The Supreme Court on February 10, 2020 issued notice to the Government of Jharkhand on a plea filed by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) alleging selling of children in the charity homes run by the Missionaries of Charity. The Commission, being a statutory body, approached the top court in their capacity as parens patriae of the aggrieved children.

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, 1949 states that it “seeks to draw attention” of the Court towards “the callous approach of the State of Jharkhand in protecting children from child rights violation.”

NCPCR, in its plea seeks a court-monitored probe through the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the workings of such organisations in a time-bound manner. Through the plea filed by advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi, the Commission also prays for directions to set up an SIT not only in Jharkhand, but in every state.

It has been alleged that despite "shocking revelations" which were made by victims during inquiry that children were being sold in homes were "emphatically brought" to the notice of the state government, "continuous attempts were made to sabotage and derail the inquiry". The petitioner further informs that it took suo motu cognizance of media reports, specifically one in Indian Express dated 06.07.2018 according to which a Sister from Missionaries of Charity was arrested for alleged illegal child trade. In light of other media reports about irregularities in the charity homes run by the organisation set up by Mother Teresa, the Commission informs that it wrote to the state authorities, recommended they initiate inquiry, but their responses regarding inquiry and findings thereof were unsatisfactory. NCPCR also claims that they wrote to various other states seeking information regarding the work of Missionaries of Charity, but responses remained unsatisfactory.

By Jennifer Borjes

Senate bill S2492A will grant adopted individuals over age 18 the right to access their previously sealed birth certificates. The bill was approved in June of 2019, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Nov. of that same year, and has come into effect as of Jan. 15.

Laura Robak, a sophomore attending the College of New Rochelle, was adopted by her mother as a young child. Robak, who was born in Romania, has interacted with her biological family in the past, “I think it’s great. I mean everyone should have the right to know who their parents are. I’m all for it.”

Access to one’s birth certificate will provide adoptees with information on their family’s origins, histories, and medical backgrounds. Prior to the passing of this new law, an adoptee would need to petition in court to have their certificate released and, even then, if their biological parents both refused to sign, would not be granted access. This restriction has been in place since 1936.

When asked what led to his decision, Gov. Cuomo said, “Every person has the right to know where they come from, and this new law grants all New Yorkers the same unrestricted rights to their original birth records.”

Couples allegedly gave away their infants in exchange for cash

In separate cases, the Tiruverumbur police on Tuesday arrested eight persons, including two couples, on the charge of adopting babies illegally.

The rescued infants were sent to a recognised adoption centre in neighbouring Ariyalur district, after being produced before the Child Welfare Committee in Tiruchi.

Acting on inputs, a police team from the Tiruverumbur station, along with personnel from the Anti Human Trafficking Unit and the District Child Protection Unit, found that 29-year-old Ashwini of Tiruverumbur, a mother of two girl children, had wanted to adopt a male child. She had allegedly paid ?1 lakh to N. Velammal, who works as a sweeper at the Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Tiruchi, through her neighbour Lourdumary, who is said to have been the go-between.

The baby was born to K. Bhuvaneswari, 42, a labourer, at the government hospital, and Velammal had arranged the sale of the infant.

Madison Zoey Vettorino

Madison Zoey Vettorino

Feb 12, 2020

Adoptees in New York Gain Access to Sealed Birth Records

By Jennifer Borjes

Voice 007- elvira 12-2-2020.m4a

Nr. 2

NOTA

Praktische gang van zaken rond adoptie en adoptievoorbereiding

Inhoudsopgave

Blz.

Rowena (43) was taken from her mother as a baby - now she flies back to Bangladesh to meet

It came out of nowhere at the end of December: the announcement that Rowena van der Wekken was not voluntarily donated as a baby, but was taken from her mother in Bangladesh. And that she is now looking for her. It turned the life of the Vlissingen upside down, but at the same time she sees it as an opportunity. The suitcases were packed, and today Rowena flies back to Dhaka after 43 years to meet her family.

A photo album is ready on the kitchen table of Rowena's house in Vlissingen. Mother Rezia should soon give an impression of how Rowena (43) has fared in all those years. Photos of her childhood, holiday snaps and photos of her two daughters and other family members. In the hall there is a large suitcase and there is also an empty one. "For all the souvenirs," explains Rowena. "Because this is going to be the trip of a lifetime."

She made that journey in reverse as a baby, but never took a step outside Europe after that. "It is a fifteen hour flight. I've never been on a plane that long. When we go on holiday with the family, we fly to destinations such as Ibiza and then we prefer an all-inclusive beach holiday. But this is different. This is not a vacation. In a week we are dragged from hot to red by Shapla, a foundation for adoptees from Bangladesh. The visits to my family have been carefully planned. In addition, jet lag and culture shock, because Bangladesh is a very poor country. Moreover, I am very nervous. After all, you don't know if it clicks. You just have to wait and see. ”

Painful

NEW DELHI: Adoptive parents returned 179 children in the last three years

after taking them in their care for fostering, the Ministry of Women

and Child Development has informed Parliament.

While 174 children were returned after the legal formalities were over, five

children were sent back while the legal procedure was underway and the children were in pre-adoption foster care with

Roelie Post

Attachments

7 Feb 2020, 16:57

to Bjoern.SEIBERT

Dear Mr. Seibert,

BRUSSELS — A coalition of six child rights NGOs met the European Union’s new leadership this week, aiming to cement child protection and participation as priorities for the bloc in the next five years and beyond.

“Egos and logos stay outside the room. When we are going here to the commissioners … there is no competition”

— Richard Pichler, special representative for external affairs and resources, SOS Children’s Villages International

The NGO leaders from Joining Forces — uniting ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children International, SOS Children’s Villages International, Terre des Hommes International Federation, and World Vision International — were in Brussels to meet with the European Commission, European Parliament, and European External Action Service.

Richard Pichler, special representative for external affairs and resources at SOS Children’s Villages International, told Devex that International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen is seeking the group’s input on a number of issues.