Russia’s Children’s Rights Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov is urging an expedient signing of a Russia-US agreement on adoption given the incidence of violent treatment of adopted children.
In the opposite case, Russia would be forced to reconsider introducing a moratorium on US adoption, Astakhov said and stressed that he intends to pursue the introduction of criminal responsibility for culpable parents.
The latest despicable case of violence concerns Daniil and Oleg Bukharov, adopted into an Alaskan family.
Their adopted mother admitted on a TV show to disciplining Daniil by forcing him to hold hot sauce in his mouth and making him take cold showers.
Madonna attending a brick-laying ceremony at the Raising Malawi Girls Academy in Chinkhota in 2010. Photograph: Nick Obank/Barcroft Media
Under a hot sun, boys herd goats in search of green grass. In a nearby plot a couple weed a crop of maize. The ceremony and fanfare that surrounded the visit ofMadonnain 2009 now seems very distant.
It was here in the village of Chinkhota in southernMalawithat the pop superstarbroke groundfor the construction of a prestigious academy for underprivileged girls. Billed as a "gift" to the African country from which she has adopted two children, the $15m (£9.37m) institution was to take in 500 girls and prepare them to be "future women leaders".
Now local elders have accused Madonna of letting them down, and the Malawi government has been forced to admit it does not know what her plans are, after she announced that the academy had been scrapped.
Madonnastatedthat she would instead focus on building secondary schools across the country, rather than one school, but officials in Malawi have been left scratching their heads as to what this will entail. "I want to reach thousands, not hundreds of girls," she said in a statement this month. "I want to do more and I want to do it better."
The news has come as a bombshell to villagers who surrendered their ancestral land to make way for the school. The Malawian government said it had not been consulted and will now summon the 52-year-old singer to explain herself.
"We'd like to know why she has changed," said Peter Mutharika, the education minister. "Yes, we do appreciate that it is her project; she devised it and she knows best how to implement it. But still, as government, we'd be interested to know why there is this change." Mutharika, tipped to be the next president when his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, ends his final term in 2014, added: "I honestly don't know the number of schools she is going to construct, where she will build and for how long. So until we talk to her, we can't comment much." He said the government will also review the memorandum of understanding it signed with Madonna to "see what it says before we can embrace her new approach".
Malawi is one of the world's poorest nations, with more than half of the population of 12 million living on less than one dollar a day. Some 200 people were removed from Chinkhota village, on the outskirts of the capital, Lilongwe, to make way for the Raising Malawi Girls Academy.
Most of the villagers were born here and thought the land belonged to their ancestors. They threatened to block the project until Madonna dipped into her pockets to compensate them with $500,000 (£312,800). The Malawian government, which has often defended Madonna's charitable work, helped evict the villagers, claiming it was state land meant for development projects.
Chinkhota became a building site – but without a building. Construction of the academy was delayed over a dispute between theRaising Malawicharity and villagers who claimed they were not adequately compensated for land.
The building was due to be completed in December this year. However, the earth-moving machines that had been landscaping the area have disappeared. Villagers feel betrayed and accuse Madonna of breaking her promise. Maxwell Matewere, Malawi's leading children's rights activist, said Madonna should not "dump" the project.
Matewere, director of Eye of the Child, led two unsuccessful attempts to prevent Madonna adopting two children – David, five, and four-year-old Mercy – from Malawi after their mothers died.
He said the pop star was trying to "run away from long-term obligations" and she should go ahead with the academy because "you educate a few to educate others. She must borrow a leaf from others like Oprah [Winfrey] who have done it in South Africa."
Madonna is funding several charities in Malawi, including homes for children with Aids. She has built a multi-purpose community centre 30 miles from Lilongwe which looks after more than 8,000 orphans. "In a country where only 33% of Malawian girls attend secondary school, I realise that the plans we had in place for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls simply would not serve enough children. My original vision is now on a much bigger scale."
She said she was in the process of implementing several changes and additions to the management of Raising Malawi in the US and Malawi.
Madonna said she had teamed up withTrevor Neilsonand his team at Global Philanthropy Group to "shift the strategies so that we can accomplish our goals with more efficiency as we continue to consult our government partners in Malawi".
She said Raising Malawi was focused on an approach which includes building schools within communities across the country. A pilot school is on the cards that will "address the barriers keeping girls from secondary education".
Neilson said the new community-based approach by Raising Malawi "will provide the opportunity for many more girls to receive a quality education".
Madonna's spokeswoman did not comment today but said she would seek further information from the singer's management.
International Adoptions: Coordinating by the EU of the Rules
It 's the first significant step towards adopting European Adoptions. With the approval of the Resolution on International Adoption by the European Parliament today international adoption enter fully the responsibility of coordination by the 'European Union. This is a significant success of Italian MEPs (Roberta Angelilli, Luigi Berlinguer, Patrizia Toia, Sonia Alfano, Luigi De Magistris, Silvia Costa, Lorenzo Fontana, Oreste Rossi, Claudio Morganti) to whom I extend our thanks and the two Italian organisations Friends of Adoption and Amici dei Bambini.who supported them.
The European Parliament in plenary session today approved, subject to the approval of pricnicpal political groups, the resolution for European coordination of the rules for international adoptions.
The European Parliament has given its green light to a text that relies on a historically new role of European institutions with respect to adoptions of minors and, in general, child protection within the Union.
The adoption at international level, must be encouraged to ensure that children abandoned in institutions the right to family life , the resolution adopted in Parliament supports the need to ensure that children so not live in orphanages for a long time.
The Parliament asked the European Commission to coordinate, at European level, the strategies for the tool of international adoption , in accordance with international conventions, in order to improve information services, the preparation for international adoption, the treatment of application procedures for international adoption and post-adoption services, bearing in mind that all international conventions on the protection of the rights of the child recognize the right of children orphaned or abandoned to have a family and receive protection.
Here is the text of the resolution:
Roberta Angelilli, Edit Bauer, Simon Busuttil on behalf of the PPE
Luigi Berlinguer, Evelyn Regner, Victor Bo?tinaru, Patrizia Toia, Silvia Costa on behalf of the S & D
Cecilia Wikström, Sonia Alfano, Luigi de Magistris, Renate Weber, Diana Wallis on behalf of the ALDE Group
Timothy Kirkhope, Marina Yannakoudakis, Sajjad Karim on behalf of the ECR
Ji?í Maštálka on behalf of the GUE / NGL
Lorenzo Fontana, Oreste Rossi, Claudio Morganti
European Parliament resolution on international adoption in the European Union
The European Parliament,
- Having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989, and in particular Article 21,
- Having regard to the European Convention on the Adoption of Children, 1967
- Having regard to the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (signed at The Hague May 29, 1993) and the European Convention of 25 January 1996, concerning children's rights (ETS No. 160)
- Having regard to Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights,
- Having regard to Article 3, paragraphs 3 and 5 of the Treaty on European Union,
- Having regard to its resolution on improving the legislation and cooperation between Member States on the Adoption of Children (A4-0392/1996),
- Having regard to its resolution of January 16, 2008: Towards an EU strategy on children's rights (2007/2093 (INI)
- Having regard to Article 115, paragraph 5 of its Rules
A. Whereas the welfare of every child and to protect the interests of children are aspects of the utmost importance and that protecting children's rights is one of the objectives of the European Union,
B. Whereas in the field of adoption, the responsibility shall be exercised by the Member States applying the relevant procedures in accordance with the maximum protection of the interests of the child,
C. Whereas conventions are in force dealing with child protection and parental responsibility, in particular the European Convention of 1967 on the adoption of children, which aims to harmonize the legislation of Member States in cases where the adoption involves the displacement of child from one country to another, and the Convention of 1993 on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention)
D. Whereas the EU Member States are signatories to the Hague Convention
E. Whereas in the Hague Convention has been made considerable progress
F. Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Hague Convention describing the family as the fundamental group of society, as the natural environment for the growth and welfare of children in most cases and as the primary choice for the custody of children
G. Whereas if it is impossible to entrust children to primary custody of the family, the adoption should a natural secondary choices, and the placement of a child in an institution should be the absolute last option,
H. whereas in Europe the precariousness of childhood, and particularly that of abandoned children in institutions is a serious problem that should be treated very seriously,
I. Whereas the violations of children's rights, violence against them and the trafficking of children for adoption, prostitution, illegal labor, forced marriage el'accattonaggio the street or for any other unlawful purpose, remain a problem in 'EU
J. Whereas it is important to protect the child's right to family life and ensure that children are not forced to live in orphanages for long periods,
K. Whereas the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes binding, whereas, under Article 24 of the Charter "children have the right to protection and care necessary for their well-being "and furthermore, that Article 3 of the Treaty of Lisbon provides that the" protection of the rights of the child "falls within the objectives of the Union,
1. Calls to examine the scope for coordination at European level, the strategies for the tool of international adoption, in accordance with international conventions, in order to improve care information services, preparation for international adoption, the treatment procedures Application for international adoption and post-adoption services, bearing in mind that all international conventions on the protection of the rights of the child recognize the right of children orphaned or abandoned and have a family to receive protection;
2. asks the Commission to examine the functioning of national systems at European level;
3. believes that, as far as possible and to fully protect the interests of the child, priority should be given to the adoption of a child in his country of origin or, alternatively, to solutions of family care, such as foster care or facilities reception, or finding a family through international adoption in accordance with national legislation and international conventions, and that the placement in an institution should be used only as a temporary solution;<
JANUARY 18, 2012 BY ROBIN SIZEMORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOPSCOTCH ADOPTIONS, INC LEAVE A COMMENT
Today our foundation partner, Vesta, met with the new Ministry, Mrs. Velina Todorova, and she acknowledged the need for a speedier process for registering waiting children and matching for international adoption. Mrs. Todorova has pledged to work harder in making the process for waiting children faster. Hooray for kids!!!!
European Parliament adopts joint motion for resolution on international adoptions
The European Parliament has discussed a possible re-opening of international adoptions to the EU, with Romania being mentioned almost exclusively with the criticism that its legislation does now allow international adoptions.
This debate comes less than a year after the petition of Amici dei Bambini (an Italian Eurochild member), who called for the re-opening of international adoptions by Romania. On 18 January 2011, the European Parliament adopted a joint motion for resolution.
Please find here the EP Joint Motion for a Resolution. More information about the discussions can be found on www.romania-forexportonly.eu.
*AngelinaJoliesi Brad Pitt isi doresc sa adopte un copil din Romania. *
Potrivit ziarului Libertatea, cei doi, care au decis de curand sa-si mareasca familia cu inca un membru, au luat calcul infierea unui copil roman, dupa ce au discutat cu doctorul Ronald Federici, consilierul personal in materie de adoptii al AngelineiJolie.
Ronald Federici este totodata si presedintele Organizatiei “Care for children international”. Federici a aratat un interes deosebit fata de copiii orfani din Europa de Est, in special cei din tara noastra, el reusind sa realizeze peste 1.000 de adoptii din aceasta parte a continentului. De altfel, Federici insusi a infiat doi copii din Romania.
Demersul cupluluiAngelinaJolie-Brad Pitt este deocamdata blocat de actuala legislatie romaneasca referitoare la regimul adoptiilor. Astfel, de la 1 ianuarie 2005 a intrat in vigoare o lege care restrictioneaza adoptiile internationale.
AngelinaJoliesi Brad Pitt au sase copii: trei adoptati si trei biologici ( *Shiloh Nouvel *si gemenii *Knox Leon*si *Vivienne Marcheline*).Angelina Joliea adoptat primul copil, pe *Maddox*, din Cambodgia, in martie 2002. Apoi, vedeta a mai infiat-o pe *Zahara Marley*, din Etiopia, in 2005. Doi ani mai tarziu, actrita l-a adoptat pe *Pax Thien*, un baietel din Thailanda.
Czech Supreme Court: Poverty not a good enough reason to take children into state care Brno, 14.1.2011 11:05, (ROMEA)
The Czech Supreme Court has issued a new unifying opinion stating that a family's poverty and poor housing circumstances cannot be the sole basis for removing children from the home and placing them in state care. Children may be removed and institutionalized only in cases where other measures, such as assistance provided by the authorities and municipalities, has not led to an improvement in the children's living conditions, or in cases where other serious reasons exist. It is also necessary to interview the children concerned and determine their opinions.
Supreme Court spokesperson Petr Knötig announced the opinion to the Czech Press Agency today. "A family's material deficiencies, especially poor housing conditions, cannot in and of themselves constitute a reason for ordering the institutional care of a child," reads the opinion, which was released to civil rights and commercial law committees.
According to data released last May, about 21 000 children live in institutions in the Czech Republic. Experts in children's rights claim that roughly one-third of those children end up in institutions unnecessarily, while another third of that population is kept in institutions longer than necessary. The Czech Republic is one of the EU countries with the highest numbers of children in institutional care.
Last year the Czech Constitutional Court also ruled against the unnecessary breakup of families in cases where it is not absolutely necessary. Constitutional Court judges say it is only possible to remove children from their families in serious cases of a total absence of care or in cases where the child is in immediate danger.
The aim of the Supreme Court opinion is to unify conflicting rulings by Czech courts in cases where children have been living in impoverished families and in conditions of poor housing or hygiene. "When courts decide to place a child in institutional care, it is necessary to document all of the serious facts justifying family breakup. A family's insufficient assets (particularly those of the parents) resulting primarily in inappropriate or insufficient housing conditions may never in and of itself be considered such a fact," Knötig said.
Courts must first determine whether the state authorities and local municipalities have offered sufficient assistance to the family and what the results of that assistance have been. A municipality can sometimes manage to arrange for substitute housing, including temporary shelter. The state can provide material aid or at least advice as to how the family can improve its situation and find a solution to its problems. "An offer to adequately resolve the housing situation can also be made by other entities besides a state body or municipal government, such as churches, non-governmental organizations, etc.," the opinion reads.
Prior to ordering institutional care, a court may order supervision of the parents' child-rearing or warn the parents they are at risk of losing their children unless the situation improves. The Supreme Court has also ruled that the child him or herself must be interviewed during the decision on institutionalization. This applies to children who have reached the age at which they are able to express their own opinions. The court also emphasized the need for such court verdicts to be carefully justified.
In its opinion, the Supreme Court mentioned many verdicts from various parts of the Czech Republic. It criticized the approach taken by the District Court in Klatovy, where judges in one case were satisfied with committee reports only and did not interview the children concerned, who were aged eight, 10 and 15. On the other hand, the Supreme Court agreed with the approach taken by the District Court in Ústí nad Labem, which interviewed a 14-year-old girl in one particular case. The girl, who had been institutionalized and then returned to her mother's care, testified that she wanted to return to the institutional facility.
Les adoptions internationales en hausse de 14 % enFrance
INFOGRAPHIE - En 2010, les foyers français ont accueilli 3 504 enfants du monde entier.
Cliquez sur l'aperçu pour agrandir l'infographie.
Dans un contexte difficile, le nombre d'adoptions à l'étranger a enregistré, en 2010, une hausse exceptionnelle. Selon les statistiques du ministère des Affaires étrangères, dévoilées par Le Figaro, 3 504 enfants ont été recueillis par des familles françaises l'an dernier, contre 3 017 en 2009. Soit une augmentation de 14 %.
