I am happy that the Open Society Foundations have achieved so much over the years in the field of early childhood development. But I think it is also worth remembering how we got involved in the first place—a story that shows how sometimes the best ideas come from keeping an open mind, so that you can find things you didn’t know you were looking for.

In 1993, due to the success of my business strategies, I was able to expand significantly my philanthropic work, which was largely directed at the time to supporting the transformation underway in the former Communist countries of East and Central Eastern Europe. My predominant concern was launching what was to become Central European University, with the idea that it would help develop the new generation of leaders that the region so needed after decades spent under the deadening weight of Communism.

I wanted the new university, with its focus on post-graduate studies in the social sciences, to have the best academic minds we could locate, and I devoted myself to talking to everyone I could find who had ideas to contribute— including Dr. Fraser Mustard, the great Canadian teaching doctor who was one of the founders of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Dr. Mustard was famous as a cardiologist. But at the time

he was becoming increasingly focused on raising what were then new questions about the socioeconomic determinants of human development and health, starting with early childhood (work that was to help to lead the evolution of the concept of community care that has spread far beyond Canada). 

When I told him about my vision of the transformative impact of Central European University, he cited new research on the unprecedented development of the brain in the first few years, and then told me I had to start younger. Instead of focusing on university students, I should look at pregnancy and the critical first six years of childhood. 

Delhi Police rescue newborn and arrest three members of an inter-state human trafficking network; probe reveals racket stretched across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and NCR.

New Delhi | April 14, 2025:
In a shocking revelation, the Delhi Police have uncovered a child trafficking network that sold over 30 newborn babies to affluent families across the Delhi-NCR region. Operating across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi, the gang targeted infants from impoverished tribal families and sold them for ₹5–10 lakh each.

Modus Operandi and Criminal Background

The gang reportedly sourced babies from tribal communities in Pali, on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. Saroj, the mastermind, assigned Yasmin the task of abducting infants. Once secured, Saroj coordinated the ‘deliveries’ with Anjali and collected the payments directly from wealthy families in Delhi-NCR.

Delhi Police rescue newborn and arrest three members of an inter-state human trafficking network; probe reveals racket stretched across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and NCR.

New Delhi | April 14, 2025:
In a shocking revelation, the Delhi Police have uncovered a child trafficking network that sold over 30 newborn babies to affluent families across the Delhi-NCR region. Operating across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi, the gang targeted infants from impoverished tribal families and sold them for ₹5–10 lakh each.

Modus Operandi and Criminal Background

The gang reportedly sourced babies from tribal communities in Pali, on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. Saroj, the mastermind, assigned Yasmin the task of abducting infants. Once secured, Saroj coordinated the ‘deliveries’ with Anjali and collected the payments directly from wealthy families in Delhi-NCR.

WE CARE ABOUT FOREIGN AID

If you do too, join our movement to help children around the world.

At Hope and Homes for Children, we care about getting the 5.4 million children in orphanages Back to Family.

80% of these children are not orphans. They have family who could care for them if they had the right support.

Simon and his husband are withdrawing from adopting another Danish child. This is based on the Supreme Court's decision in another adoption case.

It was the dream of creating a family that led Simon and his husband to apply to adopt a Danish child back in 2020. 

Barely two years later they had their son, who was one and a half years old at the time. 

- When it finally worked out, and we could find a way through how we could have a child together and be a family of the three of us, it was a feeling of happiness beyond compare, says Simon.

Simon is not the adoptive father's real name, but out of concern for the family's anonymity, TV2 ØST calls him Simon in this article. TV2 ØST knows the man's real name.

Since 2016, a total of 86 children have found loving homes through adoptions from Chandigarh

In a heartwarming homecoming, the first child ever placed in inter-country adoption from the city returned to her roots this week, revisiting the place she once called home and reconnecting with her caregivers and childhood friends.

Adopted by a French family in 2017 at the age of six, young Rakhi’s visit was an emotional one. Welcoming her with warmth and affection, Anuradha S Chagti, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, UT Administration, said, “We are incredibly proud of her and all that she has accomplished. We wish her continued happiness and success in all her future endeavours.”

Rakhi’s return is not just a personal journey but also a significant chapter in Chandigarh’s broader adoption story. Since 2016, a total of 86 children have found loving homes through adoptions facilitated by the Chandigarh Child Welfare Committee and associated agencies. Of these, 10 children were adopted internationally — with Rakhi being the first.

Bisman Ahuja, Project Manager, said, “Every adoption is not just a legal process but an emotional journey — for the child, the family, and the community. Rakhi’’s successful adoption opened avenues for the nine other children who have since been adopted internationally. We are currently processing documents for the eleventh inter-country adoption this month. It’s important to note that adoption includes not just orphaned children but also step-parent and relative adoptions, all regulated through CARA — the Central Adoption Resource Authority.”

• Adoptions of children from abroad should continue to be permitted in the future.
• The responsible National Council committee opposes a ban planned by the Federal Council.
• Instead, she wants to improve controls on international adoptions.

The National Council's Legal Affairs Committee (RK-N) passed a corresponding motion by 19 votes to 6, according to parliamentary services. The National Council will then decide on the matter.

The majority of the commission wants the Federal Council to "immediately" revisit its fundamental decision from the beginning of the year and, instead of banning international adoptions, increase oversight and transparency. This is intended to reduce the risk of abuse. The argument against a ban is that it would stigmatize adopted persons and their families, according to the statement from the RK-N.

Federal Council looks abroad

At the end of January, the Federal Council announced its intention to ban the adoption of children from abroad. The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) was tasked with preparing a corresponding consultation draft by the end of 2026 at the latest. A group of experts concluded that abuses could not be ruled out. Such abuses must no longer occur, said Justice Minister Beat Jans. A ban is the best way to protect all those affected, especially children.

No ban on international adoptions

Submitted by:

Committee for Legal Affairs National Council

Reporting:

Gianini Simone

No ban on international adoptions

Submitted by:

Committee for Legal Affairs National Council

Reporting:

Gianini Simone

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Yul-rip = People who were adopted overseas from Korea from the 1960s to the 1990s have called on the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) to further uncover the truth about human rights violations in the past overseas adoption process.

Overseas adoptees and domestic and international organizations that applied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for truth-finding held a press conference in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 10th and announced, "The Truth and Reconciliation Commission must convey the conclusion of its investigation into the remaining 311 people and whether the truth has been revealed within its term."

In addition, they argued that "when determining the truth, the lack of adoption documents and background information for the adoptee is itself evidence and a result of human rights violations," and that "the decision must be made by taking into consideration the special nature of the adoptee's human rights violations."

They added that all 367 adoptees who applied for truth-finding should be able to receive the results of the investigation and a response to the truth-finding inquiry, and that if a decision on human rights violations and truth-finding is not made before the conclusion of the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission investigation, a 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be established to continue the investigation.

Min Young-chang, head of the Korean Adoptees' Solidarity, urged, "The Truth and Reconciliation Commission should actively approach the truth," and "If they cannot approach it on their own, they should request it from the National Assembly."