WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - Reality TV star Paris Hilton called for greater federal oversight of youth care programs at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing on Wednesday as she described her traumatic experience in youth care facilities.

Hilton, 43, the great-granddaughter of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton, has spoken publicly about the emotional and physical abuse she endured when she was placed in residential youth treatment facilities as a teen.

In remarks to the committee on Wednesday, she described being taken from her bed in the middle of the night at age 16 and transported across state lines to a residential facility where she experienced physical and sexual abuse.

"This $23 billion industry sees this population (of vulnerable children) as dollar signs and operates without meaningful oversight," she said.

"There's no education in these places, there's mold and blood on the walls," she added in response to lawmaker questions. "It's horrifying what these places are like. They're worse than some dog kennels."

Investigating the theft of a 11-month-old boy, the Tumakuru police unearthed an infant trafficking racket and arrested a gang of five, including three nurses, allegedly involved in selling newborn babies to prospective clients. The gang reportedly has been active for the past two years and sold nine toddlers, said the police.

The accused on June 9 sneaked into a house and stole the 11-month-old boy, Raki, while the family was asleep in another room, near Channabasaveshwara temple, Tumakuru city, according to the police.

District Superintendent of Police K.V. Ashok formed a special team which tracked down Ramakrishna and his associate Hanumantharaju, who were working as daily-wage labourers. Based on their information, the police arrested Mubarak, a tamarind dealer from Belluru Cross, and rescued Raki.

According to the police, Mubarak had three daughters and wanted a son. He approached the accused through Mahesh, a manager of a private hospital, and allegedly offered ₹1.7 lakh. Mahesh, in turn, engaged Ramakrishna and Hanumantharaju and allegedly gave them ₹30,000 each after they handed over Raki.

The police arrested Mahesh and two other staff nurses, working in private hospitals, identified as Soujanya and Poornima, for allegedly being part of the racket. During questioning, the accused reportedly confessed to have operated for the last two years and to have sold nine babies to different couples.

The indictment alleges that the children were forced to work on the couple's farmland because of their race and treated as slaves.

A wealthy white couple in West Virginia has been charged with human trafficking, forced labour and child neglect. The couple, Donald Ray Lantz (63) and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather (62), allegedly subjected their five adopted black children to forced labour and confinement, WNews reported.

The children, aged 6-16, were found living in deplorable conditions. Two teens were locked in a filthy shed without basic amenities, while another child was in a loft in the main house.

The indictment alleges the children were forced to work on the couple's farmland because of their race and treated as slaves. The couple allegedly also prohibited them from entering the main house, reported the outlet.

The couple faces multiple charges, including human trafficking, forced labour involving minors, and child neglect, creating a substantial risk of severe injury or death. They pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday, WCHSTV reported.

The investigation began after a neighbour reported concerns about the well-being of children.

Police found two teenagers, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, locked in a shed on the couple's property. The shed had no lights, running water, or mattresses, only an RV porta-potty. The teens told police they were forced to sleep on the concrete floor and were last fed 12 hours prior.

The boy had open sores on his bare feet, and both children wore dirty clothes and smelled of body odour. A 9-year-old girl was found inside the residence, while an 11-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were brought to the property later by the couple.

Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers described the indictment as “one of the worst" she has ever seen, citing allegations of human trafficking and racial targeting. “It alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the use of forced labour,” Judge Akers said, as per the NY Post. “These children were targeted because of their race, and they were used basically as slaves from what the indictment alleges.” 

Judge Akers increased the couple's bond from $200,000 to $500,000 each, citing the severe nature of the human trafficking and child neglect charges. She stated that the initial bond was insufficient due to the risk of bodily harm or death involved. The case will go to trial on September 9.

Council OKs legal adoption process to curb illegal baby trade

Council OKs legal adoption process to curb illegal baby trade© Provided by Cebu Daily News

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebuano parents who plan to adopt babies here can now engage in the adoption process legally.

A resolution regarding the proper process of child adoption has been approved and will be distributed to birthing homes and hospitals. This decision was made during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, June 26

The number of children and young people who found a place in a foster family rose to 11,169 last year. Foster children can also count on the support of their foster family for increasingly longer. In long-term foster care situations, children remain in a foster family for an average of more than 7 years. This was reported by Opgroeien today.

“A total of 11,169 children in a difficult home situation and adults with a disability stayed in a foster family last year, an increase of 5.3 percent. In three out of four new foster care situations, children end up in a family they already knew. One in four children is matched for a short or long period, or occasionally a weekend, with a foster family they do not yet have a bond with,” says Niels Heselmans, spokesperson for Opgroeien.

In 79 percent of foster care situations, it concerns a long-term form of foster care. “In theory, children or young people then remain living in their foster family for at least a year. But the figures show us that this period is often much longer. On average, a foster child who is entrusted to a foster family for a longer period of time, remains with that family for more than 7 years. For many children and young people, this of course means that they spend a large part of their youth in a foster family. This stability is incredibly important when children come from a difficult situation,” according to the spokesperson.

“Care tailored to the child”

In addition to the long duration, it is also noticeable that many foster families switch between different forms of foster care. “In this way, we provide care tailored to each child,” says Jeroen Vandenbussche, coordinator of Foster Care Flanders. “For example, when children return to their parents after a few years, foster families continue to be of significance as weekend foster families. In this way, foster children do not have to immediately cut the bond with their foster parents and parents can also count on support in raising their children.”

Consultation on mother-and-baby home inquiry to begin

7 days ago

By Matt Fox, BBC News NI

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Baby girl who died from being left in the back of a hot car 'for hours' in San Diego - just two months after being adopted by local gay couple

By NIC WHITE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 01:49 BST, 24 June 2024 | UPDATED: 22:06 BST, 25 June 2024

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KARACHI:

Three witnesses on Saturday recorded their testimonies before the judicial magistrate for District East in the case against rights activist and philanthropist Sarim Burney for alleged child trafficking. Defence lawyer Amir Qureshi, however, did not cross-examine the witnesses' statements during the proceedings.

Sarim, who runs Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International, has been accused of smuggling a newborn baby girl named Haya to the United States. It has surfaced that he had smuggled over 20 newborns in the past year under the guise of adopting them. Afsheen, mother of Haya, along with Bushra and Ayaz, appeared before the judge to record their statements. The witnesses testified in the presence of Burney, who is accused of document tampering and involvement in human trafficking.

According to FIA sources, Bushra and Ayaz had contacted Dr Madiha regarding the adoption of the girl. Defence lawyer clarified that no cross-examination was conducted on the witnesses' statements during Saturday's hearing and that it would take place at a later stage in the trial.

In Hungary and Bulgaria, disabled children and Roma often end up on lists for foreign adoption. Nevertheless, Flanders continues the adoptions from Eastern Europe.

On November 27, 2023, prospective adoptive parents throughout Flanders will be glued to their computer screens, waiting for a message from the Flemish Center for Adoption (VCA). The final decision will be made that day: can they continue their procedure? Due to reports of malpractice and fraud, the Flemish government decided to examine all its collaborations with the so-called sending countries.

We often associate intercountry adoption with Africa and Asia, but there are also European countries on that list of countries. In a joint study with the Dutch platform Investico, the TV program Zembla , the Hungarian medium Atlaszo and the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chasa, Knack examined adoptions from Bulgaria and Hungary - the latter has become the second largest sending country to Flanders. , after Thailand. This shows dire situations with Roma children.

Discrimination

Everything revolves around children from Hungary and Bulgaria who were given up for adoption in the past ten years. Eighteen of them ended up in Flanders. The golden rule for adoptions is the principle of subsidiarity: if an adoption is in the best interests of the child, a new home must first be looked for at home, abroad is only the very last option. This is also the rule in Hungary and Bulgaria. There are plenty of candidates in both countries: there are more prospective parents on the waiting lists than children. However, the profile of those children does not necessarily match the preferences of the domestic parents. They prefer healthy, young children from the Bulgarian and Hungarian majority. Roma children, children with disabilities and older children end up on a list for adoption abroad.

Bringing an adopted child to the Netherlands has become difficult, but adoption from Hungary is still allowed. There the system would be organized responsibly. However, research shows that this is not true.