Overhaul of adoption in Haiti means fewer kids go overseas, alarming some and pleasing others

The Associated Press

In this May 8, 2015 photo, volunteer Anne-Marie Saintou announces that only special needs children will be treated, or allowed to live at the Mercy & Sharing residential center, as she walks in the seaside community of Luly in Arcahaie, Haiti. Saintou is part of a campaign by the nonprofit organization to warn people about promoters and recruiters for orphanages who roam the countryside offering money, or false promises, to desperate parents struggling to raise children, and she speaks from bitter experience. “Ladies, say ‘NO!’ she shouts. “We will not give away our children anymore.” (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Associated Press May 11, 2015 | 12:11 a.m. EDT + More

By BEN FOX and DAVID CRARY, Associated Press

ABOUT 20 South Australian families who have been waiting up to three years to adopt Indian babies remain in limbo after an adoption agency was accused of baby trafficking.

The State Government has also said the private agency – known as Preet Mandir – asked for exorbitant "donations" of $5000 on top of the usual $5000 fees from SA couples.

The Indian Government revoked Preet Mandir's inter-country adoption licence in July, following an undercover CNN investigation where babies were sold to foreigners for $16,000.

That followed the adoption agency being investigated and cleared of tricking poor, vulnerable women into giving up children last year.

Preet Mandir has brokered around 40 babies for SA families since 2000. It is believed many would have paid the so-called $5000 donation.

Adoption to become easier

By Natasa Radic / 30/05/2013 / No Comments

By Natasa Radic – Zagreb

Croatian Parliament discussed the proposal to ratify the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in connection with interstate adoptions. The Convention more clearly prescribes the legislation in the adoption issues, as well as the sanctions for the perpetrators of any illegal doings and manipulations when it comes to adopting children from other countries.

In Croatia there are currently 600 couples waiting to adopt children, and because of too strict laws that provide nearly all the rights to biological parents, the adoption becomes a complicating process and not many children get a chance to find a new home.

Progress is slow when it comes to societal views on adoption

BY PHILIP BRASOR

SPECIAL TO THE JAPAN TIMES

MAY 2, 2015

ARTICLE HISTORY

"Bébé à vendre 120.000€", une organisation en fait la pub au siège du gouvernement bruxellois

CONTRIBUTION EXTERNE Publié le samedi 02 mai 2015 à 09h35 - Mis à jour le samedi 02 mai 2015 à 09h35

La GPA, préjudice de taille pour le bébé

Faut-il interdire les mères porteuses ?

Une opinion de Xavier Lombard, créateur d’entreprises.

Gelsenkirchener Jugendamt-Skandal - Mit Kindern Kasse machen

01.05.2015 | 15:38 Uhr

Das Jugendamt in Gelsenkirchen (rechtes Gebäude): Der Amtsleiter und sein Stellvertreter wurden vom Dienst freigestellt. Nun werden die Vorwürfe geprüft.Foto: Oliver Kühn

Gelsenkirchen. Die Leiter des Jugendamtes in Gelsenkirchen haben offenbar mit der Unterbringung von deutschen Heimkindern in Ungarn systematisch Kasse gemacht.

Besonders schwere Vorwürfe gegen den Leiter des Gelsenkirchener Jugendamtes, Alfons Wissmann, und seinen Stellvertreter, Thomas Frings, erhebt ein Bericht der ARD-Sendung "Monitor". Demnach sollen die beiden Männer ihre Funktion an der Spitze des Jugendamtes ausgenutzt haben, um mit Kindern, die in staatlicher Obhut waren, Geld zu verdienen.

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Tensions peak as Norway takes Lithuanian children

2015 02 03. The years-long tensions over the troubles many Lithuanian parents have in Norway reached new heights this week after a Lithuanian family was unsuccessful in repatriating its child from Norway to Lithuania.

In a far-from-unique case the family, living in Norway, had its child forcibly taken away by authorities (Barnevernet childcare agency) to a foster home without a comprehensive reason. Fearing for their child they decided to bring him to Lithuania (via Sweden), which Norway considered illegal and requested Swedish authorities to intervene. Sweded taken the boy in a ferry to Lithuania and sent him to Norway, leading to Lithuanian diplomatic protests as the boy is a Lithuanian citizen.

Children taken away for cultural differences

Norway takes steps towards adoption of Czech boy

?TK | 30 APRIL 2015

Prague, April 29 (CTK) - The Norwegian child welfare service started taking steps towards the adoption of the younger of the two Czech brothers who had been taken from their mother and placed in foster families, although Norway said that adoption is not considered, Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said Wednesday.

According to information that the Czech Office for International Legal Protection of Children (UMPOD) received in April, the Norwegian child welfare service asked the regional authorities to launch the proceedings that would enable the adoption of the younger son of Eva Michalakova, Zaoralek told the lower house of Czech parliament.

The Czech Republic protested against this in writing.

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.