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Hassles of Adoption in Nigeria

Hassles of Adoption in Nigeria
By ETOKHANA ELEANOR, 06.29.2010
Most people who have lost hope of ever having children or those who have children but want to shower love and assume full parental responsibility towards other children who are mostly motherless, are faced with problems of adopting these children because of the ambiguous laws associated with adoption and the long and frustrating protocols one has to go through to adopt a child in Nigeria.
Adoption is a common practice throughout the world and has been a part of history from time immemorial, which has not been fully explored and embraced in our society. Adoption is a process by which people legally assume the role of parents for a child who is not their biological child. It is being frowned upon in Nigeria because of the misconceptions associated with it and most people who adopt are secretive about it because of the stigma.
According to Mr. Tunji Adelakun, a legal practitioner, “in some states like Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers and Lagos; the prospective adoptive parents must be at least twenty five years of age and twenty one years older than the child to be adopted.
Adelakun further explained that the current Lagos State Adoption Laws of 2003, Section I agrees to “adoption of certain juveniles under the age of seventeen, who are abandoned, or whose parents and other relatives are unknown or cannot be traced after due enquiry certified by a juvenile court.”
For an adoption to take place, the court has to grant an adoption order depending on the type of adoption taking place. The court also has the right to cancel an adoption process if it thinks or get reports that the adoptive parents applied undue pressure, favour or money to influence the adoption process. Section 2(2) states that “ an adoption order maybe made upon the application of two spouses authorizing them jointly to adopt a juvenile, but in no other case shall an adoption authorize more than one person to adopt a juvenile.” This clearly do not support single parent adoption especially that of opposite sex because of cases of sexual abuses except in rare circumstances where issues of blood ties can be firmly established in such case, the court may justify making such order.
The simplest form of adoption is one by relatives or step parents, in cases like this, if one or both parents are dead, the grand parents comes first before any member of the family in having the court consent to take custody of the child/children. While in issues involving step parent, the spouse of the biological parent adopt the child/children of his/her spouse to create a closer relationship and become their legal guardian. Since a biological parent lives in the household, background investigations are often waived. Adoption outside these is often complicated because detailed investigations into the background of the applicants will be conducted for history of child abuse, criminal activities, medical records, social lifestyle and financial status. This is to ensure the safety, comfort and proper well being of the child. If the applicants are cleared then they can proceed with the adoption process.
The adoptive parents are expected to meet and fulfill the basic rights and duties of the adopted child. And in disbursing of wills and settlements, the adopted child must be treated as a lawful child of the adoptive parents and the same way as the biological child and not as a stranger. This is due to the fact that there have been cases in the past whereby at the demise of the adoptive parent(s), the adopted child is not allowed to share in their inheritance.
Though there are laws against illegal adoption, most people are not aware of it because of lack of information on it and because of this reason, unscrupulous people cash in on it to make quick money and manoveur things to their own favour. Efforts to get the Lagos State Ministry of Youths, Sports and Social Welfare, Alausa, which oversees the regulation and supervision of all supporting agencies, and is in charge of implementation of adoption laws and procedure in Lagos State as well as the Welfare Juvenile Center and Children’s Home at Alakara Mushin to throw more light on the issue was met with stone wall.
Although some members of the public spoken to by THISDAY do not really have a grasp on the subject. According to Mrs. Lorentha Salihu: “Adpotion is when you shower love to a child that is not your own who is homeless and provide a home for them. But I do not know if there is a process involved to adopt.”
Also, Mrs. Onyinye Hillary also corroborated the first speaker’s response saying that she has not heard anything of such.
While Miss Amara Uche, said: “I know it is when you take a child home and make the child feel at home. Personally, I do not support it because you do not know if the child is a witch or if the parent is a prostitute, thief or drug addict and you will now bring problem on yourself because you want to be a good Nigerian. My sister, a child will always behave like his/her parents.”
Also, Mr. Chris Osigwe who was furious over the question asked: “Is there any law in this country that is working? Is there a law on adoption in this country? How many people have been arrested for illegal adoption or adoption racketeering? My friend, I just heard that from you for the first time. What I know is that you can buy a child anywhere from orphanage homes, hospitals or even in the street as long as you have the money.” When he was asked to name one of such places, he refused and walked way.
 Another respondent, Mr. Lanre Aliyu said: “Am not aware of such stuff but if there is one you know how we are slow in things attributing all to protocols because of corruption in the system. And as you know, we are not patient at all.”
Although there have been several cases in the media concerning illegal adoption deals in the country like that of Dr. Achichie Sunny-James Ezuma in Abia State who was running an illegal adoption process by housing mostly teenage pregnant girls and selling off their babies after delivery. Though he denied the accusation and has since sued the then Minister of Health, Babtunde Osotimehin and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria at the Federal High Court Umuahia claiming one billion naira as damages and for portraying him in bad light.
 Also, the case involving the proprietress of Good Shepherd Orphanage Home in Okota, Mrs. Gift in 2005 readily comes to mind. Gift ran an illegal adoption process in which she housed pregnant girls and sell their children to those who desperately need children and are ready to part with any amount. She later settles these girls with cash ranging from twenty five to thirty thousand naira after luring them with promise of goodies to the home.
Recently, the case of Mrs. Theresa Marques whose orphanage home, Ife- Oluwa Home, was closed down and her license revoked for engaging in illegal sale of babies with prices ranging from N250,000 – N500,000 depending on the urgency, has since debunked the claim saying the girls voluntarily give up their children to her after swearing an affidavit in court.
Analysts contend that if the government and all those saddled with the responsibility of adoption process can educate the citizens on the right way to go in adopting a child and create a lot of awareness and incentives on it, more people will go through the right channel to adopt a child.
 
Nigeria
Dr. Theresa Marques

Number of illegal child adoptions growing in ?R

LN: Number of illegal child adoptions growing in ?R
?TK |
30 June 2010


Prague, June 29 (CTK) - The number of adoptions of children from other countries is growing in the Czech Republic, Lidove noviny (LN) writes Tuesday and says there is no legal state-assisted way of gaining a child abroad.

The paper writes, for instance, that Czechs brought eight children from Congo last year, this year the figure was registered in the first six months already.

The Czech Office for International Legal Protection of Children (UPMOD) says people have goodwill and want to help the children, but thy do not realise the risks involved, LN writes.

UPDMOD says the respective legislation should be changed, or else the African children will soon end up in child homes, LN quotes office head Zdenek Kapitan as saying.

At present Czechs can adopt a child from Czech child homes only if they meet a number of conditions, such as a reasonable age of the future parents and other, LN writes.

Some of those who do not want to undergo the complicated procedure of preparation, including psychological interviews, give priority to adoption from abroad via various intermediaries for payment, LN writes.

Kapitan said there is demand for adoptions from abroad and therefore his office has been conducting negotiations with four states of The Hague Adoption Convention, namely Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, India and the Philippines in this respect.

He said, however, the adoptions will not be possible earlier than at the end of 2011.

LN writes that Kapitan has doubts about whether adoptions from exotic countries are the best solution for the children.

He said it is a costly matter. Translations, travel expenses and other necessary spendings involved cost about one million crowns.

If five such people, for whom the total of one million crowns is tolerable joined forces, they could pay good-quality care of the child in its homeland and "the assistance would be much more effective," Kapitan is quoted as saying.

LN writes that Czech parents adopted 500 children from Czech child homes last year. About 100 of them were returned in the same year.

International adoptions of Czech children from child homes were more successful. A mere three cases out of a total of 323 such adoptions in ten years had a bad end, LN writes.

Czech children go abroad if offices do not find suitable families for them in the country. Girls are adopted abroad more often than boys. They accounted for two thirds of all children adopted abroad in the past ten years.

Denmark with more than 40 percent of children led the receiving countries standings, LN writes.
Copyright 2009 by the Czech News Agency (?TK). All rights reserved.
Copying, dissemination or other publication of this article or parts thereof without the prior written consent of ?TK is expressly forbidden. The Prague Daily Monitor and Monitor CE are not responsible for its content.
Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of The Congo

Court stays order on two children for adoption

Court stays order on two children for adoption
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: Justice T. Sudanthiram of the Madras High Court has stayed for four weeks the operation of an order of the Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Kellys, directing the Guild of Service (Central) to immediately transfer to the Balamandir Adoption unit two children who were under the care and custody of two proposed adoptive parents.
In a petition, Gemma Bridget D'Silva of Pozhichalur said she was a spinster. The Guild of Service by a letter of February this year had given a female child Sweety to her in temporary custody prior to legalisation of the adoption.
Undertaking
The service organisation obtained a Pre-Adoptive Foster care undertaking from the petitioner. When she produced the child to the Chairman, CWC, on June 21, the committee gave a letter to the petitioner asking her to produce the documents as to how the child was taken in pre-adoptive foster care.
Simultaneously, it issued an order to the Guild of Service to transfer the child to another adoption agency. No show cause notice was given to the proposed adoptive parent. The child had been adopted in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the High Court, the petitioner said.
A similar petition had been filed by Thirunavukkarasu of Kalpakkam, a proposed adoptive parent of Thaneer, a male child.
India
Guild of Service - Central (Sevasamajam)

Let's not treat children as pets: Bombay high court

Let's not treat children as pets: Bombay high court
Mayura Janwalkar / DNA
Friday, July 2, 2010 0:53 IST
 
 
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday said that Indians have no right to brag about their culture and heritage, if their children in adoption centres are treated as “commodities”.
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The court was hearing a petition file by NGOs Advait Foundation and Sakhee, which had sought action against Preet Mandir, an adoption centre in Pune.
Peeved at the state of affairs, the court said the government, which is obligated to place children from adoption centres with caring families, had done little to stop it from becoming a “corporate venture”.
“We are very colour-conscious. Adoption centres charge more for a fair baby, while an HIV-positive child is offered at a discount,” justice BH Marlapalle said.
Interestingly, a letter written by government secretary Vandana Krishna to the Central Adoption Resources Agency (Cara), stated: “Even if an adoption agency is run with a selfish or business motive to make money, it is not a crime or illegal. Many schools, colleges, educational institutions, hospitals are run as a business today.”
Krishna’s letter stated that it is not the government’s duty to ensure that NGOs operate on charitable basis, nor is it necessary that adoption agencies should operate incurring losses.
Expressing concern over the 450 children at Preet Mandir, the court had earlier asked Cara to take a decision about the rehabilitation of these children. However, counsel for Preet Mandir told the court that closing the adoption centre — facing allegations of malpractices — would not solve the problem.
“The children are young and attached to the staff of the adoption centre. Many attend school and their psychology needs to be taken into consideration. Children are not vegetables or cattle to shift them from one place to another,” the counsel said.
The court asked the state to frame guidelines on how it plans to monitor private adoption homes. There are 69 adoption centres in Maharashtra.
“The state will have to play a very vital role,” the court said. It also suggested that information regarding adoption homes should be centralised and available online.
Justice Marlapalle said the matter has to be looked at in its totality by the state government. “On the one hand, we must go by the reality — number of unwed mothers, number of families selling children owing to abject poverty. We only hope that these [adoption centres] will not be breeding farms. Let us not treat children as pets.”
ACT CASE Preet Mandir, Preet Mandir
India

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appoints Ambassador Susan S. Jacobs


Washington, DC
July 1, 2010

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador Susan S. Jacobs as Special Advisor to the Office of Children’s Issues. A long-time advocate for children, Secretary Clinton has created this new foreign policy position to address intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction. In her work on these important issues, Special Advisor Jacobs will actively engage with foreign government officials to protect the welfare and interests of children.

Special Advisor Jacobs most recently served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. A former U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, she also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Issues in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Her distinguished Foreign Service career has also included tours in Caracas, Tel Aviv, New Delhi, Bucharest, and San Salvador.

Special Advisor Jacobs graduated from the University of Michigan and later studied at Georgetown University Law School and the George Washington University. She has received numerous awards, including the Department of State's Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, and the U.S. Embassy New Delhi’s Community Achievement Award.

The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, located within the Bureau of Consular Affairs, assists parents, children, and families in matters related to intercountry adoption and international parental child abductions. It serves as the U.S. Central Authority for both the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
For more information about the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, please visit our websites at:www.adoption.state.gov, www.travel.state.gov/childabduction
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Susan S. Jacobs
United States of America

Der US-amerikanische botschfater in Rumänien ist dafür, dass Rumänien bald wieder Kinder ins Ausland vermittelt.

2.7.10 Rumänien
Der US-amerikanische botschfater in Rumänien ist dafür, dass Rumänien bald wieder Kinder ins Ausland vermittelt. Der Nachrichtenagentur AFP sagte er: “Ich würde es gerne sehen, wenn Rumänien seine Adoptionsgesetze bald ändert, damit Kinder schneller und einfacher adoptiert werden können. Ich glaube, dass es nicht gesund für die Kinder ist, wenn sie nicht so früh wie möglich in Familien kommen. Meine Frau arbeitet in einem Zentrum, wo die Kinder ihr erstes Lebensjahr verbringen. Sie sollten bereits in diesem Alter adoptiert werden. Denn je länger sie in solchen Institutionen bleiben, desto mehr sind sie in ihrer emotionalen und intellektuellen Entwicklung beeinträchtigt.“
 
 
 
Ambasadorul SUA la Bucure?ti Mark Gitenstein declar?, într-un interviu acordat MEDIAFAX, c? în România corup?ia este o problem? ?i c? sunt momente în care Guvernul pare prea lent în a lua decizii sau opac în explicarea lor, aspecte reclamate de investitorii str?ini.
·         Politic
INTERVIU: Gitenstein:Corup?ia e o problem? aici; uneori Guvernul pare lent în a lua decizii sau opac (Imagine: Bogdan Stamatin/Mediafax Foto)
R. Alt subiect: scutul american antirachet?. România ?i SUA au început au început negocierile oficiale pe tema desf??ur?rii de elemente ale scutului antirachet?. Spune?i-ne, exist? un text de acord sau de tratat care se negociaz? în prezent ?i de fapt care sunt elementele acestuia?
M.G.: Da. Toate subiectele legate de un tratat sunt discutate. Am luat parte la discu?iile oficiale s?pt?mâna trecut?. Au avut loc o serie de inform?ri aprofundate acolo despre solicit?rile tehnice, despre toate aspectele juridice legate de tratat, dar nu a fost luat? o decizie final?.
R.: Statele Unite se gândesc la anumite loca?ii din România?
M.G.: Nu. Este de datoria românilor s? decid?. Noi le-am prezentat românilor cerin?ele tehnice care trebuie îndeplinite pentru plasarea interceptoarelor. Românii vor trebui s? vin? cu o propunere, dar nu am v?zut nimic deocamdat?.
R.: ?i de câte loca?ii a?i fi interesa?i?
M.G.: Cred c? discu?iile sunt despre o singur? loca?ie, va fi aleas? una singur?.
R. O loca?ie. ?i, odat? cu interceptoarele, vor fi adu?i ?i militari americani pentru a le manevra?
M.G.: Va fi personal care va lucra la ele.
R.: Alte detalii nu ne pute?i oferi?
M.G.: Nu, acum nu.
R.: Raportul Departamentului de Stat privind situatia drepturilor omului a indicat, în ceea ce prive?te România, cazuride discriminare la adresa comunit??ii evreie?ti. De asemenea, au fost plângeri legate de ritmul lent al restituirii propriet??ilor confiscate. Ce crede?i despre acest subiect?
M.G.: În primul rând, vreau s? spun c?, întorcându-m? aici, ca evreu ai c?rui str?buni au plecat din aceast? ?ar?, m-am bucurat s? particip la inaugurarea Memorialului Holocaustului aici în octombrie 2009. Este un monument bine realizat ?i m-am bucurat c? a fost construit. Am acordat mult timp vizit?rii comunit??ilor evreie?ti din România. Cred c? unul dintre cele mai minunate lucruri f?cute de România dup? Revolu?ie este înfiin?area Comisia Wiesel ?i a Institutului Wiesel, eforturi concrete de asumare a trecutului.
În ceea ce prive?te restituirea propriet??ilor, principalul subiect care m? preocup? este Fondul Proprietatea. De aceea am felicitat-o pe pre?edinta Roberta Anastase, pentru c? una din cele patru legi pe care le-a trecut prin Camera Deputa?ilor la începutul acestei s?pt?mâni este una care permite Franklin Templeton s? înceap? gestionarea acestui fond. A existat mult? îngrijorare legat? de Fond, dac? este bine gestionat ?i dac? bunurile sale nu sunt risipite, pentru c? de fapt ace?tia sunt banii din care se vor realiza retroced?rile.
Mul?i americani în vârst? care au fost victime ale comunismului sau fascismului ?i ale c?ror bunuri au fost confiscate încep s? moar?, îmb?trânesc tot mai mult ?i accept? s? primeasc? sume derizorii în contul desp?gubirilor fiindc? se tem c? nu vor primi nici un ban de la Fond. Cred c? de aceea este important ca valoarea acestui Fond s? fie asigurat? în continuare.
Am acordat de asemenea mult timp modului în care este rezolvat? problema Bisericilor greco-catolice. Am acordat de asemenea timp problemei victimelor comunismului ?i a confisc?rii propriet??ilor acestora de c?tre comuni?ti. Este un subiect important pentru Statele Unite pentru c? exist? 400.000 de americani de origine român? ?i mul?i sunt preocupa?i de acest subiect. A?a c? aud foarte des aceste probleme.
R.: Recent, Curtea Constitu?ional? a României a declarat neconstitu?ional? legea lustra?iei. Care este opinia dumneavoastr? despre aceast? decizie ?i, mai ales, la 20 de ani dup? Revolu?ie crede?i c? mai este necesar? o lege a lustra?iei?
M.G.: Nu cunosc argumentele constitu?ionale pe baza c?rora a fost dat? decizia. Nu sunt expert în Constitu?ia României. Dar no?iunea de lege a lustra?iei nu este complet necunoscut? în Statele Unite. Poate c? nu ?ti?i dar dup? R?zboiul Civil, Guvernul a pus interzis sudi?tilor secesioni?ti s? de?in? func?ii. De fapt, ei aveau legi mult mai dure decât cea din România. În cele din urm?, acele prevederi au fost relaxate. Legea aici, din câte în?eleg, nu a fost niciodat? implementat? pe deplin.
Deci cred c? este foarte important s? î?i asumi trecutul. Îl admir mult pe Nelson Mandela ?i tot ceea ce a f?cut el în Africa de Sud. Gra?ie Comisiei Wiesel, România a reu?it foarte bine s? î?i asume Holocaustul. Probabil c? ar trebui s? investi?i timp ?i energie pentru a v? gândi cum s? v? asuma?i trecutul comunist. Este o parte important? a istoriei României, pe care trebuie s? v-o asuma?i deschis. Nu trebuie s? presupun? m?suri punitive, dar trebuie asumat?.
R.: Strategia Na?ional? de Ap?rare trimis? s?pt?mâna aceasta la Parlament men?ioneaz? campaniile de pres? menite s? discrediteze sau s? creeze presiuni asupra institu?iilor, printre vulnerabilit??ile ??rii. Crede?i c? asta ar putea afecta libertatea de expresie în România?
M.G.: Depinde ce se întâmpl? ca urmare a acestei prevederi. P?rerea mea este c? presa din România nu difer? de presa din Statele Unite ?i în multe cazuri este subiectiv?. Finan?atorii institu?iilor de pres? au propriile interese. ?i în Statele Unite este la fel. E suficient s? te ui?i la posturi precum MSNBC ?i Fox News ?i vei vedea acela?i lucru. Copia?i destul de bine situa?ia din Statele Unite.
Solu?ia din punctul meu de vedere este ca media s? relateze cazurile de abuz al statului asupra unei institu?ii de pres? sau al unor institu?ii de pres? asupra concuren?ei. Relata?i despre ele! Cred c? solu?ia este s? se scrie mai mult despre astfel de situa?ii, s? se fac? mai mult? lumin?, institu?iile de media s? se critice mai mult una pe cealalt?, pentru c? oamenii sunt mult mai inteligen?i decât v? imagina?i ?i în?eleg ce se întâmpl?. Cu cât relata?i mai mult, cu atât deciziile lor vor fi luate mai în cuno?tin?? de cauz?.
R.: Când a?i venit în România, a?i vorbit cu pl?cere de r?d?cinile române?ti pe care era?i hot?rât s? le cerceta?i. V-a?i g?sit rude?
M.G.: Am g?sit rude în Republica Moldova. Am fost la Chi?in?u de dou? ori ?i m-am întâlnit cu membri ai familiei Gitenstein. Este vorba despre o tân?r?, o veri?oar? îndep?rtat?. Înc? nu în?eleg exact care este rela?ia de rudenie. Se nume?te Sonia Gitenstein, are 30 de ani ?i se ocup? de cimitirul evreiesc de acolo ?i conduce o organiza?ie care protejeaz? cimitirul acesta. L-am cunoscut ?i pe tat?l ei, care este de vârsta mea. Se nume?te Daniel Gitenstein. Numele lor se scrie exact ca al nostru ?i în mod clar de înrudim, pentru c? nu sunt prea mul?i Gitenstein în lume. Iar noi provenim din Chi?in?u. Încerc?m s? clarific?m lucrurile.
Cât despre rudele mele din Boto?ani, familia Bralower... cred c? nu mai exist? urma?i. Nu am ajuns înc? la Boto?ani, dar am un document de 400 de pagini cu genealogia familiei de la un v?r îndep?rtat al meu din Statele Unite, care arat? exact când au plecat ?i cine era str?- str?bunica mea. Am ?i o fotografie cu str?-str?bunica mea, care a locuit din Boto?ani ?i a imigrat în SUA. Str?bunicul meu a adus-o la el. A?a c? am s? m? duc acolo ?i am s? încerc s? caut posibile rude. M? tem c? nu voi g?si pe nimeni. Exist? foarte pu?ini evrei în acea zon? a României ?i a? fi surprins s? mai descoper rude în via??.
R. : Trecând la un alt subiect, în timpul audierilor dumneavoastr? în Senat, anul trecut, a?i spus c? o prioritate a mandatului dumneavoastr? va fi reluarea adop?iilor interna?ionale.
M.G.:Da
R.:Ce pute?i spune acum despre acest subiect?
M.G.: Abordarea mea în leg?tur? cu subiectul adop?iilor este c? mi-ar pl?cea s? fie reluate adop?iile interna?ionale. ?i am f?cut eforturi pentru aceasta. Preocuparea mea este legat? de copii ?i vreau s? m? asigur c? ajung în c?minul potrivit. Am identificat 300 de copii care pot fi adopta?i. Guvernul român mi-a oferit câteva informa?ii despre situa?ia lor. Cred c? doar 40 din ace?ti copii nu au fost adopta?i. Încerc s? aflu care este starea lor de s?n?tate, cât de bine sunt trata?i.
Apoi, mi-a? dori s? v?d o schimbare în legisla?ia român? privind adop?iile, astfel încât copiii s? poat? fi adopta?i mai u?or ?i mai repede, indiferent dac? sunt adopta?i de români sau de altcineva. Pentru c? eu cred c? nu este un lucru s?n?tos faptul c? ace?ti copii nu sunt în mijlocul unor familii cât mai repede. So?ia mea lucreaz? ca voluntar? aici la un centru dintr-un spital unde stau în primul an din via??. ?i atunci trebuie adopta?i, cât mai repede cu putin??. Deoarece cu cât stau mai mult în institu?ii cu atât mai mare va fi impactul asupra dezvolt?rii lor emo?ionale ?i intelectuale. ?tiu c? exist? oameni care doresc s? fie schimbat? legea a?a încât procesul s? fie mai rapid iar acesta este un lucru extrem de important. ?i ?ti?i, cunosc oameni - americani - care locuiesc aici, în România ?i care încearc? s? adopte ?i au multe probleme.
Ace?ti copii merit? o familie exact a?a cum am avut noi.
R.: Tot la momentul numirii dumneavoastr? ca ambasador în România a?i fost criticat de pres? - m? refer la Washington Times - pentru activit??ile dv de lobby. S-a scris de asemenea c? în cariera dumneavoastr? a?i reprezentat Lockheed Martin, compania care acum a fost selectat? s? livreze României avioanele F16. Ce le r?spunde?i celor care spun c? ar fi un conflict de interese aici?
M.G.: Regulile privind conflictul de interese sunt foarte dure în Statele Unite. ?i sunt ?i foarte clare. Sunt probabil reguli mult mai dure decât în România. Eu de exemplu nu am voie s? reprezint sau s? am vreo influen?? asupra vreunei companii în care am investi?ii personale. De exemplu, dac? a? avea ac?iuni la Lockheed Martin, nu a? putea face niciun fel de munc? în favoarea Lockheed Martin. Nu am ac?iuni la Lockheed Martin ?i sunt absolut sigur c? nici nu am avut vreodat?.
Dac? a? fi reprezentat Lockheed Martin în ultimii doi ani prin firma mea de avocatur?, nu a? fi putut face niciun fel de munc? în favoarea Lockheed Martin pân? la împlinirea termenului de doi ani.
Eu nu am reprezentat Lockheed Martin în ultimii doi ani. Am reprezentat Lockheed Martin acum zece sau 15 ani, nu mai îmi amintesc, a fost acum mult timp, în anii '90. ?i nu a avut nimic de-a face cu achizi?iile.
În al treilea rând, eu nu am nicio influen?? asupra decizia Guvernului american de a sponsoriza F-16 sau Lockheed Martin pentru programul românesc de avion multirol. A?a c? nu am avut nicio influen?? asupra aceastei decizii.
În schimb, nu am voie s? fac anumite lucruri care au leg?tur? cu Brookings Institution. Nu am voie s? fac nimic care ar influen?a Brookings Institution, pentru c? am lucrat acolo. Nu am voie s? fac nimic care s? aib? impact direct asupra firmei mele de avocatur?. Adic? dac? firma mea de avocatur? ar veni aici ?i ar spune "Am vrea s? ne aju?i cu firma aceasta sau aceasta", eu le-a? spune "Nu v? pot ajuta pe voi sau acea companie".
Deci exist? mult? lucruri pe care nu am dreptul s? le fac, dar Lockheed Martin nu figureaz? printre ele.
R.: Diploma?ii români lucreaz? pentru o vizit? a pre?edintelui Traian B?sescu în Statele Unite.
M.G.: Lucr?m la acest aspect.
R.: Se va întâmpla anul acesta? Anul viitor?
M.G.: Cine ?tie?! Adic?, pre?edintele Statelor Unite este o persoan? cu un program destul de înc?rcat, a?a c?... dar lucr?m la asta.
R. Deci lucra?i la o întâlnire bilateral? a lor?
M.G.: Asta încerc?m s? facem.
R.: Anul acesta?
M.G.: Nu ?tiu când se va întâmpla. Eu am încercat... Mi-ar pl?cea s? se întâmple mâine. Mi-ar pl?cea s? vin? pre?edintele Obama aici chiar mâine. Dar l-am adus pe vicepre?edinte aici.
R.: Apropo, l-am putea vedea pe pre?edintele Obama aici, la Bucure?ti?
M.G.: V-am spus c? mi-ar pl?cea s? vin?, dar nu se ?tie. Fiecare ?ar? din lume vrea acela?i lucru, iar el nu este decât o singur? persoan?.
R.: Spune?i-mi domnule ambasador, cum vi se pare via?a în România?
M.G.: Îmi place aici. Este cea mai bun? slujb? pe care am avut-o vreodat?. Iubesc locul, oamenii, munca mea, echipa cu care lucrez. Singurul lucru care nu este bun este c? m? aflu la 8.000 de km de nepo?ii ?i de copiii mei.
R.: Nu v? viziteaz??
M.G.: Ba da, m? viziteaz?. Dar a? vrea s?-i v?d în fiecare s?pt?mân?.
R.: Le-a pl?cut în România?
M.G.: S-au îndr?gostit de România. ?i vor s? revin? aici. De fapt, fiul meu, so?ia lui ?i nepotul meu se vor reîntoarce aici în jurul datei de 6 iulie, cred. Vom petrece cam o s?pt?mân?-zece zile aici ?i apoi vom pleca pentru înc? o s?pt?mân? în Turcia, la Istanbul. Abia a?tept.
R.: Deci v? ve?i petrece vacan?a în Turcia?
M.G.: O parte aici ?i o parte în Turcia.
R.: A?i recomanda România ca destina?ie turistic??
M.G: Absolut!
R.: În pofida infrastructurii?
M.G.: În pofida infrastructurii! Am avut ni?te prieteni foarte dragi care au venit aici acum zece zile ?i i-am încurajat s? mergem la Oradea. A fost foarte frumos acolo, în zona montan?. Apoi - el este pescar, ca ?i mine - am mers împreun? în Delt? ?i am stat într-un hotel plutitor. A fost foarte cald, dar ne-am distrat grozav. Am v?zut multe p?s?ri, n-am prins prea mult pe?te. Eu am prins unul singur, dar i-am dat drumul înapoi în ap?.
N-am fost în Maramure?, dar vreau s? m? duc acolo.
?ti?i, din p?cate, fac multe drumuri dar când ajung undeva sunt foarte multe obliga?ii oficiale de care trebuie s? m? achit. Iar eu vreau s? m? relaxez. De exemplu îmi place s? pictez ?i a? vrea s? pictez. Sper s? avem o s?pt?mân? doar Libby ?i cu mine undeva, în Transilvania în august, f?r? întâlniri oficiale. Doar pentru pictur? ?i plimb?ri.
R.: Deci pescui?i, picta?i... Ce altceva mai face?i?
M.G. Dorm foarte mult în weekend. E un alt hobby al meu.
United States of America, Romania

About Martin Caminada

Martin Caminada

Research Associate
martin.caminada@uni.lu

Picture of MartinMartin Caminada has as main research interests formal models of human argument and argumentation as a form of nonmonotonic reasoning. In 2004 he obtained a Ph.D. in computer science with his thesis For the Sake of the Argument; explorations into argument-based reasoning. From 2004 to 2007 he worked at the Utrecht University on an EU-funded project called ASPIC (Application Service Platform with Integrated Components). Since August 2007 he works at the University of Luxembourg as a senior postdoc on the AASTM project (Advanced Argumentation Services for Trust Management). Martin's publication record includes the AAAI, ECAI and AIJ. His educational tasks include giving a Master course on argumentation and the supervision of a PhD student.

Martin Caminada

Hurenbock-Kinder

Sextourismus

Hurenbock-Kinder

Ihre Väter waren Sextouristen, ihre Mütter sind Prostituierte. In den Slums, in denen sie leben, werden sie behandelt wie Aussätzige. Eine Reportage von den Philippinen.
Von Wolfgang Bauer

"Er ist fett", sagt Noriel, 11. Der Junge hält sich das Bild ganz nah vor die Augen. Das Foto zeigt einen Fremden. "Er ist alt und hässlich." Auf seinem Kopf wachsen nur noch wenig Haare. Der Hals ist dürr und faltig. Die Brille hängt schief auf der Nase, trunken stiert der Mann zum Bildrand hinaus. Wie eine Puppe hält er eine zierliche Filipina im Arm, in Slip und knappem BH, auch sie schaut ins Leere.

"Er hat meine abstehenden Ohren", sagt Noriel, "meine große Nase." Er hat einen ähnlich hellen Hautton wie der Fremde. Die Kinder in der philippinischen Provinz rufen ihn "den Milchfisch". Er ist dem Mann auf dem Foto nie begegnet, und doch ist ihm der Mann vertraut. Noch einen Moment hält der Junge das Bild in den Händen, den Kopf schief gelegt, nachdenklich, bevor es seine Mutter wieder wegsperrt, in einen Koffer mit Vorhängeschloss.

Martin Caminada
University Amsterdam
South Korea, Philippines

"Kindskauf", Pflege oder Adoption?

"Kindskauf", Pflege oder Adoption? Zwei aus Rumänien stammende Frauen sollen einen Menschenhandel eingefädelt haben
Schweinfurt / Bad Kissingen / Zeitlofs (01.07.2010) - Bei seinen Pflegeeltern in Zeitlofs lebt das bald vier Jahre alte Mädchen aus Rumänien auch heute noch. Im Dezember 2006 kam es in den Landkreis Bad Kissingen - damals aber unter höchst dubiosen Umständen, die danach das Gericht beschäftigten und es in diesen Tagen schon wieder tun. Denn gegen zwei aus Rumänien stammende Frauen, die maßgeblich beteiligt waren bei der Vermittlung des Kindes nach Unterfranken, läuft vor der 2. Kleinen Strafkammer des Landgerichts Schweinfurt derzeit das Berufungsverfahren. Verurteilt wurden die beiden in erster Instanz vom Amtsgericht Bad Kissingen im Januar 2009 wegen versuchtem Kinderhandel, Betrug und einer Ordnungswidrigkeit.
Der ganze Fall ist äußerst kompliziert und gestaltete sich auch am ersten Verhandlungstag in Schweinfurt langwierig. Fakt ist, dass das Mädchen als Säugling vor rund dreieinhalb Jahren aus Osteuropa, genau genommen aus einem kleinen Dorf nahe der rumänischen Stadt Temesvar nach Zeitlofs zu den Pflegeeltern kam. Ob aber nur zunächst vorübergehend eben zur Pflege und für eine Bahandlung, weil es erkrankt war, oder mit dem Hintergedanken, es für eine Adotion dauerhaft hierzubehalten, das ist eine der vielen offenen Fragen, die sogar überregionale Medien bewegt haben und einen in Schweinfurt anwesenden Reporter aus Rumänien, der sich des Falls annahm. Im Mittelpunkt: Eine heute 58 Jahre alte, verwittwete Krankenschwester aus Rumänien, die Ende 2006 im Lager Hammelburg lebte und die durch einen Zeitungsbericht vom 2. November 2006 in der Saale-Zeitung die Geschehnisse ins Rollen brachte. Sie wurde in erster Instanz zu einem Jahr und zwei Monaten Freiheitsstrafe verurteilt, ihre mitangeklagte Tochter zu 120 Euro Geldbuße wegen eines Verstoßes gegen das Adoptionsvermittlungsgesetz. Beide legten Einspruch ein, ebenso aber die Staatsanwaltschaft, die ein Urteil möchte wegen eines vollendeten Kinderhandels - und eine Vollstreckung der Strafe nicht mehr zu Bewährung, wie das Amtsgericht noch entschied. Die 58-Jährige ist nämlich einschlägig vorbestraft.
"Ein großes Herz für Kinder in Not" - so hieß die Überschrifts des Ausgangsartikels, in dem die 1990 eingesiedelte Deutsch-Rumänin vorgestellt wurde und ihr Vorhaben, in dem rund 1300 Kilometer entfernten Heimatort in Rumänien zu helfen. Mit Kleider- oder Spielzeugspenden, Süßigkeiten oder Geld. Eine Stiftung gründete sie, kaufte in Rumämien ein Haus, um arme Kinder aufzunehmen. In und um Hammelburg wollte sie einen gemeinnützigen Verein gründen, suchte Mitstreiter. Der Zeitungsbericht sollte bewusst mit Passagen wie "Leid und Hunger im Heim" oder "traurige Augen der Kinder" Interesse wecken, um die Not zu lindern. Und tatsächlich meldete sich (unter anderen) eine Frau aus Zeitlofs per Telefon (die Festnetznummer gehörte der jüngeren Angeklagten, die ältere konnte sich damals einen Telefonanschluss leisten).
Die Frau aus Zeitlofs rief an, wie sich herausstellte, zumindest behauptet das die Frau und ist das auch Gegenstand der Anklage, wollte sie ein Kind aus Rumänien adoptieren. Die Angeklagte hatte sich zuvor schon beim Jugendamt erkundigt und dort erfahren, dass dies rechtlich nicht möglich ist. Dennoch trafen sich die Rumänin sowie die interessierte Frau und ihr Mann zur Besprechung, die Frau reiste sogar mit dem Bus 14 Stunden lang nach Rumänien, sah die heruntergekommene Wohnung der Familie, bei dem das kleine Mädchen das jüngste von neun Kindern war. Um die Sache etwas zu verkürzen: Der leibliche Vater flog mit nach Deutschland, das Kind ebenso. Die Rede muss gewesen sein von einer zunächst sechsmonatigen Pflege, von staatlicher Seite aus auch genehmigt. Anscheinend aber muss auch eine spätere Adoption vereinbart worden sein. "Unter dem Deckmantel der Dankbarkeit" soll die ältere Angeklagte sich laut Ersturteil dafür Geldzahlungen versprochen haben.
Und es floss auch Geld: 1000 Euro tranferierten die Pflegeeltern nach Rumänien für Strom, Sprit, Holz oder Busfahrkosten. Dann nochmals 1000 Euro für eine Renovierung der Fenster am Haus für die Kinder. Anscheinend mit einer Rückzahlungsversicherung, was aber nie eintraf, da die Angeklagte kein Geld hatte. Ende des Jahres flossen nochmals 300 Euro für eine Waschmaschine zu den Kindseltern, obwohl die gar keinen Wasseranschluss besaßen, und 300 Euro für einen Besuch der Kindsmutter in Unterfranken. Laut Anklage forderte die Angeklagte weitere 6000 Euro - für eine Hausrenovierung und dafür, die Adoption zu beschleunigen.
Als die Rumänin im Januar 2007 einen Unfall hatte, kam ihre Tochter, heute 29, ins Spiel. Sie organsierte mehr oder weniger den Besuch der leiblichen Eltern, holte die interessierte Frau aus Zeitlofs nach einer Rückkehr aus Rumänien am Flughafen ab (und schilderte nun eine von der Frau verlangte vierstündige Heimfahrt von Frankfurt über einen Umweg nach Zeitlofs). Als weitere 300 Euro gezahlt werden sollten, muss der Frau klar geworden sein, dass es sich nicht um eine Adoption, sondern um einen "Kindskauf" handelte, woraus sie das Jugendamt Bad Kissingen einschaltete. Zuvor schon forderte die leibliche Mutter die sofortige Herausgabe des angeblich verkratzten Säuglings, was die Frau aber verweigerte. Beiderseits wurde die Polizei eingeschaltet. Noteriell in Rumänien beglaubigt, ob nun rechtens oder nicht, ist eine Pflegschaft bei der unterfränkischen Familie bis Ende Juni 2010. Seit einiger Zeit schon ist aber zu hören, dass die leiblichen Eltern ihr Kind zurückwollen. Doch seitens der rumänischen Behörden passierte bislang nichts. Diverse Lokalpolitiker setzten sich inzwischen dafür ein, damit das Mädchen in Zeitlofs bleiben kann.
Zurück zum Gerichtsfall, bei dem es das Ansinnen der Staatsanwaltschaft ist, auch die in Würzburg lebende Tochter und somit die jüngere Angeklagte wegen einer eigenen Initiative zur Vermittelung zu verurteilen. Dreieinhalb Stunden dauerte es alleine am ersten Prozesstag bis zum Eintrit in die Beweisaufnahme. Die so lange vor dem Sitzungssaal wartenden Pflegeeltern reagierten stinkesauer. Die ältere Angeklagte und ihre Wahlverteidigerin Christina Glück aus Würzburg bezogen so lange Stellung und beantworteten Fragen, ohne dass der Prozess deshalb aber so richtig ins Rollen kam. Tenor der Aussage, wie nicht anders zu erwarten: Es sei nie um eine Adoption gegangen, nur darum, dem Kind zu helfen. Rein der Wille der Familie in Zeitlofs sei es gewesen, den Säugling zu behalten. Womöglich habe es Absprachen gegeben zwischen ihnen und den Kindseltern, die am kommenden Donnerstag am zweiten Verhandlungstag extra aus Rumänien anreisen werden, wie das auch die 58-Jährige tat, weil sie nun wieder in ihrem Heimatland wohnt. "Helfen un helfen - da ist anscheinend ein Unterschied", bemerkte sie in gutem Deutsch.
Extra vom neuen Arbeitsplatz in Bad Tölz kam ein einstiger Mitarbeiter des Bad Kissinger Jugendamtes als einer von ganz vielen Zeugen am ersten Nachmittag, unter denen auch die 43 Jahre alte Frau aus Zeitlofs war. Der Prozess wird kommenden Donnerstag ab 8.30 Uhr fortgesetzt. Dann sind auch die Plädoyers und das Urteil zu erwarten.
Romania, Germany
Nicoleta Trif

Kinderhandel? Aussage steht gegen Aussage

SCHWEINFURT

Kinderhandel? Aussage steht gegen Aussage

Gericht rügt Blauäugigkeit der Pflegemutter

ANZEIGE

Am Landgericht hat am Donnerstag eine mit Spannung erwartete Berufsverhandlung begonnen, die nicht nur strafrechtliche Bedeutung hat, sondern auch ein Politikum ist. Verantworten müssen sich eine ehemals in Hammelburg lebende gebürtige Rumänin und ihre Tochter. Der Hauptvorwurf: Kinderhandel. Des Weiteren stehen Betrugsvorwürfe in Zusammenhang mit Spendengeldern im Raum.

Romania, Germany
Nicoleta Trif
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