Overseas adoptees report dereliction of duty and breach of trust,
"Knew about duplicate payment of labor costs but failed to take action"

The police have begun an investigation into the case of the Child Rights Protection Agency, an organization under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, improperly paying labor costs to a specific company. The company in question is the one suspected of “blank paper scanning,” in which they scanned blank sheets of paper instead of adoption documents and received project costs while working on a Child Rights Protection Agency contract project (computerizing adoption records) for nine

consecutive years. According to the police on the 10th, the Jongno Police Station in Seoul received a case on the 2nd in which the Solidarity for Children’s Rights filed a complaint against the Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, Jeong Ik-joong, and two executive-level employees on charges of dereliction of duty and breach of trust on behalf of adoptees from 11 countries on the 20th of last month. The allegation is that the Child Rights Protection Agency mismanaged the project by making duplicate payments to a specific company for labor costs in the process of computerizing adoption records, etc., and did not take any action to recover the duplicate payments despite being aware of the duplicate payments.

Jongro has been investigating the corruption in the 'Adoption Records Computerization Project (worth 2.03965 billion won)' that the company was in charge of for 9 years, including the suspicion of blank paper scanning, and has started a full-scale investigation into the 'improper payment of labor costs' suspicion by grouping the cases together. A Jongro official said, "We received the case because it has similarities in the overall context with the contents we are currently investigating," and "We are organizing the details of the accusation as we have begun the investigation."

According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Nam-hee, the company received a contract for the 'Adoption and Missing Person (Child Card) Record Computerization Project' from the Child Rights Protection Institute for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021, and submitted a list of people who did not participate in the project and received about 50 million won in labor costs. The list contained the names of employees who participated in another project, the 'Adoption Records Computerization Project', which was carried out during the same period.

However, it was also confirmed that the Child Rights Protection Agency, which was supposed to supervise and manage the progress of the project, was aware of this fact but did not take any action to recover it.

Cho Min-ho, head of the Child Rights Solidarity who filed the complaint, explained, "For many adoptees who are living in pain because they cannot find their biological families, the adoption records and child cards that the Child Rights Protection Center computerized are very precious." He added, "Not only the company that paid the duplicate labor costs, but also the Child Rights Protection Center that ran this project poorly is responsible, and I decided to file the complaint because I judged that an investigation was necessary."

 

The internal document of the Child Rights Protection Agency, “2020, 2021 Adoption/Missing (Children’s Card) Records Computerization Project Investigation Results,” states that five employees of service providers received duplicate payroll expenses in two projects. Provided by the office of Rep. Kim Nam-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea

Meanwhile, the Child Rights Protection Center belatedly filed a civil suit against the company in question after the state audit and the Ministry of Health and Welfare audit last year, claiming that the company had conducted the project poorly and seeking to recover 58 million won for the blank scans.

However, the company in question recently stated in a phone call with the Hankook Ilbo, "We submitted the company's data management guidelines, which included a statement that even the backs of documents (where there is no content) were scanned, as evidence to the court," and "The Child Rights Protection Center knew for years that the company worked based on the guidelines but did not raise any issues." They also added, "The Child Rights Protection Center employees in charge of the project signed 'no issues' on the inspection results submitted by the company after the project was completed, so we believe that it cannot be the subject of a civil suit in the first place."

 

CONCORD, N.H. —

A woman who claims her adoptive parents kept her in a basement dungeon in New Boston shared her story in court Tuesday. In her lawsuit, Olivia Griffin asked for nearly $30 million to help rebuild her life. After hearing Griffin's testimony, the judge approved the damages.

When News 9 first broke the story of the case in 2018, her name was Olivia Atkocaitis, but the first thing she clarified for the judge Tuesday was that she now uses the last name "Griffin." She spoke about the pain her old name carries.

"Being told for 15 years that your life is not worth living, and any time you do something wrong, you were told 110 ways you should kill yourself. I don't think I'm ever going to recover from that," she said. "I was conditioned to not think that I was worth anything."

Griffin was adopted from China at 14 months old. She said that for 15 years, she was kept in a room in the basement by Denise and Thomas Atkocaitis. Neither were in the courtroom Tuesday, but they have both pleaded guilty to criminal charges connected to the case.

As she does every year, Princess Esméralda of Belgium attended the CARE Belgium gala. This charity gala was held on June 12th in the majestic setting of the Egmont Palace in Brussels to mark the 10th anniversary of this charity event. Prince Laurent joined his aunt to show his support for this worthy cause.

Princess Esmeralda with CARE Belgium patrons at Egmont Palace

Over the years, the CARE Gala has become a must-attend charity event, bringing together patrons and supporters who support the fight against extreme poverty around the world. Princess Esmeralda has supported CARE Belgium since its inception and attends the fundraising gala every year. For this 10th edition of the gala, the organization invited its patrons to the Egmont Palace in Brussels on June 12.

Princess Esméralda of Belgium surrounded by the CARE Belgium team: Daniel Thierry, Baroness Odile de Saint-Marcq and Grégoire Tolstoï (Photo: CARE Belgium)CARE supporters and patrons arrive at Egmont Palace to support the charity's fundraising efforts (Photo: Royal Stories)

Founded in 1945 at the end of World War II, the CARE International network's objective at the time was to provide support to a war-torn Europe by sending humanitarian aid packages. The Belgian branch was created in 2014 by a group of people active within the network internationally. CARE Belgium is represented by its president, Daniel Thierry, and its secretary general, Odile de Saint-Marcq.

Le prince Laurent rejoint la princesse Esméralda au palais d’Egmont pour le 10e anniversaire de CARE Belgium

par Nicolas Fontaine

Comme chaque année, la princesse Esméralda de Belgique a assisté au gala CARE Belgium. Ce gala caritatif était organisé le 12 juin, dans le cadre majestueux du palais d’Egmont à Bruxelles, pour marquer le 10e anniversaire de cette soirée de bienfaisance. Le prince Laurent a rejoint sa tante pour montrer son soutien dans cette noble cause.

Lire aussi : La princesse Esméralda présente un livre de transmission et de mémoire à Bruxelles

A man who was taken from his mother as a newborn in a clandestine detention center during the Argentine dictatorship has been reunited with his family aer nearly fiy years. The 49-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, was identified through a DNA test.

He is the 140th "stolen grandchild" recovered by the human rights organization Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. He is the son of Graciela Alicia Romero and Raúl Eugenio Metz, leftwing activists who were arrested by soldiers on December 16, 1976. Romero, then five months pregnant, gave birth in captivity. She was murdered shortly afterward.

The news of the man's discovery was announced amid great interest at the former ESMA building in the north of the capital, Buenos Aires. This former naval training institute served as a clandestine concentration camp and torture center during the bloody dictatorship. Today, it is a national monument, a museum, and home to several human rights organizations.

During the military dictatorship (1976 - 1983), some30,000 people disappeared, most of whom were murdered. Pregnant woman were often kept alive until birth and then executed. At least 500 babies were taken and given to, among others, high-ranking army generals, and grew up without knowing their original identity. The search for their identities continues today.

Adriana Metz (left) and Estela de Carlotto, president of the human rights organization Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, embrace after announcing the recovery of Metz's brother. © REUTERS

'Grandmothers' find 140th stolen grandchild of Argentine dictatorship after nearly 50 years thanks to DNA research

He learned that he needed others to get ahead in life, so now he wants to be of significance to others. Séun Steenken, born in Nigeria, is committed to the youth in his city, Almere.

'The role of the barbershop is seriously underestimated in the Netherlands, in the United States they see it much more. It is a place where young people come to chill, there is such a relaxed atmosphere that everyone talks to each other. We are friends, there is respect. You can have deep conversations with boys who would never go to a community center. 'It is a kind of men's therapy', our barber always says.'

During a haircut in the MotionFades barbershop in Almere, 23-year-old Séun Steenken gets the idea that more is possible with the informal community that the hairdresser's clients form. He is impressed by the stories of the barber, thirty-something Malcolm Power, who organizes all kinds of things for the young people: barbecues, football matches, discussions. 'He paid for it all out of his own pocket. With a few hundred euros he reached more young people than when the municipality organizes something in the community center for 10K (10 thousand euros, ed. ).'

With Power and a third partner, he started the foundation The Next Way six months ago. The goal: to offer young people 'concrete tools' for daily life, such as tips and tricks for job interviews, by helping them develop their talents.

For Steenken, The Next Way is part of his broader social engagement. In addition to his studies in public administration and organizational science, he works an estimated forty hours a week in various areas: as an employee at the interest group Cliëntenbelang Amsterdam ('for vulnerable Amsterdammers'), as a spoken word artist and now also as a director of the hairdressing foundation. 'With that, I mainly want to create something beautiful for Almere, but it will not be my future. I see that in three areas: policy, culture and practical work. I want to have a social impact in all three. Maybe I will become the first mayor who is also a spoken word artist, haha.'

Navi Mumbai: Four days after a two-day-old girl was found abandoned in a basket outside a girls’ orphanage in Panvel, another case of infant abandonment has emerged—this time on a Harbour Line local train. A 15-day-old baby boy was reportedly abandoned by a woman on Tuesday, and the case has been registered at the Vashi Government Railway Police (GRP) station.
Kiran Undre, senior inspector at Vashi GRP, said that a woman, aged between 30 and 35 years, boarded the ladies’ coach of the CSMT–Panvel train at Sanpada station, carrying an infant boy. As she sat near the footboard with the baby, two women commuters asked her to move away for safety. The woman then struck up a conversation with the two passengers—identified as Divya Naidu and Bhoomika Mane, both 19 years old—and requested their help.
 

She told them she had a lot of luggage and asked if they could hold the baby while she got off at Seawoods station, Inspector Undre said.
Although Naidu and Mane were originally meant to get off at Juinagar, they agreed to help and stayed on till Seawoods. Around 12:30 pm, when the train stopped at Seawoods, the two women alighted with the baby, expecting the woman to follow. But she stayed inside the compartment and let the train leave, leaving the baby behind with the two women.

Naidu and Mane waited for the woman to return but when she didn’t, they took the infant to Mane’s home in Juinagar. After consulting Mane’s parents, they approached the local police station and then Vashi GRP. An offence has been registered against the woman for abandoning the child.
Inspector Undre added, “CCTV footage shows the woman getting off at Khandeshwar station. We have formed four teams to trace her. Her image and that of the baby have been circulated among autorickshaw drivers at Khandeshwar and in nearby residential and slum areas.”

The infant, who appeared weak, has been admitted to the ICU at NMMC Hospital, Vashi. A DNA test will be conducted to confirm whether the woman is the child’s biological mother.

Meanwhile, the two-day-old girl abandoned in Takka Colony, Panvel, on June 28 is currently under the care of Vatsalya Charitable Trust in Alibaug. The Panvel City Police had traced a couple claiming to be the child’s parents within 24 hours of the rescue. The Maharashtra child welfare committee has summoned them for an inquiry. Since the couple has expressed willingness to take the baby back, their DNA samples—along with the infant’s—have been sent for verification, said Nitin Thakare, senior inspector of Panvel.

Clarifying the term "certified copy," CARA said it refers to a digitally authenticated version bearing official attestation, and not a physical original or hard copy.

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has clarified that adoptive parents do not need hard copies of adoption orders as digitally certified versions sent via e-mail are legally valid and sufficient under the current rules.

In a letter issued to all States, Union Territories, specialised adoption agencies, and District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), CARA addressed the confusion surrounding Regulation 13(8) of the Adoption Regulations, 2022, which outlines the procedure for delivering adoption orders.

The clarification comes amid reports that some adoption agencies and protection units were uncertain about the validity of e-mailed orders.

The regulation mandates that a certified copy of the adoption order — authenticated by the office of the District Magistrate — must be obtained by the SAA through the DCPU. This copy must then be sent to the adoptive parents via e-mail within 10 days and uploaded to the designated portal.

Collaboration with INEA 

The search possibilities for adoptees in Indonesia are strengthened by a collaboration between Ibu Indonesia and INEA. With this collaboration, Ibu Indonesia receives support to carry out more searches and to further professionalize its working methods.

James, manager of INEA came to Groningen especially for the start of the project to sign the cooperation agreement with Berber. Our board members Nani and Sonja and our coordinator Dadang Supardi from Yogyakarta were present online.

“Thanks to the collaboration, we can expand our work and make it futureproof. This way, no knowledge is lost and we can help even more adoptees and families.” – Berber, chairman of Ibu Indonesia

“We are pleased to support the work of Ibu Indonesia. Their knowledge of the local eld is essential for good search capabilities.” – James, Manager at INEA