An estimated 29.6 million stranded, orphaned and abandoned children live in India, out of which just up to 4,000 get adopted annually.

While thousands of prospective parents are waiting to adopt in India, there is still a stigma associated with adoption that deters many from that route.

A social movement needs to develop to get adoption considered ahead of other alternatives, such as surrogacy or IVF.

There are many life stages that change the direction of our lives. Becoming a parent is one such turning point. Parenthood changes the way we live and the way we think. When our daughter came into our lives, via adoption at four months old, it changed all of our lives for the better.

When we decided to adopt, we registered with the Central Adoption Resource Authority-Nodal Agency for Adoption in India (CARA), which is a legal requirement. After two and a half years of waiting, we were matched with a baby girl and after completing the legal paperwork we welcomed her into our family.

The two men, now aged 45 and 46, were taken from their mother to be adopted in France, and only discovered the truth in 2019. By publicizing their case, they hope that other victims will be identified, and will not hesitate to assert their rights before international courts.

Javier and Lorenzo (their names have been changed) were 3 and 4 when they were taken from their mother in Guatemala. While she thought she was placing them in a center for malnourished minors, they were sent to France through a private organization approved by the State, Les Amis des enfants du monde (AEM), to be adopted by a Parisian couple. For thirty-eight years, they lived in the fable of abandonment. And only discovered the truth of their theft in January 2019. Their mother, torn all her life by the disappearance of her little boys, had just died two months earlier in Guatemala.

It is for what Javier describes as "trafficking in human beings" that the two men, now aged 45 and 46, filed a complaint, Thursday, November 17 in Paris, for "kidnapping". The complaint is based in part on documents found in Guatemala by Le Monde at the end of an investigation into the channels of international adoption, the various sections of which were published in December 2021. The two children, underlines the text of the complaint, entered France in 1981 "in violation of French immigration laws, a violation which could not be ignored by the organization Les Amis des enfants du monde and which was permitted by the serious negligence of the State authorities of the two States". Contacted by Le Monde,the AEM did not wish to speak.

“I am convinced that our complaint will move a lot of lines, says Javier. It is shown that the irregularities were also committed here, not only in Guatemala. My fight is for France not to normalize child abduction and allow full compensation for victims like my brother and me. »

Prescription pitfall

The association Rayon de soleil for foreign children, still approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in five countries, is of interest to French justice for its activities in Mali in the 1990s. Similar cases have been listed in Romania and the Central African Republic.

It is a first relief after years of despised combat. On September 6, the Paris court called for the opening of an investigation for concealment of fraud following a complaint filed in June 2020 by nine French people adopted in Mali against their adoption organization and their former correspondent in Bamako: Sunbeam of the foreign child (RDSEE) and Danielle Boudault.

All criticize this French organization, still approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in five countries (Bulgaria, Chile, China, South Korea and India), of having implemented "stratagems" to allow "the circumvention of the law with the aim of having them adopted in France, between 1989 and 1996, thus deceiving their parents, both biological and adoptive . To the first, this association would have promised a temporary stay in France for the children. To the latter, RDSEE would have assured that the little Malians had been abandoned by their families of origin.

For five years, Le Monde investigated this association, one of the most important French organizations responsible for the adoption of more than 7,000 children around the world. In Mali but also in the Central African Republic, Madagascar, Haiti, Peru and Romania, RDSEE is suspected of having had children adopted who should not have been, to satisfy international adoption requests. French couples.

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Retired minister Fred Cappuccino and his wife Bonnie raised 21 children from 11 countries. One of their adopted children is Shikha Deepa Margaret Cappuccino, a 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War baby

After Bangladesh won its independence in 1971, there arose an issue regarding 'unwanted' babies left behind by their birth mothers. Since their biological fathers were Pakistani military officers who left after raping their mothers, a 350-year-old former Portuguese monastery situated at Islampur Road in the old part of Dhaka took responsibility. 

This was done to encourage rape victims to come to the orphanage grounds in confidence, so that both the mother and the baby could be saved. Between October 1971 and September 1972, war babies born in Bangladesh were thought to have "badness" in their blood, so their mothers gave up a record number of these babies. 

Bhubaneswar: As many as 188 children of Odisha found adoptive homes in 2022-23 financial year, said Basanti Hembram, Minister of Women and Child Development Department on Wednesday. 

She was speaking at a programme organised to mark National Adoption Awareness Month in Bhubaneswar. “The state government has facilitated adoption of children through 33 specialised adoption agencies across 28 districts. In 2023-24 fiscal, 130 children have been adopted till October 31,” she said at the programme, organised by State Adoption Resource Agency under the aegis of the department.

The objective of the programme was to promote adoption of older children, especially in the age group of 6-18 years, and familiarise the adoption process as well as promotion of legal adoption.

The minister further said, “Our government’s proactive approach to childcare and protection reflects a deep commitment to the well-being of our youngest citizens. Our state stands out for its effective implementation of the JJ Act, 2015. In the realm of adoption programmes, our achievements at the national level are commendable.”

Shubha Sharma, secretary, Women and Child Development Department said the government’s commitment extends beyond the adoption process to the holistic well-being of adopted children. "Support systems are actively being developed to address their unique needs including educational, psychological and emotional aspects.”

Restoration decision Woo on intercountry adoption Sri Lanka

Hoping to give another abandoned child a home, Sarah Salmon visits an orphanage in Cambodia.

Idon’t want a biological child. Most people think that’s odd. In fact, they don’t believe me. But after three rounds of supposedly “non-invasive” fertility treatment, I am 100 per cent sure.

“You don’t want to try IVF?” my husband, Ben, asks regularly.

“Positive,” I say.

I look into my 18-month-old daughter’s black possum eyes every day – beautiful eyes gifted to her by her birth mother – and I am saturated with love. I squish Sophea’s Cambodian button nose against my pointy Caucasian one and I inhale her sweet scent. It’s an unbeatable high.

My story is a family coming together through international adoption.

The story of my family is familiar to some of you. The context might be remembered by others, even if you don't know our story specifically.

It began 8,435 kilometers away, yet not really. The origin was right here, in the desire of my husband and I to have a family. Unknown by us, and yet running parallel to our discussion, were factors leading up to a political uprising in the country of Romania. The two would soon intersect.

What did I know of Romania? Not much. An eastern bloc country. Stellar performances from athletes at the Olympics. But then a dramatic revolution took center stage—and grabbed our attention.

For seven days before Christmas in 1989 protestors took to the streets to express outrage over the policies of dictator Nicolai Caecescu. Massive demonstrations took place in Bucharest, including in front of his palace, where white crosses would soon mark the places 1,104 people died in the uprising. As the international media shone a spotlight on the country the picture that emerged was desperate. Among the many stories was seeing that the country's orphanages were overrun with children whose families had no option but to place them in the care of the state.

World Adoption Day highlights the importance for people to try and understand the process of adoption in South Africa.

The adoption process in South Africa is at times viewed as difficult and Kravits explains that the process ensures that the children are handed to suitable parents. Children as well need to be prepared for adoption and the children also would be assessed to ensure that they are adaptable, she notes.

The reason why the process may seem difficult is to make sure that the applicant knows what they want and why they want to adopt.

Sue Kravitz, Director - Child Protection and Adoption Services

Kravitz further explained that as part of the adoption process, Adoption South Africa also encourages adoptive parents to open up to their adoptive children about adoption as that will build trust and strengthen their bond.

As of 15 January 2023, Justus Kox will be appointed Director of Sanctions and Victims Policy, part of the Directorate-General for Punishment and Protection of the Ministry of Justice and Security.

Justin KoxShow options

Preventing crime, protecting victims and vulnerable persons, punishing perpetrators and offering perspective, that is what the Directorate-General for Punishment and Protection (DGSenB) stands for. The Sanctions and Victims Policy Directorate (DSenS) of the DGSenB focuses on the timely and careful implementation of custodial, freedom-restricting and monetary sanctions. Within all components, the protection and support of victims of crime is central.

The major tasks facing the Director of SenS together with the employees within the Board in the coming period include reducing recidivism by improving the effectiveness of the sanctions system and looking for ways to improve the TBS system and to improve the approach of people with disturbed behaviour. The development of multi-year policy to safeguard the interests and rights of victims and offenders is also an important priority. This requires a strong connection with the entire playing field of DSenS and the search for a balance between responsible implementation of policy assignments versus social and political pressure.

Eric Bezem, Director General of Punishment and Protection: 'We are very pleased that Justus is using his energy and connecting skills to improve the sanctions system and safeguard victims' rights. A policy area with a broad implementation practice with which there is intensive collaboration to ensure that the Netherlands becomes safer. That is in good hands with Justus.'