E-mail to Dekker Fwd: Searches FIOM / ISS

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From: ACT

Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2019 at 4:59 PM

Subject: Searches FIOM / ISS

To:

Dear Minister Dekker,

Hereby I send you some further information, complementing my Note about FIOM/ISS of 15 November 2019.

This week I became aware of the fact that FIOM/ISS started roots searches in India.

Until the end of last year, their website indicated that FIOM/ISS was not able to do searches in India and adoptees were advised to contact their 'orphanage'.

Please find attached the information ACT received from a Dutch adoptee. She agreed I could share this with you.

I have verified, as far as possible, the information given.

It seems that FIOM/ISS does not have a formal ISS correspondent, but uses someone in Chennai who is, or has been, part of an adoptive parents organisation. This person is well known to me for years. He now told me that he does not really do searches, but rather provides services comparable to a tour operator/guide, meaning organising transport, shopping and looking after the general well-being of the visitor. Kindly find attached his email to me.

On Twitter FIOM/ISS confirmed that they started searches in India in November this year and that the only case they have serves as test-case. The adoptee, however, was not informed about that.

The fee of 425 euro, of which 275 for FIOM/ISS, is, therefore, quite an unsure investment for this adoptee. She will not use FIOM/ISS' services in these circumstances.

For your information, I attach my request to the Department of Social Services in Australia to start an inquiry into ISS Australia.

Yours sincerely,

Arun Dohle

www.againstchildtrafficking.org

For Indian adoptees: Roots searches

www.adopteerightscouncil.org