'African orphanages are gold mines for Western operators'

For years there has been a lot of criticism of African children's homes full of young Western youths who work there with good intentions. Nevertheless, there is only a slow change in the doctrine tourism. Charlotte Simons fights for the closure of the children's home where she worked, and with her story on Twitter, she is stirring up the dust again.

The 'orphans' in question turn out to have parents in 80 percent of the cases (worldwide). There are no qualified people in the homes, the children do not receive the care they need, and many children suffer from attachment problems because of the many faces that have passed over the years. And in the meantime it is golden business for Western organizations. Because every child and every volunteer delivers money.

Also journalist and African expert Charlotte Simons (27), living in Nairobi, worked as a young student in various children's homes in Africa. In 2013 and 2015 she worked for several months in a home in Uganda. The abuses she saw there made her think. ,, I was naïve when I started doing that job, you think you're going to improve the world on your own. I was totally unqualified. But it took time to understand what goes systematically wrong in children's homes. It is simply a profitable industry, which continues to exist through Western volunteers and Western money. ''

For each child, the organizations receive money from (Western) private individuals, companies and agencies. Volunteers also put a lot of money in the drawer. Often a couple of weeks of volunteering takes thousands of euros. And the lion's share of the money that comes in, does not go to the children, but is stolen by the (Western) owners of the organizations. Patricia Nieuwenhuizen, president of Better Care Network (BCN) Netherlands: "Children in orphanages are a lucrative business model. The money goes into the pockets of the organizations over the back of the children. ''

Nunavut’s minister of family services has committed to work on changing the law governing custom adoptions in the territory.

This would end the ability that known child abusers have right now to adopt children in Nunavut.

Elisapee Sheutiapik offered the commitment in the legislature on Friday, Feb. 22, after Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main asked her during question period if there are currently any requirements in place to protect children custom-adopted by convicted or known abusers.

“For adoptions under the Adoption Act there are safeguards and protections in place, such as criminal record checks and home assessments, to ensure that children are being adopted into a safe environment,” said Main.

“My understanding is also that under custom adoption, there is no requirement for these safeguards and protections.”

“The statutory procedure and the statutory regime, which is prevalent as on date and is equally applicable to all aspirants, i.e., Indian prospective adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents for inter-country adoption, cannot be lost sight.”

The Supreme Court has observed that even if the common seniority list has to be utilised for the purpose of in country adoption and inter-country adoption, the difference between in country adoption and inter-country adoption cannot be lost sight of or given a go by. A couple, eager to adopt a child, submitted an application on 19.07.2016 through Central Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) to adopt a child as Indian Prospective Adoptive Parents. While this application was pending, one of them acquired US citizenship (the other was already one). On 01.01.2018, Baby Shomya was referred for adoption by the couple. However, the authority informed them that, their request for permission to continue the first application dated 19.07.2016, as Indians living in India Prospective Adoptive Parents, was declared as invalid, because they are not Indian Prospective Adoptive Parents anymore. They were further informed that they will, instead, have to wait for a referral of another child as 'Overseas Citizen of India'.

They filed writ petition before Delhi High Court, which directed the Authority to examine the request of the couple on the basis of their first application dated 19.07.2016 expeditiously. The Union of India then approached the Apex Court challenging this order. (Union of India vs. Ankur Gupta)

The bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice KM Joseph observed that, since both had become US citizens by 06.12.2016, they were not eligible for adoption as Indian prospective adoptive parents living in India. Mere fact that Act or Regulations does not provide for any mechanism to upload any further information in first registration cannot alter the legal position and consequences of acquiring the foreign citizenship by an Indian, the court said. The court also dealt with the contention that, prior to Regulations, 2017, there were two separate seniority lists, which were maintained under the Guidelines, 2015, which has been now made a single seniority list. The bench said:

The court also dealt with the contention that, prior to Regulations, 2017, there were two separate seniority lists, which were maintained under the Guidelines, 2015, which has been now made a single seniority list. The bench said:

‘Ik vergelijk het met het misbruik in de kerk: daar heerste ook lang een omerta’, zegt Prakash Goossens. Gert Jochems

In ons land wonen naar schatting 7.000 mensen die als kind geadopteerd werden vanuit het buitenland. Velen van hen zijn op zoek naar het échte verhaal achter hun adoptie.

‘Wie zegt dat ook wij niet verkocht zijn?’

Adoptiedossiers vaak erg summier Lees verder onderaan

VEERLE BEEL

About 100 children given up for adoption in Wallonia and Brussels in 2018

Friday, 22 February 2019 18:03

About 100 children given up for adoption in Wallonia and Brussels in 2018

© Belga

In 2018, 96 children were given up for adoption in the French Community, Belga news agency reported on Friday, quoting figures from the Office of minister of youth Rachid Madrane.

Number of intercountry adoptions historically low

Last year only 32 foreign children found a new home with a Flemish family through adoption. In 2017 there were still 59 and in 2012 even 122. This is evidenced by figures that Flemish MP Katrien Schryvers (CD & V) has requested from Minister of Welfare Vandeurzen (CD & V). The number of intercountry adoptions has been decreasing for years. In 2012, 122 children were adopted from abroad in Flanders. Even then there was a downward trend. After 2012 - the year in which the parliament passed a new decree on intercountry adoption - the number of intercountry adoptions went even further down. From 2013 there were never more than seventy, and by 2018 there were barely 32 intercountry adoptions, a historically low figure.

The 32 inter-country adopted children in 2018 come from twelve different countries (Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, China, Philippines, Haiti, India, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Thailand, United States, Vietnam, South Africa). Not only were there fewer adoptions in 2018, but a number of channels remained inactive or were completely stopped. From Chile, Ethiopia, Guinea and Poland, children were adopted in 2017, but not in 2018.

"The number of intercountry adoptions has fallen sharply worldwide in recent years and that may not increase spectacularly in the coming years," says CD & V parliamentarian Katrien Schryvers.

According to her, there are various reasons for the decline. For example, more attention is being paid to reception in the countries of origin. "The number of children adopted from the same channel is also very limited. New channels are being researched, but that requires a great deal of expertise and time. That is why it is recommended that the three adoption services that are active in Flanders better coordinate their operations and examine how close cooperation can be realized. Only then can the necessary expertise be retained. "

Number of international adoptions historically low in Flanders

Last year, barely 32 foreign children found a new home with a Flemish family through adoption. In 2017 there were 59 and in 2012 even 122. This is according to figures that Flemish MP Katrien Schryvers (CD&V) requested from the Minister of Welfare Vandeurzen (CD&V).

The number of intercountry adoptions has been declining for years. In 2012, another 122 children from abroad were adopted in Flanders. Even then, there was a downward trend. After 2012 - the year in which the parliament approved a new decree on intercountry adoption - the number of intercountry adoptions fell even further. From 2013 there were never more than seventy and in 2018 there are barely 32 intercountry adoptions, a historically low figure.

The 32 children adopted internationally in 2018 come from twelve different countries (Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, China, Philippines, Haiti, India, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Thailand, United States, Vietnam, South Africa). Not only did far fewer adoptions occur in 2018, a number of channels also remained inactive or were stopped completely. Children were still adopted from Chile, Ethiopia, Guinea and Poland in 2017, but not in 2018 anymore.

"The number of intercountry adoptions has fallen sharply worldwide in recent years, and that may not increase spectacularly again in the coming years," says CD&V MP Katrien Schryvers. According to her, there are various causes for the relapse. For example, there is more focus on reception in the countries of origin. "The number of children adopted from the same channel is also very limited. New channels are being investigated, but that requires a lot of expertise and time. It is therefore appropriate that the three adoption services that are active in Flanders coordinate their operations better and investigate how close cooperation can be achieved. Only in this way can the necessary expertise be retained. "

11. The Convent of the House of Good Shepherd in St. Louis, Missouri, a Home for “Wayward Girls”

St. Louis was a booming river city at the onset of the 19th century. When industry encroached upon the privacy of the wealthy, they donated or sold off their estates and moved to the country. In 1851, a prominent family donated their land and built a home for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to house “wayward young women.” The stone and brick complex was not heated, took up an entire city block, and was incased by a 12 foot brick wall. Within the walls of the house unwed mothers gave birth to illegitimate children who were forcibly removed from their birthmothers and adopted.

Young women arrested for sex offenses were sent to the Home and forced to live cloistered lives as seamstresses, lace makers, and laundry girls. Their names were changed and they were forbidden contact from the outside world. When family members did arrive to take home their sisters or daughters, the were often greeted by a young woman who showed signs of physical abuse, starvation, and in some instances even pregnant (although she was not pregnant upon entering the convent!). In 1900 the convent moved to the western reaches of the city limits. Urban renewal forced the closure of the House of Good Shepherd in 1969.

10. Farm Girl Inmates at Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne, Australia

Samuel Moss traveled to Australia and made a fortune in gold mining. He donated money and land to construct the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne. The complex had many buildings as well as farmland. In the 1840s Irish sisters from the Order fo the Good Shepherd arrived to run the farm, orphanage, and reform and industrial schools. Any girl that was considered to be in “moral danger” was sent to the convent by family members, parish priests, or police as a way to protect their virtue.

170 children died in UP adoption homes in five years: Govt data

Over the past five years, UP witnessed death of 170 children in the state-run adoption centres. This figure, revealed as part of data furnished by the union ministry of women and child development in the ongoing Parliament session, is only marginally lower than Maharashtra’s 172 over the same period.

LUCKNOW Updated: Feb 20, 2019 12:27 IST

Saurabh Chauhan

Hindustan Times, Lucknow

Girl child preferred: As many as 33 girls and 10 boys adopted by couples from outside India, last year. Parents in India adopt 94 girls and 49 boys.

Inter-country adoption of children from Uttar Pradesh is on the rise. Records of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), a pan-India agency, show that more and more foreigners and non-resident Indians (NRI) are opening their arms to children from the state. Also, in both international and in-country adoptions, there is a marked preference for the girl child.

According to CARA, 43 children from UP were adopted by parents located outside India, in 2018. This is ten times more than the number of inter-country adoptions witnessed by the state in 2014-15 -- four.

In another heartening development, the state, where the sex ratio is 913 females against 1,000 males, 49 boys and as many as 94 girls were adopted by domestic couples last year.

An official of the state women and child development department, Puneet Mishra, said, “Now, things are changing. Even in-country adoptions have a fair share of girl children.”