Informal translation of the letter of Secretary of State Fred Teeven to the Dutch Parliament – 27 September 2012
Adoptions from Uganda
On 11 June 2011 I have decided, on the basis of the conclusions of a visit of a Ministerial delegation to Uganda, to suspend adoptions from Uganda. In my letter of that same date (Parliament documents II, 2011/12. 31 265 nfr. 43) I have informed you about that.
For already started adoption procedures, whereby 22 Ugandan children were involved for in total 13 adoptive parents, I have subsequently have had done closer investigations into cases in Uganda. A delegation of the Ministry of Security and Justice has had talks with the biological parents and if necessary other family members of the adoptive children concerned.
Also, DNA was taken to establish the parent-child relation. Also the delegation spoke with the Uganda Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and with the Commissioner of Youth and Children Affairs of the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development. The investigation took place from 24 June till 1 July.
From the investigation it appeared in general that in many cases the biological parents and other family members were insufficiently aware about the consequences of intercountry adoption. Also, it appeared that with these parents there was hardly any communication about alternatives to relinquishment. And it came about that several issues were presented differently by the children’s home than the real situation. Hereby one can think about the mental situation of the biological parents, and the way in which the biological parents were informed and accompanied.
The delegation informed the biological parents during the meetings about the consequences of adoption. For 14 children the adoption procedure can be continued. That means that the court sessions in Uganda can be scheduled with as goal to let these children be adopted by the available prospective adoptive parents.
For four children, after the interviews and the DNA testing, a revocation period was decided because it appeared that the parents needed some more time to think about the consequences of the adoption and the possibilities of support in the country itself.
During this revocation period the biological parents have received counseling and alternative possibilities for support in the country itself have been discussed. On the basis of this, the biological parents have still agreed with the adoption of their child(ren) and the adoption procedures can continue.
Two children were withdrawn just before the visit of the delegation, because their biological parents were not aware of the consequences of adoption and/or had not signed for the relinquishment of their child.
For one child the procedure is for the moment on hold, awaiting a decision of the biological father.
The adoptive parents concerned and the adoption agency that mediates the adoption of children from Uganda, Foundation Child and Future (Kind en Toekomst), have in the meantime been informed about the outcome of the investigation and the decisions that I took on the basis of that. Also the prospective adoptive parents whose adoptions were earlier stalled, but which now can continue, were informed about my decision that these adoptions may still be finalized.
I realize that there are prospective adoptive parents that are touched by my decision to suspend adoptions from Uganda and that this decision has a large impact on their personal lives. I would, however, like to emphasize that I took my decision wholeheartedly, inspired by the interest of the interest of the child and the interest of careful adoption procedures.
I deliberated if there should be an investigation into adoption cases that took place from Uganda in the past, but I decided not to do that. The children are already quite a while with their Dutch adoptive families, whereby there is family-life, and in any cases the adoption according to Dutch law already was done. I do ask Foundation Child and Future, in cooperation with the children’s home, to inform the biological parents carefully about the wellbeing of the children they relinquished.
An investigation into the 22 children and the general findings of the ministerial delegation’s visit to Uganda in March, confirms what I announced in my letter of 11 June. The suspension that I announced in my 11 June letter will be maintained. This does not change the fact that I will continue to follow developments in adoptions in Uganda very closely.
Source of translation:
http://www.againstchildtrafficking.org/2012/10/netherlands-maintains-suspension-adoptions-uganda/
Stepfather admits handcuffing Howes, denies abuse
UNION leader Paul Howes' former stepfather revealed he handcuffed the Labor figure to a chair when he was eight years old but denied he was abusive.
Gary Howes, a former NSW police officer, has told The Sunday Telegraph he is suing his former stepson and Women's Weekly for defamation over an article titled "My gut-wrenching adoption secret".
The profile detailed Paul Howes' troubled childhood that led to him becoming homeless at the age of 14.
His estranged stepfather confirmed he was carrying a gun when he handcuffed Mr Howes as a child.
"I did handcuff him," Gary Howes said. "He was going to run so I handcuffed him to a chair. I didn't trust my own anger. I had a gun in my hand. I was a policeman and I was on duty and I had a gun."
For remaining story: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/stepfather-admits-handcuffing-howes-denies-abuse/story-e6freuy9-1226489830026
Gary Howes, a former NSW police officer, has told The Sunday Telegraph he is suing his former stepson and Women's Weekly for defamation over an article titled "My gut-wrenching adoption secret".
The profile detailed Paul Howes' troubled childhood that led to him becoming homeless at the age of 14.
His estranged stepfather confirmed he was carrying a gun when he handcuffed Mr Howes as a child.
"I did handcuff him," Gary Howes said. "He was going to run so I handcuffed him to a chair. I didn't trust my own anger. I had a gun in my hand. I was a policeman and I was on duty and I had a gun."
For remaining story: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/stepfather-admits-handcuffing-howes-denies-abuse/story-e6freuy9-1226489830026
State prosecutor and wife ‘abused adopted Ethiopian children found near death with skull fractures and bruises”
Both children, whose names were not released, went to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Sept. 14 after the boy was taken to an urgent care center for hypothermia, rapid breathing and skin lesions, which a doctor later determined were caused by lengthy exposure to urine, court documents say. The boy was admitted to the hospital.
The boy weighed 47 pounds when he came to the U.S. from Ethiopia in March but 37.5 pounds when he was admitted to the hospital, police said. He gained nearly seven pounds during a six-day hospital stay, Berger told police.
The girl was having difficulty breathing and her eyes were rolling back in her head; Dr. Rachel Berger found the toddler had multiple head fractures in various stages of healing, the documents say.
When Douglas Barbour was told his son’s body temperature was 93.6 degrees, he reportedly asked: ‘Would that be from being in the bathroom, cold, wet and naked for an hour?
Here for remaining story:
http://ecadforum.com/ethiopianvideo/2012/10/06/state-prosecutor-and-wife-abused-adopted-ethiopian-children-foun-near-death-with-skull-fractures-and-bruises/
The boy weighed 47 pounds when he came to the U.S. from Ethiopia in March but 37.5 pounds when he was admitted to the hospital, police said. He gained nearly seven pounds during a six-day hospital stay, Berger told police.
The girl was having difficulty breathing and her eyes were rolling back in her head; Dr. Rachel Berger found the toddler had multiple head fractures in various stages of healing, the documents say.
When Douglas Barbour was told his son’s body temperature was 93.6 degrees, he reportedly asked: ‘Would that be from being in the bathroom, cold, wet and naked for an hour?
Here for remaining story:
http://ecadforum.com/ethiopianvideo/2012/10/06/state-prosecutor-and-wife-abused-adopted-ethiopian-children-foun-near-death-with-skull-fractures-and-bruises/
Texas AG sues local adoption agency
SAN ANTONIO - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is suing a San Antonio adoption agency. The state says the company took people's money, but never found those families a child.
After months of investigating the Texas Attorney General filed two lawsuits yesterday. One was against Adoption Services Associates, Inc. (ASA) and the other is against ASA's owners. Both suits claim the adoption agency and its owners engaged in "…false, deceptive and misleading acts". They also state ASA took thousands of dollars from families across the country even though they knew they were shutting their doors in April.
http://www.woai.com/content/news/newslinks/story/Texas-AG-sues-local-adoption-agency/Tck8eJmN00O8tNU2-7gfDw.cspx
After months of investigating the Texas Attorney General filed two lawsuits yesterday. One was against Adoption Services Associates, Inc. (ASA) and the other is against ASA's owners. Both suits claim the adoption agency and its owners engaged in "…false, deceptive and misleading acts". They also state ASA took thousands of dollars from families across the country even though they knew they were shutting their doors in April.
http://www.woai.com/content/news/newslinks/story/Texas-AG-sues-local-adoption-agency/Tck8eJmN00O8tNU2-7gfDw.cspx
Couples Outraged With Adoption Agency
Connecticut couples looking to adopt are out of thousands of dollars after the agency filed for bankruptcy.
A Farmington family is out more than $35,000 and, for now, lost hope for adopting a baby girl.
A Texas adoption agency closed its doors in early April, sending a ripple effect to families across the country and Europe in the midst of the adoption process. On April 24, Adoption Services Associates of San Antonio filed for bankruptcy, listing nearly 900 couples and individuals as potential creditors. Seventy one of them are from Connecticut.
Tom and Kerry Craft of Farmington are among the dozens of families wondering what to do next.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” said Tom Craft. “I can’t even say it’s been a roller coaster. It’s been a downhill spiral.”
The Crafts used an agency in Texas instead of Connecticut to take advantage of more favorable adoption laws for the adoptive parents. They were approved by the agency in July 2011, and by February 2012, they were matched up with a birth mother.
For remaining article:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/LWRD-149948615.html#comments
Against Child Trafficking
ACT promotes the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) that first and foremost gives children the right to be cared for by their parents. It is the responsibility of the State to support families and communities in the upbringing of their children. Intercountry adoption may only be considered if there is no way at all to bring up a child in-country.
http://www.againstchildtrafficking.org/
The last fifty years an adoption industry has been developping that serves the growing demand for children in the Western world. An industry in which huge sums of money are involved.
Children are obtained for adoption through coercion, fraud and kidnapping, but also through too permissive laws on child relinquishment and/or too rapid termination of parental rights. In many cases unscrupulous go-betweens have found that large profits can be made by arranging the transfer of children from poverty-stricken homes to people with means.
Many such children are sold for money (disguised as adoption fees) either through independent adoptions or through licensed and accredited adoption agencies and regulated by adoption laws.
ACT considers this a demand-driven market in children, which should be labeled as child trafficking and stopped.
http://www.againstchildtrafficking.org/
17 yo American girl found biological parents in China
She was adopted by an American woman when she was 7 months old in Anhui, China. Now she is trying to learn Chinese language.
Google translate
"I think that the blood relationship between the birth parents and I can not let go, my heart would like to see them." Said this is American Chinese girl Laney Allison, she was very young American mother being from Ma On Shanhospital adoption (Xinan Evening News, May 21 has been reported).
Yesterday, Laney the end of the month-long study of Chinese in Beijing, with his own mother came to Ma On Shan, and began tracing the journey.
The reporter saw the mother and child at a hotel in Ma On Shan.Talking about his wish, Laney full of feeling, "I was a bright child, childhood with her mother there are huge differences in the appearance of my mother is a single mother, she was very open-minded, when I just sensible , she told me how I came here from China in these years, I and my American mother live very happy 15 years old, I suddenly want to know another version of his life - my biological parents and I know no one wants to discard her own children, that is part of their lives, they must feel they are powerless to take care of me, was forced to send me away, the moment their hearts certainly very sad and I know they love me very much, because the choice to let go a kind of love.Many of my friends would ask me, why should return to China to tracing? I am eager to understand the lived seven months, eager to know that I have no brothers or sisters, parents these days. The miss and love all the waves in my mind. "Laney's mother is a kind person, she is proud for his own daughter in China. Help the daughter of tracing the process, she plays the role of a "good partner" ready to share or solve unexpected surprise or disappointment.
For remaining story:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f86_1342190298
Google translate
"I think that the blood relationship between the birth parents and I can not let go, my heart would like to see them." Said this is American Chinese girl Laney Allison, she was very young American mother being from Ma On Shanhospital adoption (Xinan Evening News, May 21 has been reported).
Yesterday, Laney the end of the month-long study of Chinese in Beijing, with his own mother came to Ma On Shan, and began tracing the journey.
The reporter saw the mother and child at a hotel in Ma On Shan.Talking about his wish, Laney full of feeling, "I was a bright child, childhood with her mother there are huge differences in the appearance of my mother is a single mother, she was very open-minded, when I just sensible , she told me how I came here from China in these years, I and my American mother live very happy 15 years old, I suddenly want to know another version of his life - my biological parents and I know no one wants to discard her own children, that is part of their lives, they must feel they are powerless to take care of me, was forced to send me away, the moment their hearts certainly very sad and I know they love me very much, because the choice to let go a kind of love.Many of my friends would ask me, why should return to China to tracing? I am eager to understand the lived seven months, eager to know that I have no brothers or sisters, parents these days. The miss and love all the waves in my mind. "Laney's mother is a kind person, she is proud for his own daughter in China. Help the daughter of tracing the process, she plays the role of a "good partner" ready to share or solve unexpected surprise or disappointment.
For remaining story:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f86_1342190298
Son lost to human traffickers reunited with dad after 20 years
A man, who lost his son to human traffickers more than 20 years ago, was reunited with him last month. Father and son tell Xu Wei their stories in Chongqing.
For Hu Shangming, a major part of the last 21 years of his life was spent searching and waiting for his son, who was abducted by human traffickers. The 50-year-old resident of Chongqing municipality spent two years desperately looking for his son, who was abducted in January 1991.
After using up his savings in the quest, he decided to wait at the exact spot where his son was abducted in the hope that his son would find him there. "Over the years, I've turned from being a fruit vendor to running a teahouse, but I've not moved from the same location," Hu says.
In 2011, local police who were investigating human traffickers, reopened Hu's case. They took Hu's DNA sample to match those at the national DNA bank for abducted children. And that, ended Hu's wait.
Hu was reunited with his son in Xiamen, Fujian province, on June 2 this year.
"I knew I would find him one day," he says.
Even though it has been two decades, the memory of the day when his son was abducted remains fresh in Hu's mind.
For remaining story:
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=36303%3Ason-lost-to-human-traffickers-reunited-with-da
For Hu Shangming, a major part of the last 21 years of his life was spent searching and waiting for his son, who was abducted by human traffickers. The 50-year-old resident of Chongqing municipality spent two years desperately looking for his son, who was abducted in January 1991.
After using up his savings in the quest, he decided to wait at the exact spot where his son was abducted in the hope that his son would find him there. "Over the years, I've turned from being a fruit vendor to running a teahouse, but I've not moved from the same location," Hu says.
In 2011, local police who were investigating human traffickers, reopened Hu's case. They took Hu's DNA sample to match those at the national DNA bank for abducted children. And that, ended Hu's wait.
Hu was reunited with his son in Xiamen, Fujian province, on June 2 this year.
"I knew I would find him one day," he says.
Even though it has been two decades, the memory of the day when his son was abducted remains fresh in Hu's mind.
For remaining story:
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=36303%3Ason-lost-to-human-traffickers-reunited-with-da
China's Stolen Children
9 July 2012 Last
updated at 18:56
Chinese authorities have hailed the success of an operation last week in
which they arrested 800 human traffickers and rescued nearly two hundred
children.
But the high-profile raids revealed the extent of child trafficking across the country.
The BBC's Beijing correspondent, Martin Patience, has been speaking to parents who are still searching for their missing sons and daughters.
For video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18778056
But the high-profile raids revealed the extent of child trafficking across the country.
The BBC's Beijing correspondent, Martin Patience, has been speaking to parents who are still searching for their missing sons and daughters.
For video:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)