Pound Pup Legacy

Making the rights of children a reality is a particular responsibility for the adults of Kosovo – EUSR Feith

Making the rights of children a reality is a particular responsibility for the adults of Kosovo – EUSR Feith

20.11.2009

The European Union Special Representative (EUSR), Pieter Feith, attended today the UNICEF event to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Addressing the children and adults present at the celebration, the EUSR underlined the particular importance of this international human rights instrument for children in Kosovo.

Pieter Feith said, (summary remarks):

In implementing its policies, the European Union supports the full range of rights protected by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and maintains close cooperation with UNICEF.

Kosovo is a very young society which needs to rely on its children for its future welfare and development. It is estimated that around one-half of Kosovo’s population is under the age of 18. That places a particular responsibility on the adults of Kosovo to make the rights of children a reality.

More can be done for the welfare and well-being of children in Kosovo and I am saying this fully aware of the difficult socio-economic situation in Kosovo.

We have seen improvements over the past few years in the legal framework for the protection of the rights of the child in Kosovo. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is also included in it.

During the past year, progress has been made in including children’s rights into the policies of the Kosovo authorities through the adoption of the Strategy and Action Plan on Children’s Rights.

Within the context of children’s rights it is important to remember that, like all human rights, these rights apply equally to all children. The children of Kosovo make up a diverse group with many backgrounds and cultures represented here. It is important that all children are assisted in maintaining their culture and language, while having equal opportunities to develop towards active participation in the political, social and economic life of Kosovo.

My Office is particularly engaged in the matter of education for all communities in Kosovo, in order to support the development of quality education that promotes inclusiveness, recognition of the value of diversity for the future development of Kosovo and equal opportunities for all children of Kosovo.

The European Union remains committed, also through the enlargement process, in promoting the adoption of standards of protection of the rights of children and in supporting the implementation of concrete and practical measures to improve the situation of children in Kosovo.

He addressed the audience alongside with the Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Agim Hyseni, EC Liaison Office Chargé d'Affaires, Kjartan Bjornsson and the Head of the UNICEF office in Kosovo, Johannes Wedenig

For more information on the children, please see also:

Countries: Kosovo

Organizations: European Commission

SOS Transit Homes in Kosovo take care of abandoned children

21/06/2002 - All of the abandoned small children, who were hospitalised at Pristina's Maternity Clinic, have now been taken in at the SOS Transit Homes located in the Kosovan capital. Thanks to the generous support of the Austrian states, the project can be extended to include two additional houses.

In the vicinity of the new SOS Transit Homes - Photo: SOS Archives

SOS Children's Villages is providing care for the small children aged three and under from throughout Kosovo, who were staying at Pristina Hospital, at the so-called CSMP (Centres for Short and Middle Term Placement). A total of 42 infants and small children are now receiving comprehensive and professional care at two locations. 26 orphaned children have already found adoptive parents in Kosovo since the centres started their work one and a half years ago. Every child spends an average of five months at the transit homes until their adoption.

When Kosovans who had fled to Albania gradually started to return home in 1999, the catastrophic social conditions in Kosovo prompted SOS-Kinderdorf International to take action. Following intense negotiations with UNMIK, the UN administrative authority in Kosovo, and the local decision-makers, a contract was signed in 2000 to establish an SOS Social Centre with a kindergarten for 125 pre-school children, a transit home for orphaned children and a public playground.

One of the admitted babies - Photo: SOS Archives

24 babies can be accommodated at the two houses which were provisionally rented in Pristina until the completion of the transit homes in the Velania district. In May of this year, all of the children staying in temporary accommodation were able to move into SOS Transit Home "Velania", which includes two family houses with room for twelve children each.

Because of the high number of small children without parental care, SOS-Kinderdorf International decided to establish two more houses to provide accommodation for an additional 48 children. Consequently, the children who have been "put to one side" and are only given emergency care in Pristina's hospitals can be cared for at the SOS Transit Homes. In the long-term, the transit homes are expected to become an SOS Children's Village.

At the request of UNMIK and the national authorities, the temporary facilities located in the town centre will continue to operate until these two houses are complete, probably until the end of the year.

The Austrian state governors unanimously agreed to finance the construction of the two additional houses with just under 1 million Euro at a meeting held on 12 June. At the transit homes, the infants aged up to three are cared for in a family-like environment. Speech development, psychological therapies, games and outdoor activities are provided. After adoption, the co-workers remain in contact with the children and their adoptive parents, to accompany the children's development.

Organizations: SOS Villages (SOS Kinderdorf)

Countries: Kosovo

No more orphanages for Kosovo's forgotten children

Foster care
No more orphanages for Kosovo's forgotten children

Graphic: Luan Tashi

There are more than 80 babies in Kosovo needing permanent homes. One half are in Pristina Hospital. They are the newest casualties in Kosovo's struggle to find a balance between post-war freedoms and old-world mindsets. Because of the enormous stigma associated with being a single mother, babies are being abandoned by women at an alarming rate.

"Pregnant mothers come from all over Kosovo to give birth at Pristina Hospital," says Gabrielle Rutten, the Head of UNMIK's Social Services Division of the Department of Labour and Social Welfare.
"They give a false name, give birth and then leave," explains Rutten. In addition to the 44 at Pristina Hospital, another 37 are being temporarily housed in small homes set up to care for them.

Kosovo is at a cultural crossroads. Much needs to be done to prevent the abandonment of babies-first by educating young people on safe sex, then by enlightening society on single motherhood. But until mindsets and hearts change, Kosovo's social welfare system must do what it can to make sure that forgotten babies are not forgotten by society.

Rutten and her team at Social Welfare want to take advantage of the important societal role of the family to get these babies into real homes. But while strong family bonds are an intrinsic part of Kosovo culture, the public is not aware that there are babies that can be adopted. The reason: in the past, many parentless children were simply institutionalized until they came of age.

They do not want Kosovo to become like some other countries where thousands of orphaned or abandoned children are condemned to a life of institutions and neglect. But international adoption is not an option for Kosovo, as this requires formal agreements signed between countries. Pending settlement of Kosovo's final status, the province cannot enter into international agreements by itself. Even when international adoption does become a viable option, Rutten says, Social Welfare will be looking first toward families within the diaspora from the same Kosovo community.

UNMIK is committed to placing babies with permanent, adoptive families. Meanwhile, the question remains: what to do until families become available? Everyone agrees that they must be taken out of the hospitals as quickly as possible. Since policy is not to continue using orphanages, the solution in the interim is foster care.

But here UNMIK battles the widespread notion that foster care has to be a long-term solution instead of a preliminary step leading to adoption.

"Foster care was known and used in Kosovo in the past," says Rutten. "But usually if a child entered foster care, he or she was with a family for the long-term. What is different now is short-term foster care. Social Welfare wants foster care to be a short-term measure while an adoptive family is being found."

So UNMIK, in cooperation with UNICEF, is launching a foster care campaign to explain this to the many families who still believe that institutionalized care is best for orphans, unless families can be found that will adopt them permanently.

"Even if families are not in a position to adopt a child for life, they need to know that they can still help a child by giving him a temporary foster home," says Rutten, who believes that no child now born in Kosovo should ever have to enter an orphanage.

As part of the new campaign, foster families have to attend classes and complete a screening programme. In return, they will receive a small stipend to help care for a child for up to six months. UNMIK itself is committed to placing each child with a permanent adoptive family within that six-month window.

But UNMIK keeps running into the cultural roadblock that says that children should not be moved from one family to another. "They would rather a child stay in a hospital, i.e. institutionalized, than be cared for by an interim family," comments Rutten who strongly disagrees. "Children should not be institutionalized. As long as we are here that will never happen, and we will never, ever start new orphanages," she reiterates.

If a foster family cannot be found, babies will be sent to one of several NGO-run homes with a maximum of ten children each. In January 2002, the doors will open to a fourth home for the babies waiting for adoption.

"From January forward we hope we will be able to house these babies in a more or less normal situation and at least get them out of the hospitals," says Rutten.

With the foster care campaign in full swing, UNMIK hopes it will not be long before all of them are in the arms of a loving family.

Stacia Deshishku
Social Affairs correspondent

Countries: Kosovo

Organizations: Unicef New York

Progetto Ricostruiamo dai bambini

Amici dei Bambini opera in Kosovo con il progetto “Ricostruiamo dai bambini”. Siamo presenti a Fushe Kosovo, Vushtrii e Priluzje.

Organizations: Amici dei Bambini

Countries: Kosovo

Suspended adoptions in Kosovo:

the CAI controversy

04 May 2006

The suspension based on misinformation dell'ambasciata officials and lack of knowledge of the situation in-country. The Commission in storm

The Association of Friends of Children launched the alarm: international adoptions with Kosovo were suspended. At home AiBi Melegnano has reached an "unexpected and surprising" Commission Communication on international adoptions which establishes the suspension. Amici dei Bambini work in the country for ten years, with co-operation aimed at children in difficult family. ? A law approved in 2003 by UNMIK, the UN authority to the Government of Kosovo, had set out a detailed and accurate international adoptions, just to address the problem of abandoned children in the country, "says the chairman of AiBi , Marco Griffini. "What is regrettable that the suspension was based on misinformation of the Italian Embassy officials and suspected risks to the safety of couples. I wonder then how are families going to adopt in Nepal, Ethiopia and Congo?. ? It 'clear that the war in Kosovo is over but not for children - continues - Amici dei Bambini not only had obtained from CAI and local authorities, having presented all the documents requested permission to adopt, but had been activated because the local authorities had requested an urgent intervention to a family with many children. So much so that the file had already sent some couples ready to take the children reported. This decision leaves us bewildered?. The emergency drop in Kosovo is bleak: Only in 2005 were more than 80 drop in the hospital. 2006 will herald a year black for international adoptions, after already registered fallen dramatically over the last months of 2005. ? The decision to suspend international adoptions - adds Griffini - due to a lack of knowledge on the part of our authorities adoptive procedures and the situation in Kosovo, calls to reflect on the true role of the Commission, given the numerous situations of stalemate adoptions, As with Morocco and China. The CAI in our opinion - concludes Griffini - must be able to solve and address the problems of international adoptions more political weight for this Friends of Children has repeatedly proposed the appointment of a Secretary to the International adoptions at the presidency ?.

http://beta.vita.it/news/view/56326/

VITA. Sospese le adozioni in Kosovo: polemiche sulla Cai

04 maggio 2006

La sospensione motivata da disinformazione dei funzionari dell'ambasciata e da scarsa conoscenza della situazione-Paese. La Commissione nella bufera

L'Associazione Amici dei Bambini ha lanciato l'allarme: le adozioni internazionali con il Kosovo sono state sospese. Alla sede AiBi di Melegnano è infatti arrivata una "inattesa e sorprendente" comunicazione della Commissione per le adozioni internazionali che stabilisce la sospensione. Amici dei Bambini opera nel paese da una decina di anni, con interventi di cooperazione rivolti ai minori in difficoltà familiare. ?Una legge del 2003 approvata da Unmik, l'autorità dell'Onu preposta al governo del Kosovo, aveva regolato in modo dettagliato e preciso le adozioni internazionali, proprio per affrontare il problema dei bambini abbandonati nel Paese", spiega il presidente di AiBi, Marco Griffini. "Quello che rammarica è che la sospensione sia stata motivata da disinformazione dei funzionari dell'Ambasciata italiana e a presunti rischi per la sicurezza delle coppie. Mi domando allora come facciano le famiglie che vanno ad adottare in Nepal, Etiopia o Congo?. ?E' chiaro che la guerra in Kosovo è finita ma non per i bambini abbandonati - continua - Amici dei Bambini non solo aveva ottenuto dalla CAI e dalle autorità locali, dopo aver presentato tutte le documentazioni richieste, l'autorizzazione a adottare, ma si era subito attivata proprio perché le stesse autorità locali avevano richiesto un intervento urgente per dare una famiglia ai molti bambini abbandonati. Tanto che avevamo già inviato dossier di alcune coppie pronte a adottare i bambini segnalati. Questa decisione ci lascia sconcertati?. L'emergenza abbandono in Kosovo è preoccupante: solo nel 2005 sono stati più di 80 gli abbandoni in ospedale. Il 2006 si preannuncia un anno nero per le adozioni internazionali, dopo il vistoso calo registrato già negli ultimi mesi del 2005. ?La decisione di sospendere le adozioni internazionali - aggiunge Griffini - dovuta a una scarsa conoscenza da parte delle nostre autorità sulle procedure adottive e sulla situazione in Kosovo, invita a riflettere sul vero ruolo della Commissione, viste le numerose situazioni di stallo delle adozioni, come accade con il Marocco e la Cina. La CAI a nostro avviso - conclude Griffini - deve essere in grado di risolvere e affrontare i problemi legati alle adozioni internazionali con maggiore peso politico: per questo Amici dei Bambini ha proposto più volte la nomina di un Sottosegretario alle Adozioni internazionali presso la Presidenza del Consiglio?.

Countries: Italy, Kosovo

Organizations: Amici dei Bambini, Amici dei Bambini - Kosovo

`Forgeries and lies' in Australian adoptions of Ethiopian children

`Forgeries and lies' in Australian adoptions of Ethiopian children - Rory Callinan - From: The Australian - March 03, 2010 12:00AM - *A SECRET government investigation uncovered major flaws in Ethiopian adoptions to Australia, with some children falsely represented as being abandoned, not having siblings and being healthy despite having serious illnesses. * Others were found to be years older than what was listed on their official documents while some adoptions were processed using a forged Ethiopian Foreign Office seal, according to an interim report into Australia's and Ethiopia's bilateral intercountry adoption program, which was obtained by The Australian. *Email Rory Callinan if you know of other cases * The program, under which about 450 children have been adopted by Australians over the past 10 years, has been suspended while the federal government negotiates with Ethiopian officials over a push by the African nation for aid to be linked to adoptions. Canberra is concerned the move is "inconsistent with its obligations" under the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. The program's representative, Ethiopia-based Ato Lakew Gebeyehu, denied any impropriety in his operations or any knowledge of the report. The investigation was launched after a group of Victorian parents approached the state's Human Services Department to complain in 2005. Investigators reviewed 117 Ethiopian adoption files from 2002 to 2004 and found "issues of concern" in 44 cases. In 10 cases, wrong information about the history and circumstances of abandoned children was allegedly provided to Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Previously unknown siblings were uncovered in nine cases and previously unknown relatives found in five cases after the adoptive families travelled to Ethiopia to do their own research. The report said such discoveries had left some families questioning "the integrity of the program and the process of children being placed for overseas adoption". It said evidence suggested the relinquishing family or community might have misrepresented the family situation to secure care for a child who could not be looked after for reasons such as extreme poverty. One of the most significant findings was that, in 25 cases, the recorded age of the child was wrong -- more than a year out in 11 cases -- "which had impacted on some children's socialisation and enrolment at school". In eight cases, the child's health problems were not properly recorded in the allocation documents. And limited information had been recorded about the child's overall development. The report recommended the program continue but be further investigated to ensure it complied with the Hague Convention. Mr Gebeyehu said he was aware a family from Victoria had raised concerns after a child was found to be older than thought but he was unaware of any investigation or negative finding about the program. Mr Gebeyehu said there had been only two or three cases in 20 years where ages were wrong. "We have no birth certificates," he said. He said cases where siblings had been found could occur but some were false claims. Mr Gebeyehu confirmed one of his employees had been using a forged seal but said the documents were replaced and the individual responsible was jailed.

Countries: Australia, Ethiopia

Persons: Ato Lakew Gebeyehu

Foreigners to pay more to adopt Vietnamese kids

Last updated: 5/27/2010 13:35

Foreigners who are not permanent residents in Vietnam should pay more when adopting Vietnamese children, according to a parliament’s sitting on Wednesday.

However, the fees should be approved by the National Assembly, the unicameral legislative body, not the government, representative Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy from the central city of Da Nang told the meeting.

Regulations regarding these fees should be watertight so as to prevent children trafficking and clear enough so as to help adopters prepare the money in advance, according to Thuy.

Most representatives agreed on the bill, but were concerned that it may contain loopholes, allowing people to abuse it to benefit themselves.

Under the proposed adoption bill, new fees include procedure charges, costs of raising the children from when they are put forward for adoption until all necessary procedures are completed, and “reasonable fees” to be paid to staff of centers where they are housed.

Currently, adopters are only required to pay adoption registration fees.

Draft makers said the bill was born from studies on countries like China and Thailand, which already charge US$4,000-7,000 as brokerage and then pay the related agencies.

The Hague Convention of 1993 also allowed people involved in adoption procedures to receive fees, they said.

Once the draft is approved by the National Assembly, it will take effect from next January 1.

Countries: Vietnam

Familia Clubului Lions Moldova a crescut

Petru Done

- 13 Mai 2010 -

311 citiri

Familia Clubului Lions Moldova, din Bacau, s-a marit, marti seara, 11 mai, cu inca patru membri. Ei sint Stefan Silochi, Vasile Eftimie, Romel Gutu si Ioan Florin Dimitriu. La ceremonia condusa de presedintele in exercitiu al clubului, Sorin Brasoveanu, au participat, alaturi de membrii organizatiei, Ionel Lupu, viceguvernator II al Districtului 124 Romania, care este si membru al Lions Club Moldova, Nicolae Miclaus, presedinte, si Dorel Tataru, secretar, ai Lions Club “Sf. Gheorghe” Bacau. Au mai fost prezenti si cel care va fi presedinte, de la 1 iulie, al clubului “Sf. Gheorghe”, Marius Nemteanu, impreuna cu decanul de virsta al acestui club, Ioan Micu (Tata Pac), dar si reprezentantii Clubului Leo Phoenix (tinerii de pe linga “veteranii” lions din Clubul Moldova) si ziaristi.

Bataia clopotului Clubului Moldova i-a chemat, marti seara, la supunere pe toti cei prezenti, care au ascultat, pret de citeva minute, imnurile Romaniei, al miscarii internationale lioniste si al celei nationale. Cu sobrietatea ceruta de o asemenea oficiere, Sorin Brasoveanu a facut, mai intii, un scurt excurs in istoria miscarii lioniste internationale si a celei din tara noastra si a amintit citeva dintre realizarile clubului bacauan, infiintat in 1992. “Ii felicit pe noii membri pentru ca au avut curajul sa faca acest pas, pentru ca la nivel international numarul membrilor cluburilor lioniste este in scadere – a spus si Ionel Lupu. Le urez sa-si poarte insignele cu cinste si sa nu uite ca ei fac parte dintr-o elita”. Dupa care, viceguvernatorul a transmis salutul guvernatoarei (asa se pronunta numele functiei supreme in club, la lionezi, in cazul unei femei!) Districtului 124 Romania, Adriana Cazan.
Noii membri au iesit in fata asistentei impreuna cu nasii lor – cei care i-au recomandat pentru a intra in club si care ii vor urmari in activitate permanent. Iar nasii au fost chiar Ionel Lupu si Sorin Brasoveanu. Stefan Silochi are cea mai cunoscuta imagine publica dintre aspiranti, pentru ca a fost primar si viceprimar in Tirgu Ocna, timp de mai multe mandate. Este economist si licientiat in administratie publica, este casatorit, are doi copii si trei nepoti. Romel Gutu este bacauan, este inginer, dar profeseaza ca lichidator la Societatea de Insolventa ca asociat coordonator. Fotografia este principalul sau hobby. Si Ioan Florin Dimitriu este bacauan, economist, revizor contabil, iar in prezent administratorul unei societati de confectii. Este casatorit si are trei fete. Vasile Eftimie (Lalu) este, insa, figura carismatica a clubului. Prezentat de nasul sau, Ionel Lupu, ne-a aparut ca un om de mare sensibilitate, un mare iubitor de arta, antrenant in relatiile cu prietenii si colegii sai. Cum cronicarii l-au portretizat, pe vremuri, pe insusi Stefan cel Mare, si despre Vasile Lupu se poate spune, pastrind proportiile, desigur, ca este un om mic la stat, dar mare fapt si, de ce nu, si ghizdav la faptura.
Noilor membri le-au fost reamintite, in final, scopurile si obiectivele Lions, dar si Codul etic al clubului. Lor li s-a citit Angajamentul de onoare al membrilor Clubului Lions, cel care are ca deviza “We serve” (Noi servim), pe care l-au acceptat public. Astfel, li s-au inminat insignele de membri, iar finii si nasii au primit, depotriva, diplome pentru noile loc calitati intre membrii clubului Moldova. Si Sorin Brasoveanu a primit, la finalul ceremonialului, din partea guvernatoarei Adriana Cazan, un fanion si urarile de bine, pentru ca se asfla la final de mandat in fruntea clubului. Cel care il va urma, pentru un nou an lionistic, va fi Ioan Mocanu.

Persons: Sorin Brasoveanu

What Happens To the Children?

January 28, 2009. What Happens To the Children? International Adoption ended in Romania five years ago. Periodically we look at what has happened to the lives of children whose birth parents cannot take care of them. This week we learned one answer. According to the Romanian newspaper, Gandul, there has been an overwhelming number of abandonments in Bacau county. In the previous three weeks, more than 140 children have been abandoned but the Child Protective Services of the county could only take 44 of them. (Indeed it only had money and space for 20). According to Sorin Brasoveanu, director of CPS Bacau County, "We are being confronted with an avalanche of abandonments. It's regrettable that it's happening. I think the problem exists because local communities have not gotten sufficiently involve. We have no more room in placement centers and we have room for maybe two children under age two. In all the placement centers, we have only 30% of the personnel help that we need. At this moment, it is impossible to even take one child in an emergency placement." This situation should never have existed in the first place.

Persons: Sorin Brasoveanu

Goal is a Better World for Our Children

See link

Persons: Joseph Moerman

SOS Transit Homes in Kosovo take care of abandoned children

Foster care No more orphanages for Kosovo's forgotten children

Progetto Ricostruiamo dai bambini

VITA. Sospese le adozioni in Kosovo: polemiche sulla Cai

Familia Clubului Lions Moldova a crescut

Foster care
No more orphanages for Kosovo's forgotten children