Editorial: Natalie Finn and her siblings were the victims of abusive parents, of an inadequate child welfare system, and of policymakers who refuse to provide the staffing needed to protect children.

The Register's editorial

The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has commenced probe on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the National Judicial Institute, the Delta State Judiciary and others over an alleged child trafficking and illegal adoption of children in Delta State.

The investigation on a petition dated 26/11/19 borders on abuse of powers in the illegal adoption of children/child trafficking by public officers of the Delta State Judiciary, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Judicial Council, NJC.

The petition was written by the Committee for the Defense of Human Right, CDHR, Delta State branch on behalf of a child right activist, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.

This was contained in a letter signed by one Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi on behalf of the Chairman of CCB.

The letter dated 20/12/19 with file number CCB/HQ/ II&M/007/1980 was addressed to the Delta State Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights,CDHR, Comrade Prince Kehinde-Taiga, now National Vice President of CDHR.

TRICHY: Lack of understanding of adoption (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/adoption) procedures has been

prompting prospective adoptive parents (PAP) to go for illegal means to adopt a child, according to the Tamil Nadu

(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tamil-nadu) state commission for protection of child rights (TNSCPCR). The recent

exposure of two babies being illegally given for adoption by their parents in Thiruverumbur and Kuvalakudi was a matter of

serious concern, said commission member S P Mohan.

Madurai: A casual enquiry by a villager to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Madurai resulted in the rescue of two babies

who were illegally adopted by childless couples at Kuppalnatham village, about 50km from Madurai city. The couple had

adopted the babies from Hyderabad.

The babies aged 21 months and 3 months were rescued amidst high drama, with the illegal parents pleading with police not to

take away the children.

Flemish Government definitively approves establishment of descent center and DNA database

The Flemish government has today given the definitive green light for the establishment of a parentage center and a DNA database. They must assist people who are looking for their biological parents or children with the necessary information and support. Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke (CD&V) hopes to be able to help the first people in the middle of this year.

The plans have been in the air for years, but now the bullet is finally through the church. Those looking for information about their biological parents or children will be able to do so at two new institutions. Firstly, there will be a Flemish parentage center, where anyone with questions about his or her origin - just think of adopted children - can go. This goes hand in hand with the necessary psychosocial support for those who want it.

In addition, there will be a DNA database, where DNA profiles will be stored that can be matched afterwards. Important: the matching only happens for people who want to and who have voluntarily donated their DNA. In addition, it remains limited to the first degree: this avoids situations in which a donor who wants to remain anonymous is still "exposed" through other relatives.

People left with unresolved questions about who their parents or children are can suffer for a lifetime

A woman charged with first-degree murder in connection with a deadly stabbing in Maryland has been identified as the adopted daughter of former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte.

Sophia Negroponte, 27, was arrested Thursday night in the death of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen. WTTG reported that Rasmussen was pronounced dead at the scene in the suburb of Rockville shortly after 11 p.m.

Sophia Negroponte

Sophia Negroponte (Montgomery County Police Department)

Police sources told the station that Negroponte and Rasmussen were acquaintances who had been involved in a disagreement. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 240-773-5070.

Missionaries of Charity baby selling case: Child Rights body moves to Supreme Court, seeks SIT probe into all such charity-run shelter homes

The plea said that the NCPCR had visited a centre of Missionaries of Charity at Ranchi and found gross irregularities in their functioning, which was later conveyed to Chief Secretary and DGP of Jharkhand.

OPINDIA STAFF

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

NCPCR moves to Supreme Court, seeks SIT probe into baby selling allegations on shelter homes run by Missionaries of Charity

'' Missionaries of Charity baby selling case: Child Rights body moves to Supreme Court, seeks SIT probe into all such charity-run shelter homes ''

The plea said that the NCPCR had visited a centre of Missionaries of Charity at Ranchi and found gross irregularities in their functioning, which was later conveyed to Chief Secretary and DGP of Jharkhand.

The National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has moved to the supreme court seeking an SIT probe in the case of children sold by shelter homes of Missionaries of charity which was founded by Mother Teresa in Jharkhand.

Seeking a court-monitored and time-bound investigation of all such organizations in Jharkhand in order to ensure protection for children, the NCPCR moved to the supreme court under Article 32. The statutory child rights body sought enforcement of the fundamental right of the prohibition of trafficking in humans under Article 23 of the constitution.

As per the PTI report, The plea filed by the lawyer Swarupama Chaturvedi mentioned cases of child trafficking and child rights violation in Jharkhand and alleged that authorities neglected to protect these children.

The Supreme Court on February 10, 2020 issued notice to the Government of Jharkhand on a plea filed by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) alleging selling of children in the charity homes run by the Missionaries of Charity. The Commission, being a statutory body, approached the top court in their capacity as parens patriae of the aggrieved children.

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, 1949 states that it “seeks to draw attention” of the Court towards “the callous approach of the State of Jharkhand in protecting children from child rights violation.”

NCPCR, in its plea seeks a court-monitored probe through the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the workings of such organisations in a time-bound manner. Through the plea filed by advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi, the Commission also prays for directions to set up an SIT not only in Jharkhand, but in every state.

It has been alleged that despite "shocking revelations" which were made by victims during inquiry that children were being sold in homes were "emphatically brought" to the notice of the state government, "continuous attempts were made to sabotage and derail the inquiry". The petitioner further informs that it took suo motu cognizance of media reports, specifically one in Indian Express dated 06.07.2018 according to which a Sister from Missionaries of Charity was arrested for alleged illegal child trade. In light of other media reports about irregularities in the charity homes run by the organisation set up by Mother Teresa, the Commission informs that it wrote to the state authorities, recommended they initiate inquiry, but their responses regarding inquiry and findings thereof were unsatisfactory. NCPCR also claims that they wrote to various other states seeking information regarding the work of Missionaries of Charity, but responses remained unsatisfactory.

By Jennifer Borjes

Senate bill S2492A will grant adopted individuals over age 18 the right to access their previously sealed birth certificates. The bill was approved in June of 2019, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Nov. of that same year, and has come into effect as of Jan. 15.

Laura Robak, a sophomore attending the College of New Rochelle, was adopted by her mother as a young child. Robak, who was born in Romania, has interacted with her biological family in the past, “I think it’s great. I mean everyone should have the right to know who their parents are. I’m all for it.”

Access to one’s birth certificate will provide adoptees with information on their family’s origins, histories, and medical backgrounds. Prior to the passing of this new law, an adoptee would need to petition in court to have their certificate released and, even then, if their biological parents both refused to sign, would not be granted access. This restriction has been in place since 1936.

When asked what led to his decision, Gov. Cuomo said, “Every person has the right to know where they come from, and this new law grants all New Yorkers the same unrestricted rights to their original birth records.”