Adoptees have had to live with all the lies and deception they have been told about being given away out of love for a better life in the West.
Photo: PixabayWhy does the collective society so heartily tolerate the injustice done to its "Norwegian" children? And why do they not want to talk about it? Is it because the injustice is built on the basis of our shared values ​​and attitudes?

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Elin Netland

Shalina Gomes is still looking for her biological mother in Bangladesh, now that the woman from official documents turns out not to be her real mother. She sings it off with her first Frisian single 'Wy kinne it net opnij dwaan'. Photo: Johan Vogelzang

About forty years after Shalina Gomes arrived in Leeuwarden as an adopted child from Bangladesh, she releases her own Frisian single on streaming services such as Spotify and as a video clip on YouTube. She sings it completely in Frisian, because she feels Frisian through and through. She also sings about the fact that she is still looking for her biological mother in Bangladesh, and is being obstructed by authorities.

Someone of foreign descent may indeed be Frisian and feel that way. Johan Derksen's sneer at Habtamu de Hoop last year gave her the strength and inspiration to continue with the Frisian song she wanted to make again. “I like that people from outside the Netherlands are coming from harren and Frisian love girls, I would like to carry the boat.” She is combative. "The melody of the music ignites the passion and draws my personality."

'We can't do it again'

She has been singing for decades in various bands and background vocals throughout the Netherlands, in various genres as well, but had never released her own song. 'Wy kinne it net opnij dwaan', is the title of the song written by Minke Adema, with music by guitarist Rick Meijer. It will be released on May 9, two days before Mother's Day. That is of course no coincidence, because of the adoption story. It can be heard via streaming services such as Spotify and can also be seen via Shalina Gomes' brand new YouTube channel.

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 April 2025

In a significant move aimed at bridging cultural traditions and modern legal frameworks, Rayhaan Pasha, President of the Nicobar Youth Association, has written to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, urging legal recognition for traditional adoption practices observed in the Nicobar Islands.

For generations, Nicobarese families have adopted children within their communities — particularly during times of loss or hardship — offering them love, care, and full integration into their new families. While deeply respected and accepted within tribal society, these traditional adoptions currently lack formal legal recognition, resulting in difficulties for adopted children in obtaining essential documents, accessing educational opportunities, and availing government welfare schemes.

MILIMO CHITSULO and JULIUS MBEWE

MILIMO CHITSULO and JULIUS MBEWE

A Dehradun rally called for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, with participants demanding an end to discrimination and equal rights, including the legal right to parenthood through adoption.

A working professional who lives proudly with her identity, the woman advocates fiercely for the community, particularly championing the cause of adoption rights. Photo | Express

Narendra Sethi

The jury that will decide the fate of Thalia Driessens (37) was appointed at the Leuven Assize Court on Friday. Starting next Wednesday, the woman will be tried for the murder of her adoptive mother Brigitte Vanaudenaeren (68) in July 2023 at her home in Steenokkerzeel.
Kim Aerts 18-04-25, 16:55 Last update: 17:13
In the night of 11 to 12 July 2023, Brigitte was killed at home along the Tervuursesteenweg in Steenokkerzeel. She had lived there for four decades and no one could say a bad word about her. However, that evening things got out of hand between Brigitte and her adopted daughter. The local police had to go to the scene twice, but when the officers had to return, Brigitte was already dead in the living room. She died of suffocation. The victim worked for the municipality of Zaventem for many years in the Tax Department.
Victim Brigitte Vanaudenaeren. © Marc Baert / rv
Accused Thalia Driessens, born in San Salvador, will be tried in the Leuven Assize Court from Wednesday 23 April for the manslaughter of her mother. Seven men and five women were drawn to judge her guilt. The public prosecutor is represented by Attorney General Marcel Verbelen. Driessens is assisted by Wouter Van Driessche and Jan Donkers. The chair of the Assize Court is Veerle Aelbrecht.

Desperate women denied abortion access in much of the US are being offered a way out for the children they cannot raise themselves. It’s not always what it seems

Desperate women denied abortion access in much of the US are being offered a way out for the children they cannot raise themselves. It’s not always what it seems

The apartment complex nestled in the cradle of Salt Lake City’s snow-capped Rocky Mountains is teeming with expectant mothers. The women have travelled from all over America to give birth to babies they have no intention of keeping.

The apartments are run by adoption agencies that have bussed and flown pregnant women to Utah in their hundreds, if not thousands, exploiting the most relaxed laws in the country governing private adoption. In many cases they have been lured to the state on the promise of rent and cash payments, a practice so controversial Utah has been likened to a “human marketplace”.

The Times interviewed more than a dozen people as part of an investigation into the so-called baby broker business, including women who quickly came to regret the decision to give up their children only to find they had no way to legally reclaim them.

Avantae Deven is accused of killing two of her five adopted children.

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