A recent case in Tamil Nadu shows that the existing system has allowed child trafficking to take place for years under the guise of a perfectly legal adoption process.

ASHA KRISHNAKUMAR

ON May 3, 2005, the Central Crime Branch of the Chennai police arrested five people for kidnapping and selling about 350 children to an adoption agency in the city. Several lost children seem to have been given in adoption to families abroad over the last decade. Ironically, the police have found all the paperwork by the adoption agency to be clear. This highlights the need to look into the existing adoption system that allows for child trafficking under the guise of a perfectly legal adoption process.

Frontline investigation and documents available with it reveal that this is not an isolated case. Bending rules, circumventing norms, and following illegal and unethical ways to "source" children and sell them to foreigners under the guise of adoption is not uncommon among some agencies in Tamil Nadu.

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Marina Sturdza, Romanian Princess and Humanitarian, Dies at 73

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In 1992, a group from the St. Vitus parish set out on a long journey to Transylvania for the first time in order to bring "first aid" to the children of the second largest Romanian orphanage after the fall of communism in Romania. The "Hemmingen Romania Working Group" was founded with its headquarters in Wilkenburg. Members also included people from Harkenblecker, Arnumer and Hemminger.

After contacting communities in Fiatfalva, which belongs to the town of Cristuru Secuiesc (= Szekler Cross), a partnership was even established there. After numerous aid shipments to surrounding villages, the main project developed: five family houses were gradually built , each for ten to twelve children, who were thus rescued from the orphanage and were then able to grow up in a secure family atmosphere. When the Gerts family left the community, the community group that had grown in this way became the association "A House for Tomorrow" so that the project could be secured in the long term.

The family homes are still in operation, but fortunately, with European help, the overall situation of Romania's "lost children" has improved significantly: there are no more homes. Family homes and placement in foster families ultimately led to their closure. A young social science emerged that gradually took on modern forms. This fulfilled an essential task of the group. The association therefore decided to dissolve in 2023.

article le point

International adoption: when the quest for origins collides with omerta

INVESTIGATION (3/3). Born in Romania, India and Haiti, adoptees question the methods of the association Rayon de soleil de l'enfant étranger.

Those who ordered or contributed to the deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia to be "deprogrammed", adopted and still contribute to the repopulation will have to answer for this war crime for decades and decades beyond the end of the war.

We call on France to work to help investigate this case and to see judges identified to punish those responsible.

Everything must be done now to allow these children to return as soon as possible to their loved ones or to their country.

Russia is violating the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that binds almost all States in the world. It must be accountable to the international community. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has the right to call it out more firmly than ever.

We, the signatories, will remain mobilized to ensure that justice is done for what international law calls genocide.

The law changed in 2016 to allow gay couples to adopt – but it was hardly an opening of the floodgates

When Victoria changed the law to allow same-sex couples to adopt, the government heralded it as a pathway that would allow more opportunities for children to be matched with the best possible family.

Instead, fewer than five adoptions by same-sex couples have taken place in the state since 2017.

The convener of support group Gay Dads Australia, Rodney Chiang-Cruise, is blunt about his thoughts on the issue. “Honestly, my advice to same-sex couples seeking to adopt in Victoria has been don’t bother,” he tells Guardian Australia.

Better Care Network (BCN)
A Project of Tides Center

Job Title: Community Outreach and Youth Engagement Specialist (FT)
Reports to: BCN Executive Director
FLSA Status: Exempt

Tony's Take

Messenger: Broken immigration system leaves Missouri family separated from their son

The Trower family — from left, Adam, Nora and Jill  — hold a photo of Luke, the son and brother who was adopted more than four years ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the adoption, Luke has been in limbo, stuck in Africa because of red tape surrounding international adoptions.

Becky Orf, Orf Photography

PRESENTATION :We draw your attention to the fact that we are not an association approved by the M.A.I for international adoption. Nevertheless, to cope with a strong demand from families and the lack of specialized associations for this purpose in Languedoc-roussillon, we put our field experience and moral support at the disposal of all families involved in a procedure of adoption in Romania. In no case do we claim to replace approved organizations. We can be of use to you by:a privileged link with a Romanian Foundation authorized for international adoption “INIMA PENTRU INIMA”.

support, support, mutual assistance and comfort for adopting families.

HISTORY:“INIMA PENTRU INIMA” was created by Ms. Lidia DOBRE in July 1997 in Rimnicu-Valcea in Romania. Its objective is to help children in difficulty. These children are mostly in placement centers and live in miserable conditions. Others, who still live with their families, risk placement in these institutions (or worse: abandonment). The cause is simple: the catastrophic economic situation of the country and the growing difficulties of the population in meeting their basic needs.