The fate of the children sold from Sri Lanka

In the 1980s, hundreds of Sri Lankan babies were adopted by Swiss parents - many illegally. There is little hope for those affected.

Anja Konings would like to simply disappear into the crowd, make herself invisible. Something the 38-year-old has never succeeded in doing. She stood out as a child. At school they called the other children "Schoggistängeli", the teacher showed her in a mirror that they were right to say that Anja was different.

Her parents told her that she was not from her mother's womb. She was born to another woman in another country called Sri Lanka. Pictures from July 1982 near Colombo show how her adoptive mother held her in her arms for the first time. She only wore a Lümpli. Anja Konings did not learn more about the how and why of her adoption. "But I always felt that something didn't go together."

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"The transition of CCIs to FBC helps promote the NGO sector. There are some great ideas coming from the workshop which will strengthen family services access"

Vikas Sawant, UNICEF

On Thursday 27 February 2020, a unique event took place in Pune: an immersive simulation lab that allowed child protection allies in Maharashtra a hands-on look at transitioning from a system relying on child care institutions (CCIs; orphanages) to a system based on a range of family-based care (FBC) and family strengthening services. This was the first pilot of this conference model in South Asia and our report below shows it to have been a huge success!

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Snehalaya's credibility allowed us to approach the Maharashtra Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) and secure Chair, Pravin Ghuge’s support. Another important party in this venture was Children’s Emergency Relief International (CERI)’s Global Director of Advocacy, Ian Forber-Pratt, who is one of the people involved in drafting the guidelines for FBC at the national and state level. Mr Forber-Pratt has been providing Snehalaya with guidance on the move towards family-based care over the preceding 18 months.

In this radio broadcast of 'The public gallery', presenter Coen Verbraak talks to and about distant mothers and children who have been donated for adoption.

It still marks the lives of mothers and their children: forced renunciation. Until well into the 20th century, it was a disgrace in the Netherlands when unmarried women became pregnant. They had to give up their baby under pressure from the 1950s when adoption became legal. Because, the thought was, that is better for both mother and child.

Babies were often taken from their mothers immediately after birth, and some women were blindfolded during labor so that mother and child would not bond.

An estimated 13,000 mothers gave up about 15,000 children. This happened from the moment the adoption law (1956) was introduced until the legalization of abortion (1984). For many of them, it felt like they had no choice. Children feel unwanted, while traumatized mothers sometimes look for their child for a lifetime. It caused lasting embarrassment and sorrow to mother and child.

To this day, this black page in Dutch history is relatively unknown to people. The Ministry of Justice and Security recently launched an investigation to find out exactly what happened and whether there is anything to blame for the organizations involved. Children who have been relinquished are currently investigating whether they can sue the state. And reinforced by the stories of other distance mothers, more and more women are gradually telling their stories. Yet guilt and shame remain by far the majority of this group in the way.

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From: Arun Dohle

Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 at 15:14

Subject: Re: Phone call

To:

Amajor discrepancy between Nepal government and foreign records of the number of Nepali children adopted in North America and Europe has exposed a trafficking ring that involves various child welfare agencies in Kathmandu.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has records of only 64 children from Nepal sent for adoption to ten western countries from 2010 to 2019. However, a list submitted to the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) by the US Department of State and the nine other countries reveals that 242 Nepali children were taken for adoption in those nine years.

The ten countries are the United States, Denmark, France, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Sweden. There are 178 more Nepali children adopted internationally than the government has records for. Why the discrepancy?

“The data we have is authentic,” maintains Ministry spokesperson Gyanendra Paudel. “We have no idea how the details in other countries showed more numbers.”

Read also: Baby bajar, Anagha Neelakantan

Alabama officials failed to protect multiple children who were abused and neglected for years while in foster care, a series of lawsuits filed today allege.

Foster children who lived with Daniel and Jenise Spurgeon were sexually, physically, verbally, mentally and emotionally abused, according to the four lawsuits. While the children were starved, isolated, tortured and assaulted, the lawsuits allege, the Alabama Department of Human Resources ignored signs of abuse and neglect.

The lawsuits, each of which seeks $25 million and changes at DHR, were filed in Lauderdale County Circuit Court on behalf of four victims, including three who are still minors. To protect their identities, the victims are identified only by ages and initials: J.J., A.R., I.S. and H.S.

The defendants include DHR, Commissioner Nancy Buckner, eight other unnamed DHR employees and the Spurgeons. (Daniel Spurgeon is serving a 25-year prison sentence for criminal charges brought in connection with the abuse. Jenise Spurgeon is awaiting trial.)

Daniel and Jenise Spurgeon

Amajor discrepancy between Nepal government and foreign records of the number of Nepali children adopted in North America and Europe has exposed a trafficking ring that involves various child welfare agencies in Kathmandu.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has records of only 64 children from Nepal sent for adoption to ten western countries from 2010 to 2019. However, a list submitted to the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) by the US Department of State and the nine other countries reveals that 242 Nepali children were taken for adoption in those nine years.

The ten countries are the United States, Denmark, France, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Sweden. There are 178 more Nepali children adopted internationally than the government has records for. Why the discrepancy?

“The data we have is authentic,” maintains Ministry spokesperson Gyanendra Paudel. “We have no idea how the details in other countries showed more numbers.”

Read also: Baby bajar, Anagha Neelakantan

Editorial: Natalie Finn and her siblings were the victims of abusive parents, of an inadequate child welfare system, and of policymakers who refuse to provide the staffing needed to protect children.

The Register's editorial

The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has commenced probe on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the National Judicial Institute, the Delta State Judiciary and others over an alleged child trafficking and illegal adoption of children in Delta State.

The investigation on a petition dated 26/11/19 borders on abuse of powers in the illegal adoption of children/child trafficking by public officers of the Delta State Judiciary, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Judicial Council, NJC.

The petition was written by the Committee for the Defense of Human Right, CDHR, Delta State branch on behalf of a child right activist, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.

This was contained in a letter signed by one Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi on behalf of the Chairman of CCB.

The letter dated 20/12/19 with file number CCB/HQ/ II&M/007/1980 was addressed to the Delta State Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights,CDHR, Comrade Prince Kehinde-Taiga, now National Vice President of CDHR.

TRICHY: Lack of understanding of adoption (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/adoption) procedures has been

prompting prospective adoptive parents (PAP) to go for illegal means to adopt a child, according to the Tamil Nadu

(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tamil-nadu) state commission for protection of child rights (TNSCPCR). The recent

exposure of two babies being illegally given for adoption by their parents in Thiruverumbur and Kuvalakudi was a matter of

serious concern, said commission member S P Mohan.