Danuț Sebastian Neculaescu, the son of the head of the pensioners' organization PSD Dâmbovița, Sache Neculaescu, a former communist activist involved in child trafficking in 1991, was appointed secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș on Thursday.

Neculaescu junior was previously director general for strategic affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And his wife works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Neculaescu senior signed several books with PSD Dâmbovița head, Adrian Țuțuianu.

Neculaescu senior appeared on the list of those who circulated works written in penitentiaries. He coordinated the work "Appeals in the civil process - Comparative view between the code of civil procedure from 1865 and the code of civil procedure entered into force on 15.02.2013". The author of the work published by the Bibliotheca Publishing House is none other than the former president of the Dâmbovița Court, Ion Miloșoiu, convicted of influence peddling.

Because participating adoptees were already adults, malpractice had generally occurred more than 20 years ago, especially prior to their adoption in the country of origin and/or during the adoption process. The adoptees often discovered them later in life, for example during searches. 

The adoptees indicated that malpractice in intercountry adoption had a major impact on their emotional well-being. It often caused long-term problems in multiple areas, especially in the areas of trauma, identity development and relationships. For example, problems with self-esteem, attachment, fear of abandonment and grief were mentioned. It also had an effect on their own parenting. 

No words for it

Several adoptees indicated that it was very difficult to be heard. Because malpractice in adoption did not fit the positive story surrounding adoption, this was often not recognized in society. The narrative that the adoptee should be grateful often overshadowed the complex and ambivalent experiences that adoptees struggled with. This placed an additional burden on the adoptees. They sometimes could not understand why they had emotional and physical reactions, there was no recognition and no language to understand this and interpret their own experiences. Sometimes the discovery of malpractice also caused tension within the adoptive family, where it could lead to the adoptive parents feeling guilty or to conflict. 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: GOMES Ana Maria

To: "O'REILLY Emily"

Cc:

Bcc:

Are you an adopter? Have the recent media stories about crime in the adoption system made you unsure of what really went on? Unsure whether you can trust your adoption papers?

For a long time, many adoptees have called for an investigation into the international adoption system, but I think it is time for us adopters to come forward. Our children have a right to know their history. And we have a right to know what kind of foundation our families are built on. 

Minister of Social Affairs and Housing Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil is not averse to an investigation into the adoption system. But partly she has not yet acted on it, and partly she proposes that the Danish Appeals Board be responsible for the investigation. The Danish Appeals Board is the supervisory authority in the area of ​​adoption and thus cannot be regarded as impartial.

Therefore, I hope that you will help sign the following petition:

Dear Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil

As adopters, we are pleased that you are showing an interest in the field of adoption and are considering an investigation into international adoption. Recent media cases clearly emphasize the need for such an investigation.

An impartial investigation
However, it is important for us to point out that the Danish Appeals Board is not an impartial party. The Danish Appeals Board is the supervisory authority, and it therefore does not make sense for them to investigate their own work. It is absolutely essential that both adoptees, original families and adopters can have confidence in the outcome of an investigation, and therefore we would like to call for it to be carried out by a completely impartial commission. One could, for example, be inspired by the commission of inquiry which is currently investigating international adoption in Norway.

A comprehensive investigation
Furthermore, we hope for a thorough, ambitious and comprehensive investigation of all international adoption mediation to Denmark from the 1960s until today. Several smaller studies of individual countries and periods have been carried out over time, but there is a need for an overall picture.

Quick initiation
Last but not least, we would like to encourage the investigation to be initiated as soon as possible. The uncertainty affects many, both adoptees, original families and adopters, and action is needed.

On behalf of the following adopters and co-signatories,

Trine Rahbek
adoptanttanker.dk

The words of an adoptive dad in the video below, “These babies are our challenge…” is the heart of an upcoming adoption seminar NewLife is hosting in Shashemene, Ethiopia.  Our orphanage director has met with leaders of evangelical churches asking for their support to encourage and vet potential adoptive families and to heighten overall interest in adoption in their churches.  Several pastors have adopted from our orphanage and, we are pleased to report, adoption is gaining momentum in the Christian community.

The keynote speaker is a well-known in Christian circles and is passionate about the Church taking responsibility for the orphan crisis in his country.  He is energetic and highly motivational.  Couples that have adopted will share their stories and the adoption process will be explained.  We expect to interact with 50 couples in this one-day workshop that, with God’s anointing, will result in a family for every abandoned child.

No fewer than 61 meters of thousands of adoption files have been destroyed by the Ministry of Justice. That should not have been allowed, the Inspectorate for Government Information and Heritage recently ruled. For adopted children who are searching for their roots, it is yet another proof that they have little to expect from this government. That really needs to change.

The destroyed files contain information about couples who wanted to adopt a child and about how adopted children eventually ended up in the Netherlands. It is yet another mistake in the scandal-ridden adoption practice, about which the Joustra committee already cracked down on two years ago. The committee painted a shocking picture of a derailed sector in which the wishes of adoptive parents outweighed the interests of the child to be adopted. Financial incentives open the door to child trafficking, theft and corruption. In other words, abuses that the Dutch government knew about, but did not take action against.

So far, The Hague's response to that report has been twofold. The previous government generously acknowledged that there had been decades of failure in monitoring adoption practices. That is why foreign adoption is further limited and supervision is tightened.

After the judge, the matter is not over yet

You would think: anyone who sees their own failure so clearly would do everything they can to pick up the pieces. But that is not the reality in The Hague: it is mainly characterized by an often very painful jurisprudence and stinginess for the adopted children. One adoption lawsuit follows another, in which the government is regularly held liable for damage suffered. And even then, after the judge the matter is usually not over. For example, outgoing Minister Weerwind (adoption) has appealed against the court ruling that orders the state to pay compensation for an illegal adoption from Brazil. In another adoption case, which had already ended up in court, the government appealed - because there too the state was ordered to pay compensation.

Today is International Youth Day — a day to celebrate the promise and power of young people all over the world. An important part of that celebration is reckoning with the unique hardships that youth so often have to overcome, and the wisdom they bring to the table as a result.

Particularly deserving of our attention this International Youth Day are those who live or used to live in residential care facilities, sometimes called orphanages or children’s homes. The statistics vary from country to country, but an overwhelming majority — 80% or more — of children in residential care actually have at least one living parent.

The reason children end up in residential care is often due to poverty combined with another factor, like lack of access to school. A poor family may experience a crisis that results in their child being placed in residential care where they hope their child’s basic needs will be met. In Guatemala, approximately 4,000 children live in the care of these types of facilities, many placed there by poverty-stricken families who think they are doing the right thing. Nearly half of Guatemalan families live below the poverty line.

However, a group of Guatemalan young people is coming together to improve future generations' outcomes.

One of those young people is 21-year-old Rebeca. Rebeca grew up in residential care and wants more for herself and her country. She understands firsthand the challenges of living in residential care and being separated from her family. As she was nearing 18 years old, the age when she would need to leave residential care, Rebeca recalls lying awake at night wondering how she would forge a path forward in the overwhelming, sometimes frightening world waiting for her outside the orphanage. Where would she work? Who would support her if she needed help? Would opportunities come her way? Would she struggle to care for herself? 

Clifford Chance Badea and STOICA & Associații law firms were issued a final ruling to cancel one of the largest fines imposed in recent years by the Competition Council, amounting to EUR 13.5 million, in an investigation into an alleged abuse of a dominant position.

The case brought together the legal team of Orange Romania including Milena Horvat, Legal Affairs and Corporate Director și Andrei Brujan, Corporate and Technology Legal Division Manager, and one of the best lawyers in Romania.

On behalf of the STOICA & Associates law firm, the team was coordinated by Emeritus Professor, PhD, Valeriu Stoica and included Senior Partner Dan-Rareș Răducanu and Senior Associate Constantin – Cosmin Pintilie.

On behalf of the Clifford Chance Badea law firm, the team was coordinated by Counsel Simona Neagu, Head of the Bucharest Litigation practice and included Of Counsel Eleonora Udroiu, coordinator of the Competition practice, and Senior Associate Vicu Buzac. 

Regulator says access to DNA testing and genetic matching already allows identification without formally applying for details at age 18

People who donate sperm, eggs and embryos to help others have children will lose the right to anonymity from the moment the child is born, under proposed changes to UK fertility law.

Existing rules around IVF treatment state that children conceived from donor tissues can apply for details that identify their biological parents only once they reach the age of 18.

But the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said a combination of easily accessible DNA testing, genetic matching services, and information sharing on social media had allowed people to sidestep formal routes and trace donors independently.

Whistleblower claims hospital director colluded with ‘online intermediaries’ to sell birth certificates for about £10,750

Six people have been arrested in central China’s Hubei province over alleged involvement in a baby-trafficking ring linked to a hospital in one of the province’s biggest cities.

The allegations about Xiangyang Jianqiao hospital first came to light on 6 November via a Weibo user by the name of Shangguan Zhengyi, who describes himself as an “anti-trafficking volunteer”. Shangguan posted a series of claims about the hospital’s director, Ye Youzhi, whom he accused of colluding “with online intermediaries” to sell birth certificates for 96,000 yuan (£10,750).

After selling a birth certificate, the hospital would follow the “normal” registration process for new babies, including issuing vaccination booklets and assisting with household registration requirements, Shangguan claimed.