.”
Together they travelled through a blizzard to the mountains of Suceava, a 10-hour train journey from Bucharest, to stay with Nicusor’s birth family, whose house was twice the size of his bedroom at home. Seeing how far below the poverty line they lived did not help his nerves.
“It’s natural to imagine the worst possible outcome because there are so many emotions going through your head,” he says. “But you can’t prepare for how bad the conditions are out there. Once I saw they had nothing, all I could think about was whether they would hate me for having a good upbringing.”
Just realising that a good upbringing was exactly what both families had intended for him was a milestone. He knew, though, the trip centred on what his father had been waiting 19 years to tell him.
“Over the years he told my parents that when the time was right, he needed to explain things to me in his own words.” Part of it, Nicusor acknowledges, may have been because they had more children after him.
“It wasn’t that he wanted to defend himself, but that he didn’t want me to reject him because of that decision. They couldn’t afford to feed another mouth when I was born and I understand that, especially after going over there and seeing how they live for myself.”
What Nicusor wasn’t prepared for was how alike he and his siblings were, how he recognised himself in the little things that photos never communicated.
“It was like looking in a mirror,” he says. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. My siblings didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Romanian, but somehow I could still communicate with my brother, Vasile – there was no barrier there. It was like when you meet someone you haven’t seen in a long time. There was a bit of awkwardness initially, but once the first day was over and we’d had the emotional reunion, that was it: we felt like the one family, which is what my adopted parents always said we were.”
Speaking so softly that his Cork accent is barely audible, Nicusor admits that the only reason he agreed to the interview is because he fears there are young people out there who may be reluctant to trace their biological parents. If you know your birth name, he says, it’s far easier to trace an inter-country adoption than it is in Ireland, where secrecy often halts the identification process.
“You’re connecting to a part of yourself that you don’t know, part of yourself that might have been left in the dark. It’s not something you can easily explain to someone who hasn’t gone through it but it was a huge weight off my shoulders. In one way, I was sad to leave but I couldn’t wait to get home either,” he says with a laugh. “I see things differently now. It brought me peace of mind and made me appreciate the opportunity I was given.”
Since Nicusor was officially the fourth of 786 Irish children to be adopted from Romania, he is also among the first to reach an age where it’s no longer children asking questions, but young adults making sense of who they are. Every week, Marion Connolly gets calls from Romanian-born Irish teenagers or their families looking how to trace their biological parents. For the last 20 years, she’s run the support group Parents of Adopted Romanian Children (PARC) in her free time.
“Some are inquisitive teenagers scared of hurting their adopted parents; others are the parents themselves saying, ‘they’re getting interested now, what do we do?’” she says. “But when you consider that the oldest of them are between 18 and 21, this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
To her frustration, Connolly spends most of her time explaining to people that, despite 20 years of campaigning for the Adoption Board to provide an adequate contact registry for Romanian adoptees, there is no service in Ireland to facilitate their trace and reunion requests.
Connolly has undertaken 20 trace investigations herself, mostly with the help of “search angels” in Romania who agree to trawl databases voluntarily. The problem is that for years, the adoption system in Romania was unregulated and suffered from corruption, with many children given only exit certificates that did not reflect their identity.
Appreciating the scarcity of information for adoptions in Ireland, Connolly travelled back to Romania a year after adopting a son of her own to gather as much information about his background as she could.
If he became interested one day, she wanted to be able to provide answers.
But now, tired of feeling helpless to aid others, Connolly is on the verge of pulling the PARC helpline. Every time there’s a change at the Adoption Board, she says, PARC is called upon to make suggestions; they get their hopes up, but nothing changes.
“I can’t take people’s calls anymore because I have nowhere to refer them to. I’ve done all I possibly can. In other countries, there is a database people can access at their local adoption board, but we have nothing here. How long are we going to let these children grow up without that service? People have a right to know where they come from. Even if they get to a dead end, at least they know they’ve done all they can.”
Sharon O'Driscoll
Ireland, Romania

11.000 de copii in orfelinatele romanesti. Ce face statul pentru ei?-TvZiare.com

11.000 de copii in orfelinatele romanesti. Ce face statul pentru ei?-TvZiare.com
    
Foto: TV Ziare.com
In cele 256 de orfelinatele din Romania, din care 142 vechi, sunt 11.000 de copii si, cu toate ca numarul lor este in scadere, statul, Biserica si institutiile neguvernamentale ar trebui sa se implice mai mult in a-i ajuta, este de parere Stefan Darabus, directorul Hope&Homes for Children Romania.

"Adoptia este o solutie pentru orfelinate, dar este nevoie de modificarea Legii adoptiilor si de o relaxare a consimtamantului parintilor biologici. Avem in derulare cu ministerul Muncii si Grupul la Nivel Inalt 'Copiii Romaniei' o serie de parteneriate care vizeaza continuarea procesului de inchidere a institutiilor din Romania, astfel incat aceastia sa reprezinte in 2020 doar istorie. 

Numarul copiilor din institutii este in scadere, sunt tot mai multe orfelinate care se inchid, este un trend de 7-8 ani care continua. Nu mai poate sustine nimeni ca institutiile sunt o alternativa, copiii au nevoie de o familie", a precizat Stefan Darabus, la Tv Ziare.com.

In ceea ce priveste situatia financiara a acestor instututii, in tara, posibiliatile de autofinantare sunt foarte reduse, insa exista fonduri de la UE si de la organizatiile pentru protectia copiilor care ajung in Romania, spijinindu-le.

"Cheltuielile pentru un copil tin de cheltuilile de perosonal, de hrana, imbracaminte, apa, gaz, curent, ca si pentru orice alt copil. In cazul in care aceste cheltuieli s-ar face intr-un mediu familial si nu institutional, ele ar fi mai mici", a continuat invitatul TV Ziare.com.

Desi banii sunt putini, conditiile din orfelinate s-au imbunattatit si nu mai vedem "imaginile de acum 10 ani", caci in prezent "peretii sunt zugraviti, mobilierul e nou, exista televizoare, sunt intr-un mediu mai bun decat erau inainte".

Cu toate acestea, copiii din orfelinate nu au Internet, pentru ca nu au voie la acces nesupravegheat la continutul virtual. "Trebuie protejati de continutul virtual. Nu stiu daca asta s-ar putea face in aceste institutii. Sunt prea putini membri de personal ca sa-i poate supraveghea", a precizat Darabus.

Pentru ca numarul celor care intorc capul catre acesti copii este destul de mic, directorul Hope&Homes for Children Romania a facut apel la Biserica sa-i ajute mai mult pe micutii fara o familie.

"Biserica ar putea face mult mai mult pentru ajutorarea cauzelor sociale, fie ca este vorba de copii sau de familii vulnerabile. Implicarea Bisericii exista la nivel de documente si hartii scrise. Ar fi binevenita o accentuare a implicarii sale si poate ca unele dintre sumele de bani pe care le aloca pentru construirea de noi lacasuri de cult ar putea sa fie redirectionate si catre cauze sociale", a opinat Stefan Darabus. 

"Noi, in mod particular, investim o buna pare din sursele noastre de finantare pentru dezvoltarea de servicii de tip familial, centre familiale, retele de asistenti maternali, astfel incat nevoia fiecarui copil sa fie acoperita intr-un mod cat mai individual", a continuat seful Hope&Homes.

Vestea buna pentru orfelinate este ca, de cand a inceput criza, nu s-a observat o crestere a numarului de copii institutionalizati. Insa, pentru ca vine iarna, este posibil ca numarul lor sa creasca usor.

Adaptarea in societate, foarte grea spre imposibila

Copiii care cresc in orfelinate au sanse mai mici de a se integra in societate in momentul in care parasesc instituiile in care au crescut. 

"Nu sunt pregatiti, nu au avut modele de viata, tinerii care parasesc insitutiile sunt dintre cei mai vulnerabili. In orfelinate, copiii sunt cu foarte multi alti copii in jurul lor, nu au timp sa-si lege niste relatii personale stabile, de lunga durata. Copiii si membrii de personal vin si pleaca. 

Este o problema legarea de relatii pe termen lung, cand ajung la viata adulta. Mai mult, pentru toti cei din jurul nostru este o perioada grea ca sa isi gaseasca un loc de munca, pentru ei este cu atat mai greu", a precizat Stefan Darabus.

Pentru ca acesti copii sa poata duce o viata normala, directorul Hope&Homes for Children Romania crede ca incurajarea adoptiilor sau preluarea acestora de catre asistenti maternali ar fi o solutie.

"Sunt foarte multe familii care vor sa adopte copii. Pocesul de adoptie dureza intre un an si doi ani, asta inseamna finalizarea juridica. Procesul de potrivire incepe de cand copilul este plasat in familie si se poate face la o saptamana-doua. (..)Adoptiile internationale au fost o problema foarte mare in sistemul de protectie a copilului. Era un comert, fratii erau despartiti, plasarile se faceau fara un proces de potrivire si se facea in favoarea familiei adoptive si in favoarea copilului", a tinut sa precizeze invitatul Ziare.com.

Mai mult, sunt cateva zeci de mii de asistenti maternali (aproximativ 13-14.000), dar, din pacat,e facilitatile pe care le au sunt destul de restranse din cauza crizei. 

"Odata cu toate scaderili salariale, si veniturile asitentilor maternali au fost reduse", a conchis Stefan Darabus, directorul Hope&Homes for Children Romania.
Vineri, 26 Noiembrie 2010, ora 19:45
Sursa: Ziare.com
Autor: Alina Bardas
Articol citit de 325 ori
 
Romania
Hope & Homes for Children
Stefan Darabus

„The Telegraph“ pune Bistri?a pe jar

„The Telegraph“ pune Bistri?a pe jar

  • Simona Bozbici, Anamaria Cadi?

  • 247 afi??ri
  • Miercuri 17 nov 2010

Copii, în orfelinatul de pe Toamnei

bistrita

Copii, în orfelinatul de pe Toamnei

Publica?ia britanic? „Daily Telegraph“,  a dat publicit??ii,  în urm? cu dou? zilepe siteul telegraph.co.uk,  un material scandalos în care vorbe?te despre un orfelinat din  Bistri?a drept un loc al infernului. Conducerea Centrului este ?ocat? de afirma?iile din material.


taguri

Un articol publicat în urm?  cu dou? zile pe Telegraph.co.uk  descrie un  orfelinat din  Bistri?a drept un loc al infernului. Potrivit site-ului,   atmosfera din orfelinatul, care dup? toate descrierile este Centrul de  Plasament din Bistri?a, n-ar fi departe de imaginile din orfelinatele române?ti de trist? amintire de acum 20 de ani : copii chinui?i, obliga?i sa doarm? în p?tu?uri excesiv de mici pentru vârsta lors au ?inu?i for?at în camer?. „Am întrebat-o pe  Ana Maria, directorul orfelinatului, în care pat doarme copilul de 7 ani , pentru c? în camer? erau doar paturi pentru bebelu?i  «În patul din col?», a subliniat ea cu o ridicare din umeri. «Nu se poate întinde, dar asta este tot ce avem pentru el»", invoc? un dialog jurnalista britanic? Angela Levin, autoarea articolului din The Telegraph. Jurnalista repro?eaz? ?i lipsa lifturilor ?i a scaunelor cu rotile într-o institu?ie în care sunt ?i  copiii cu handicap, iar întrega atmosfer? este descris? drept una fetid?: „nici unul dintre ei nu a fost vreodat? afar?, iar mirosul de urin? ?i fecale a fost cople?itor", descrie britanica descrierea centrului de plasament Bistri?a.  Ea se mai întreab? cum mai poate exista înc? un asemenea loc la  20 de ani dup? ce au fosrt prezentate întregii lumi. „Trebuia s? fie închise demult", conchide ziarista.


Înso?itorul jurnalistei o contrazice

Înso?itorul jurnalistei britanice de la The Telegraph, ?tef?n D?r?bu? directorul unei asocia?ii române?ti, citat de asemenea in articol, dezminte afirma?iile jurnalistei Angela Levin  ?i se delimiteaz? de materialul publicat. Acesta este citat în articol în calitate de  înso?itor ?i prezentat drept chiar „mai ?ocat ?i mai  furios" decât jurnalista . D?r?bu? a luat pozi?ie oficial? împotriva acestui articol chiar pe site-ul  HHC România, organiza?ia de caritate pe care o conduce. „Din p?cate, articolul publicat  demonstreaz? lips? de m?sur? ?i o abordare dezechilibrat? a sistemului de protec?ia copilului în România. Nu pot subscrie la aprecierile extreme despre sistem, cum nu pot fi de acord nici cu etichet?rile negative la adresa autorit??ilor statului" ,precizeaz? D?r?bu?.


Conducerea Direc?iei de Protec?ie a Drepturilor Copilului, care administreaz? Centrul de Plasament din strada Toamnei se declar? ?ocat? de afirma?iile din articolul britanic : „Prin luna octombrie au f?cut o vizit? foarte scurt? la centrul din strada Toamnei patru reprezentan?i ai unui ONG, care lucra cu Guvernul României. Nu a spus niciunul c? ar fi jurnali?ti. Ne-au promis c? o s? ne ajute cu specializarea personalului. Nu ne a?teptam la asemenea inven?ii", explic? Olimpia Ababi, directorul adjunct al Direc?iei de Protec?ie a  Drepturilor Copilului din Bistri?a. Ea spune c? niciunul dintre cazurile prezentate nu corespunde realit??ii, a?a cum nici nu exist? vreo directoare sau angajat cu numele de Ana Maria. De exemplu, Florin, cel despre care jurnalista afirm?  c? are 17 ani ?i este închis for?at singur într-o camer?, are de fapt 21 de ani ?i urmeaz? zilnic cursurile ?colii speciale „Lacrima".

Romania
Hope & Homes for Children

Bolivian boy has found a family, at last (Canada, not finalised)

 
Bolivian boy has found a family, at last
Record staff
click here to expandJheyson, 11, a Bolivian orphan that the Lisa and Patrick Sc ...
Guardians continues to try to untangle legal red tape to adopt and establish citizenship for the 11-year-old
November 27, 2010
BY VALERIE HILL, RECORD STAFF
Jheyson Schlitt seems oblivious to the turmoil brewing around him.
“I just cry and cry,” said his guardian, Lisa Schlitt who along with her husband Patrick, is desperately trying to adopt the 11 year old, although there is no adoption agreement between Canada and his home country of Bolivia.
Lisa knew from the outset the process would be difficult, battling policies of a country with deep national pride and a disjointed court system. She did find one loophole which allowed the Schlitt’s to get Jheyson into Canada, and they gave him their last name to make the boy feel loved, feel at home. Patrick said “he’s never had a family.”
Jheyson had been in Bolivian orphanages since 10 months old having no idea that a world away was a woman who would sacrifice everything to be the boy’s mother.
In Sept. 2006, the Kitchener woman and her mother Carol Dolezsar, of Cambridge, decided to volunteer as well as raise money for an orphanage in Bolivia, a country where Lisa had a friend.
Searching the internet, they found several possibilities though only one responded to the offer, a children’s mission near the city of Cochabamba in central Bolivia.
With her family’s help, Lisa raised $7,000 in donations before leaving for Bolivia where she set out to prove that individuals can make a difference. What she found was unexpected.
The Record featured Lisa in March 2008, after a poem she created about Jheyson was published in Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul.
“There was no expression in his face, he just stood by himself,” she recalled. “I hugged him.”
Jheyson’s face was expressionless; his body slumped as if he’d simply given up.
“He had been picked on, labeled having a learning disability,” she said. “For two weeks, I took him everywhere with me, we ate popsicles, went to the park, went to the market. He was seven years old. While we were there, the difference was huge. He was smiling.” Jheyson also started calling her Mom but only too soon, it was time for Lisa to come home, leaving a tearful Jheyson behind with a promise she would bring him to Canada.
“I called him several times a week,” she said. “I left him, but I had other contacts, they kept an eye on him.” She also contacted a lawyer in Bolivia to start adoption proceedings. “They wanted money up front with zero guarantees,” she said.
Jheyson, who knew rudimentary English, worked at mastering the language while Lisa worked at bringing him to Canada though Bolivia’s bureaucratic wheels grind slowly and often backwards. His birth certificate was lost, important documents were misplaced, lawyers moved on, judges were reassigned, one problem lead to the next.
Then, disaster struck. Jheyson’s orphanage came under government investigation and many of the children were moved to other facilities. She called her friends in Bolivia.
“I panicked, and called them and asked them to take him,” she said. “There are 80 orphanages in that city. It would be impossible to find him again.”
Fortunately, Jheyson did not get caught in the shuffle. Lisa boarded a plane for Bolivia and while there, applied for a Visa for Jheyson. “He came three weeks later,” she said, escorted by the wife of the orphanage’s former director. The Bolivian courts agreed to give Lisa, a personal support worker and Patrick, a funeral director, legal guardianship while the boy was in a Canadian school.
The Schlitts had prepared a room for him, wrapped Christmas presents in December then purchased a Halloween costume the following October. When he finally arrived, Nov. 7, 2008 they celebrated.
“Because he has a learning disability, he can come to Canada to go to school,” she explained. The couple was taken aback to learn the Waterloo Region District School Board charges $14,200 per year for an international student but luckily, they discovered the 38-student Carmel New Church School, an independent Christian facility in Kitchener charged $3,520 a year. “They’re phenomenal,” said Lisa, noting Jheyson no longer exhibits learning disabilities.
Jheyson is part of their family, but the story hasn’t ended. “We have custody from the courts in Bolivia and Canada recognizes that, but they won’t give him permanent residency,” she said. Without it, Jheyson does not qualify for citizenship, health care or education. Every cent must come from the Schlitt’s pocketbook and with four biological children at home ranging from 12 to 18, it’s a heavy financial burden.
Patrick estimates that between lawyers and consultants it’s cost them around $30,000, but it’s not about the money. “We don’t mind paying for him,” he said. “It would be nice to see an end point. You’re shooting in the dark.”
“Lisa has gone through so much,” said Kitchener immigration consultant, Douglas Dunnington, who has witnessed the level of care and love Jheyson has received with the Schlitts. “This little guy warrants facility (in Canada).”
Jheyson entered the country on a visa, and received visitor’s status which ran out after six months. Dunnington successfully applied for an extension which is about to run out Dec. 31. He’s applying for a second extension, trying to keep the boy in Canada while Lisa and Patrick run the gauntlet of adoption proceedings.
“What are we going to do, send him back?” questioned Dunnington. “Let’s hope some common sense applies.”
Bolivia, Canada

Adoption to become easier, Ministry to put information, photos online

Adoption to become easier, Ministry to put information, photos online
Teena Thacker Posted online: Thu Oct 07 2010, 05:27 hrs
New Delhi : Adopting a child may soon become hassle free. In a bid to make the process simple and easy, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has developed an online system where applicants can register and select a child for adoption.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has designed the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS), putting online information about children up for adoption and their photographs. The system will be launched soon by Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath.
“This will end all paperwork and unending wait to adopt a child. Interested parents will not have to go hunting all around,” says Tirath. It currently takes at least six months to adopt a child.
The portal, say officials, will contain information of both the interested parents. Once they register themselves online putting in personal information like their motivation to adopt a child, medical information, whether they have a previously adopted child etc, they are given the choice of the adoption centre that they would want to deal with.
Once the centre informs them about the children that can be adopted, the parents can list their preferences such as gender, age etc. Within minutes they would be sent information including that related to health along with comments of a physician. A photograph of the child will accompany the same.
Based on this information, the interested parents will be allowed three choices. “The interested parents just can't reject a child one after another and cannot approach two adoption centers at a time,” says Anu J Singh, Secretary, CARA.
The online process will first be launched for domestic users and then extended to inter-country adoption.
Sreedharan Nair, Director of Delhi Council for Child Welfare (DCCW), which runs adoption programme Palna says that an online facility will definitely make things easier. “There is a lot of paperwork which is required before proceeding for adoption. After the launch of this facility, all this paperwork will end making the process easier and hassle free,” he said.
India

The Telegraph: Orfelinatele din Romania, imaginea iadului pe pamant

Telegraph: Orfelinatele din Romania, imaginea iadului pe pamant

Situatia copiilor institutionalizati din Romania ramane in continuare un subiect "savuros" pentru reporterii publicatiilor occidentale, acestia revenind periodic in tara noastra pentru a descoperi tragediile unor suflete nevinovate.

"Nu vezi prea des cum arata iadul, dar o versiune a acestuia exista undeva in nordul Romaniei, in Bistrita. Acolo este un loc care ar fi nepotrivit pentru animale, ca sa nu vorbim de oameni, dar care totusi este singura casa pentru 35 de suflete de numai cateva saptamani, pana la tineri aflati in pragul maturitatii", asa isi incepe Angela Levin reportajul scris pentru The Telegraph.

Jurnalista povesteste cum orfanii, cu totii avand diferite grade de handicap fizic si mintal, sunt nevoiti sa traiasca la comun intr-o camera micuta, dar si despre Ana-Maria, directorul orfelinatului, care nu arata nici cel mai mic semn de compasiune pentru copiii aflati in grija ei si a institutiei pe care o conduce.

In reportaj se mai vorbeste despre "mirosul coplesitor" de urina si fecale care persista in incaperile vizitate, care sunt atat toalete, cat si camere de zi pentru orfani.

Stefan Darabus
Hope & Homes for Children
Romania

Romania's Lost Children (Blog Emma Griffith)

November 23, 2007
Romania's Lost Children




Watch the program: Part 1 | Part 2

The little baby boy lay awake in his cot. He was bound in swaddling, as is the tradition in these parts, and I was aching to pick him up. The doctor told me his name: Emanuel Bizgan. He was five months old, the son of a homeless woman, and had been abandoned at the hospital.

Emanuel is one of a new generation of orphans in Romania. These days babies abandoned at hospitals are likely to stay there until their second birthday. New laws banning the institutionalization of children under two have backfired for them. Only when they turn two will they be legally allowed to go to a children's home. Not that that would be much better.

The doctor in charge, Dr. Monica Nicoara, has become a babysitter for dozens of newborns and toddlers. There's nothing medically wrong with the children – they've simply had the misfortune of being given up by their parents.

"They have no affiliation, no stability; 'that’s my mummy, I go to my mummy, I am safe with my mummy. I have many mummies – anyone is okay, but which is mine?,'" she tells me. "It is not a personal relationship here."

We filmed Dr. Nicoara and her charges at the Baia Mare hospital in northern Romania. Some of the older babies who could sit up were rocking – child welfare experts say that's a sign that they’re suffering from a lack of stimulation. I noticed something else odd about the ward – the babies weren’t crying. There were a dozen little ones there and they were all quiet. They'd given up on crying. That above all was hard to learn – the best way babies can communicate their needs and these ones had given up. They had learned that crying didn't get them what they wanted. How could it – when their were 23 of them to care for and just 3 nurses on the ward?

The babies didn't cry but by the end of this shoot I think our entire crew was holding back tears. We knew that this was going to be an emotional story to tell. By the time we finished filming, we'd all had a cuddle of Emanuel and some of his friends in the ward. We really wanted to take them home (wryly joking that they'd fit in our backpacks). But even if we were serious, it would have been impossible: International adoption has been banned in Romania.

The story became personal for me later that same day. I received an e-mail from a dear friend in Australia who was desperately trying to get pregnant and having all sorts of problems. She really wanted a child and it was painful to think that here I was meeting so many unwanted children. It brought home the tragedy of this story and the importance of telling it. Romania has made great strides in its child welfare system since the horrors of the Communist regime – but there are still too many babies here who may never know a mother's love.

-- From Emma Griffiths, Moscow Correspondent, ABC Australia
Posted by World Untold Stories Producer: 10:43 AM
Romania
Monica Nicoara, MD

Mariela Neague: CNN is about pressure to reopen adoptions

Romania

Petitie: "Petitie privind dreptul la adoptie internationala"


Data: 28-06-10

Petizione pro-adozioni: a quota 8.500 le adesioni

Continuano ad arrivare le adesioni alla petizione pro-adozioni promossa da un coordinamento di 14 associazioni e ONG rumene unite per la riapertura delle adozioni internazionali.

Sono arrivate a quota 8.500 le firme a sostegno della petizione che continua a raccogliere adesioni con una sottoscrizione di firme nelle principali città rumene. In un primo momento la mobilitazione era partita a Brasov, poi si è allargata a Constanta, Cluj Napoca e Prahova. La protesta contro la chiusura delle adozioni internazionali è arrivata anche sul web, dove si continuano a raccogliere le adesioni.


http://www.aibi.it/ita/petizione-pro-adozioni-a-quota-8-500-le-adesioni/


 

Data: 28-06-10

Romania, petizione pro-adozioni: le adesioni volano a quota 8500

banchetto_firmeContinuano ad arrivare le adesioni alla petizione pro-adozioni promossa lo scorso 2 giugno da un coordinamento di 14 associazioni e ONG rumene unite per la riapertura delle adozioni internazionali. Sono arrivate a quota 8.500 le firme a sostegno della petizione che continua a raccogliere adesioni con una sottoscrizione di firme nelle principali città rumene. In un primo momento la mobilitazione era partita a Brasov, poi si è allargata a Constanta, Cluj Napoca e Prahova. La protesta contro la chiusura delle adozioni internazionali è arrivata anche sul web, dove si continuano a raccogliere adesioni.

Servono ancora più di 90mila firme per chiedere al Parlamento di inserire nel testo di modifica alla legge 273/2004 il ripristino delle adozioni.

Il Governo di Bucarest ha bloccato in più occasioni la richiesta di riaprire le adozioni internazionali dei minori rumeni, nonostante questa linea politica sia in pieno contrasto con la Convenzione de l’Aja del 1993 e la Convenzione per i Diritti del Fanciullo di New York del 1989, entrambe ratificate dalla Romania.

Con la raccolta firme si intende quindi sollecitare il Parlamento ad abrogare l’articolo 39 della legge sull’adozione attualmente in vigore (273/2004) e l’articolo 45 della proposta di modifica della stessa Legge. Allo stesso tempo con la petizione le associazioni rumene chiedono la riapertura delle procedure di adozioni internazionali per i minori rumeni che non trovano una famiglia disposta ad adottarli nel loro Paese.

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Petitie: "Petitie privind dreptul la adoptie internationala"

 

Daca doriti ca si alte persoane sa afle despre aceasta petitie, le puteti trimite urmatorul link: 

Promoveaza petitia!        Semneaza petitia!

Petitie privind dreptul la adoptie internationala

04/06/2010

categorie: Proiecte de lege, legislatie, Social.

destinatar: Guvernul Romaniei

Petitie privind dreptul la adoptie internationala

Semnatura ta realizeaza interesul superior al copilului !

Asociatia Catharsis Brasov, sustinuta de un grup de Organizatii Neguvernamentale, care promoveaza Drepturile Copilului, dar si de tineri care au parasit centrele de plasament inainte sau dupa implinirea varstei de 18 ani, propune Societatii Civile prezenta petitie, privind dreptul la adoptie internationala a copiilor abandonati care nu sunt ceruti in adoptie nationala.

Sansa copiilor romani abandonati, de a creste intr-o familie, a fost spulberata in ultimii 10 ani de Moratoriul impus adoptiilor internationale in octombrie 2001 dar si de art. 39 din Legea nr. 273/2004 -privind regimul juridic al adoptiei:

“Adoptia internationala a copilului care are domiciliul in Romania poate fi incuviintata numai in situatia in care adoptatorul sau unul dintre sotii din familia adoptatoare care domiciliaza in strainatate este bunicul copilului pentru care a fost incuviintata deschiderea procedurii adoptiei interne."

Zeci de mii de copii abandonati, din care peste 4,000 orfani, care nu sunt ceruti în adoptie nationala, sunt condamnati sa traiasca fara familie, dac? art. 45 din proiectul Guvernului Romaniei de modificare a Legii nr. 273/2004 va fi legiferat in forma actuala:

“Adoptia internationala a copilului care are domiciliul in Romania poate fi incuviintata numai in situatia in care adoptatorul sau unul dintre sotii din familia adoptatoare care domiciliaza in strainatate este ruda pana la gradul al III-lea inclusiv cu copilul pentru care a fost incuviintata deschiderea procedurii adoptiei interne.”

Ambele articole incalca dreptul fundamental al copilului la o familie, drept constitutional prevazut in Legea nr. 272/2004 privind drepturile copilului (art.6), in Conventia Organizatiei Natiunilor Unite privind Drepturile Copilului incheiata la New York in 20 noiembrie 1989, ratificata de Parlamentul Romaniei in septembrie 1990, in Conventia asupra protectiei copiilor si cooperarii in materia adoptiei internationale incheiata la Haga in 29 mai 1993, ratificata de Parlamentul Romaniei in octombrie 1994. Cele doua articole discrimineaza atat copiii cat si familiile care doresc sa adopte, incalcand principiul care sta la baza promovarii si respectarii drepturilor copilului “egalitate de sanse si nediscriminare”.

Cerem Parlamentului Romaniei abrogarea art. 39 din Legea 273 /2004 cat si renuntarea la art. 45 din proiectul Guvernului Romaniei de modificare a Legii nr. 273/2004, care mentine de fapt Moratoriul instituit in 2001, privind interzicerea adoptiilor internationale.

Solicitam redeschiderea procedurii adoptiilor internationale pentru copiii romani, de catre persoane sau familii care au domiciliul pe teritoriul altui stat, parte a Conventiei de la Haga, astfel incat, copiii adoptati sa poata beneficia in tara straina de garantiile si normele echivalente acelora existente in cazul unei adoptii nationale. 

De asemenea, solicitam instituirea unui cadru riguros de derulare a adoptiilor internationale, care sa confere garantii ferme de realizare a acestora numai in cazuri justificate de interesul superior al copilului si sub controlul strict al institutiilor de specialitate ale statului. 

Citeste si semneaza petitia pentru abrogarea art. nr. 39 din Legea nr. 273/2004 privind regimul juridic al adoptiei si pentru modificarea art. nr. 45 din proiectul de modificare a Legii nr. 273/2004. Ajuta-ne sa strangem 100,000 semnaturi! Trimiteti mai departe si copiii va vor fi recunoscatori.

Semnatura ta schimba destinul unui copil!

Asociatia Catharsis, presedinte Azota Popescu
Asociatia Pro Democratia, presedinte Bogdan Lazar
Asociatia Samariteanul Milos, director Ecaterina Guguianu
Asociatia de Servicii Sociale SCUT, director Gabriela Dima
Asociatia Un Pas Spre Viitor, presedinte Florin Catanescu
Fundatia pentru Copii Abandonati, director Maria Gavriliu
Fundatia Ge-Ro, director Gheorghe Carapalea
Fundatia Rafael Codlea, director Tatiana Tita
Fundatia Sunshine Romania, director Viorel Mares
Organizatia Salvati Copiii Filiala Brasov, presedinte Anca Timis


Autor: Azota Popescu

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Vezi semnaturile pentru petitia: Petitie privind dreptul la adoptie internationala


Romania
Amici dei Bambini, Tiriac Case - Pinera Manera Case, Catharsis
Azota Popescu

Adozioni Internazionali Romania: si lavora sulla nuova legge.

International Adoption Romania: working on the new law.
Continue the battle for Romania to propose a new law on adoption, which would open the opportunity for children to be welcomed also by Romanians foreign couples.

On 18 October in Brasov was held a meeting for the reform of the international law on adoption attended by the President of Catharsis, Nitrogen Popescu, representatives of two of the country DGASPC (General Directorate for Social Assistance and the Protection of Children) and a representative of Aibi Romania.

For the District of Mures this was a legal adoption of the service and the head of the Service, the district of Dolj was instead represented by a service operator adoptions.

Catharsis occasion has collected contributions from DGASPC present and those absent, however, who have submitted their claims, with the intent to create a unique proposal whose heart was the reopening of international adoption.

The aim is then to present this project to the Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights, Religion and Problems of National Minorities, which Catharsis has already had a hearing on October 6 last year.

The next step is to harmonize this proposal, approved by the local bodies and private social organizations, with one already filed earlier this year Romeno Office for Adoptions, so that it can actually submit to the National Legislative Council before being approved.

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Catharsis, Amici dei Bambini
Romania
Azota Popescu
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