Thursday, April 30, 2009
Liberia's Adoption Bill.....soon to be a law~
To everyone who has, or is considering adopting from Liberia~ This is a bill that has already passed the house here, and is before the Senate now. We are asking you to please read, and respond with comments, changes, problems, or any input you may have that can affect the way you believe adoptions should be handled in this country. This is what is going to be made into law! You will need to read from the bottom of this post up. If you click on each photo, it will be enlarged for easier reading. Please keep us in prayer~ tomorrow is our next court appearance @ 10:00 am.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Coming soon to a soup pot near you.....
Guess what we found laying around on our kitchen counter tonight????
* UPDATED to add the following info.....this rooster has joined the growing flock, and did NOT get eaten!!!!
Our New Spirit of Truth offices
The director of WACSN.... Maria Luyken and Pastor Jonathon, A Spirit of Truth Network pastor in the new offices.
A huge thank you to all of you who have helped to make this vision a reality for these pastors.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
OH, Liberia~ April 28 2009
Court update: Postponed until Fri. 10:00 am!
Dr. Susan was interviewed on the radio this morning, here were the questions posed to her, and her responses.
Interview Questions for Dr. Susan
1. Dr. Susan Olson welcome to Liberia
2. We learned that you are here volunteering your services to WACSN for the second time free of charge-Why did you choose WACSN as the organization to volunteer with??
WACSN has a solid foundation for caring for children. I wanted to be apart of expanding on medical services that they previously had in place by caring out exams, growth charts, and putting together formal records, treat infections, as well as treat them all for worms/parasites.
3. We also learned that during your last visit,you fell in love with twin boys whom you have since adopted. How did this come about?
Yes I did, and today is their birthday. I have thought about adoption for along time. After being here, meeting the children and seeing the boys I knew thatI was brought here for more than one purpose. That was to help the children and staff of WACSN and to make these two little boys part of our family.
4. Deputy Minister Joseph Geebro and Lydia Sherman of the MOH says that children adopted from Liberia by American parents are:
a. being trafficked- this is not true, the children were adopted by American families that went through extensive local,state, & federal investigation.
b. Their body parts used for medical purposes:and /or- That is a very morbid, cruel accusation to making in the year 2009 and is a blatant miss judgement of Americans.
c. put into slavery- That act was abolished in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln and is still upheld and supported in the 13th ammendment of the Constitution of the USA.
5. Dr. Susan, could you please explain: Who approves American Parents for international adoption?
A State licensed agency within the State you live, The US Dept. of Homeland Security, Dept.ofImmigration, and the Embassy of the US in Liberia.
What is the procedure or process that you go through as parents to be elgible for adoption?
There are many steps it takes and the process can take as long as 6 months to gain approval from the US Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Immigration. There are many documents that have to be completed. You have to have personal, professional references, you have to show financial stability with 2-3 years of tax returns, you have to have a budget made out of monthly expenses, physical exam, if you have pets you have to show current vaccination records. A home study is completed by a State licensed agency to asses your home for a number of safty issues and enough indoor and outdoor space for the number of children you want to adopt.
6. Dr. Susan, you were the last medical doctor to fully examine the 35 WACSN children that the court says were illegally removed from that organization's care:
What were your professional findings on the welfare, health and upkeep of the children when you last saw them?
They were happy, healthy, active. I think we identified 1 or 2 children with ear infection that we treated. We did growth charts which showed-
7. Deputy Minister Joseph Geebro and Lydia Sherman of the MOH are claiming that children in the care of WACSN were badly cared for and many malnourished- First, is that true?-
Absolutely Not!!!That couldn't be farther from the truth.
Could you please address those claims?
The children were in exceptionally good condition. They had hot meals, clean clothes, spiritual instruction, singing, dancing, soccer, kick ball,
8. With the allegations being made by MOH against WACSN on child trafficking and smuggling- What is your opinion?
The children in WACSN care were relinquished by a parent or family member in the hopes that they would be adopted and have an opportunity for a good life.
9. What are you and other American parents who adopted Liberian children doing about the ban on adoption and the WACSN children that the court says were illegally removed from the WACSN adoption home on the Old Road on March 26th 2009?
We are working hard with our respective National Leaders(Senator and Representatives) from our States, we have sent information to Liberian Ambassador Barnes in Washington D.C. as well as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. There has been a family on the local News.
10. In court the Deputy Minister of Justice Mrs. Eva Morgan told the court that the 35 WACSN children were taken to Don Bosco Home for better care.
I was terribly upset, and angry as these children had very good care where they were at, and angry that the Ministry of Child Welfare would purposefully traumatize these children by removing them the way they did.It was thoughtless and very poor judgement.
11. What message or messages do you wish to leave with the Liberian public regarding the adoption of Liberian Children to the United States?
a. I want the Liberian people to know that we understand the hard times you are having and highly respect those individuals that want their children to have better opportunities. Americans that adopt from Liberia have very big caring hearts. They are driven as disciples of the Lord to extend their homes to help children grow and prosper. We also want to continue to work with WACSN to care for relinquished children. You need to stop and think....What are the guidelines in Liberia for a orphanage/children's home?? I would think at the top of the list would be food, clothes, shelter, and opportunities... The children that were relinquished had little to no food, the clothes on their back and marginal shelter, and no opportunities.
WACSN met all these needs and more
Dr. Susan was interviewed on the radio this morning, here were the questions posed to her, and her responses.
Interview Questions for Dr. Susan
1. Dr. Susan Olson welcome to Liberia
2. We learned that you are here volunteering your services to WACSN for the second time free of charge-Why did you choose WACSN as the organization to volunteer with??
WACSN has a solid foundation for caring for children. I wanted to be apart of expanding on medical services that they previously had in place by caring out exams, growth charts, and putting together formal records, treat infections, as well as treat them all for worms/parasites.
3. We also learned that during your last visit,you fell in love with twin boys whom you have since adopted. How did this come about?
Yes I did, and today is their birthday. I have thought about adoption for along time. After being here, meeting the children and seeing the boys I knew thatI was brought here for more than one purpose. That was to help the children and staff of WACSN and to make these two little boys part of our family.
4. Deputy Minister Joseph Geebro and Lydia Sherman of the MOH says that children adopted from Liberia by American parents are:
a. being trafficked- this is not true, the children were adopted by American families that went through extensive local,state, & federal investigation.
b. Their body parts used for medical purposes:and /or- That is a very morbid, cruel accusation to making in the year 2009 and is a blatant miss judgement of Americans.
c. put into slavery- That act was abolished in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln and is still upheld and supported in the 13th ammendment of the Constitution of the USA.
5. Dr. Susan, could you please explain: Who approves American Parents for international adoption?
A State licensed agency within the State you live, The US Dept. of Homeland Security, Dept.ofImmigration, and the Embassy of the US in Liberia.
What is the procedure or process that you go through as parents to be elgible for adoption?
There are many steps it takes and the process can take as long as 6 months to gain approval from the US Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Immigration. There are many documents that have to be completed. You have to have personal, professional references, you have to show financial stability with 2-3 years of tax returns, you have to have a budget made out of monthly expenses, physical exam, if you have pets you have to show current vaccination records. A home study is completed by a State licensed agency to asses your home for a number of safty issues and enough indoor and outdoor space for the number of children you want to adopt.
6. Dr. Susan, you were the last medical doctor to fully examine the 35 WACSN children that the court says were illegally removed from that organization's care:
What were your professional findings on the welfare, health and upkeep of the children when you last saw them?
They were happy, healthy, active. I think we identified 1 or 2 children with ear infection that we treated. We did growth charts which showed-
7. Deputy Minister Joseph Geebro and Lydia Sherman of the MOH are claiming that children in the care of WACSN were badly cared for and many malnourished- First, is that true?-
Absolutely Not!!!That couldn't be farther from the truth.
Could you please address those claims?
The children were in exceptionally good condition. They had hot meals, clean clothes, spiritual instruction, singing, dancing, soccer, kick ball,
8. With the allegations being made by MOH against WACSN on child trafficking and smuggling- What is your opinion?
The children in WACSN care were relinquished by a parent or family member in the hopes that they would be adopted and have an opportunity for a good life.
9. What are you and other American parents who adopted Liberian children doing about the ban on adoption and the WACSN children that the court says were illegally removed from the WACSN adoption home on the Old Road on March 26th 2009?
We are working hard with our respective National Leaders(Senator and Representatives) from our States, we have sent information to Liberian Ambassador Barnes in Washington D.C. as well as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. There has been a family on the local News.
10. In court the Deputy Minister of Justice Mrs. Eva Morgan told the court that the 35 WACSN children were taken to Don Bosco Home for better care.
I was terribly upset, and angry as these children had very good care where they were at, and angry that the Ministry of Child Welfare would purposefully traumatize these children by removing them the way they did.It was thoughtless and very poor judgement.
11. What message or messages do you wish to leave with the Liberian public regarding the adoption of Liberian Children to the United States?
a. I want the Liberian people to know that we understand the hard times you are having and highly respect those individuals that want their children to have better opportunities. Americans that adopt from Liberia have very big caring hearts. They are driven as disciples of the Lord to extend their homes to help children grow and prosper. We also want to continue to work with WACSN to care for relinquished children. You need to stop and think....What are the guidelines in Liberia for a orphanage/children's home?? I would think at the top of the list would be food, clothes, shelter, and opportunities... The children that were relinquished had little to no food, the clothes on their back and marginal shelter, and no opportunities.
WACSN met all these needs and more
Monday, April 27, 2009
April 27, 2009~ Court update, and a news article
In today's court proceeding Maria was asked to provide evidence as to why she is fit to have these children in her care. The court will reconvene tomorrow at 2:00 pm. to hear the evidence brought forth. Dr. Susan has arrived, and will also be addressing the court.
LIBERIA:
Don Bosco aids MOH in illegally Removing Children from WACSN Compound By: J. Eben Daygbor - ebendaygbor@yahoo.com
On Friday April 17, Judge James Zotaa of Criminal Court “A” angrily proclaimed in open court that the Ministry of Health (MOH) illegally removed 35 children from the Adoption Home of WACSN – the West African Children Support Network in Sinkor on March 26, 2009 without a court order and placed them in the Don Bosco Home for street children in Chocolate City, Gardnerville. This action by the MOH upon the WACSN children was reckless and a blatant violation of their human rights. The Ministry of Justice needs to be more concern with the basic human rights of the Liberian Child. The MOJ must see the necessity to shift the working paradigm from one of criminal sanction on the providers to that of human rights promotion of the children.The Ministries of Health and Justice, and the private adoption agency WACSN were brought into court by the Independent Human Rights activist Melvin Page under a writ of Habeas Corpus to answer questions as to the whereabouts of 3 children illegally snatched by the MOH from the care of WACSN. The 3 children were the Kerkula boys who were among the 35 children unlawfully removed by the MOH from the WACSN compound in Sinkor. Due to the forceful and unlawful manner in which the children were removed, the MOH had no mechanism in place to determine the names of children, their medical history, and levels of social, psychological and behavioral competence and performance. In short the MOH did not and still does not know the children which they illegally remove from WACSN’s care. WACSN is rightfully claiming that the 35 children in its care that the MOH illegally removed and took to the Don Bosco Home were relinquished by their parents for the sole purpose of adoption. The agency maintains that it is not an orphanage, and the children in its care did not come from any orphanage and do not know urban life, as they come from homes with parents, authority and Christian upbringing. Many of these children came from rural and semi rural settings and do not know the city lifestyles of street children which Don Bosco Home primarily cares for. The WACSN children are not street children. They came from a well managed WACSN home, entrusted by their parents, cared for by professional home mothers in a home setting that provided them love, caring, food, clothes, shelter, education, religion, and healthcare services. Consequently, placing a person who has learned to survive by victimizing others and becoming a criminal, no matter the tender age, with children that are innocent and protected has certain disadvantages. Don Bosco Home does not provide the necessary protection, security, treatment and care for the WACSN children. A policy reversal is needed for the sake of parents who do not understand the politics and power play of Monrovia and the pettiness of bureaucrats who are determine to advance their careers on the backs of innocent children. In reviewing the services of Don Bosco, this author finds that WACSN is correct. The Don Bosco Home does no more than what WACSN does. In fact, this author finds that the Don Bosco Home is a bad fit for the WACSN Children. The Director of WACSN’s Adoption Program, Mrs. Willette Urey said recently, that our children are our most valuable resource and most vulnerable citizens. Hence, the MOH cannot in good faith place our children in a ramshackle, dilapidated, shabby place just because it says it is being run by Don Bosco. Our children are sleeping on mats on the floor at Don Bosco. Mrs. Urey angrily says, this action by the MOH is not fair. It is not right. She wonders why Joseph Geebro, Lydia Sherman and Eva Morgan are playing politics with the lives of innocent children. According to the Don Bosco website, the organization only service children who live on the streets of Monrovia. These children are deprived of family care and protection, many between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old. Their population includes children who might not necessarily be homeless or without families, but who live in situations where there is no protection, supervision, or direction from responsible adults. Many of the street children in Don Bosco’s care while living on the streets were engaged in contracts to fetch water or wash dishes and carry loads short distance for people for money, whereas others simply stole to earn a living or to eat one square meal a day. When these children are not in the care of Don Bosco, they sleep in unfinished buildings, market stalls, abandon cars, soccer pitches and just any available place they can find regardless their safety, they are largely self-supervised. The Don Bosco children’s home website further states that the negative impact of street life on children in Liberia is enormous. Accordingly, many street children in Don Bosco’s care lack basic rights such as education, family love, health care, good food & safety. Other disadvantages include exposure to drugs, the risk of being knocked down by uninsured cars, harsh punishment for little offences. Also these conditions and behavior brings early arrival of adulthood, association with the wrong people & criminals and a loss of family ties. Another big problem with children at the Don Bosco Children Home is that they have been exploited by adults who hire them to work but often do not paid them for the work they do. The Don Bosco website further states that, these children allegedly face more attacks and abuses from law enforcers than they face from civilians. As such, protection/ advocacy groups determinately engage law enforcers in a dialogue to try and establish a working relationship with them to care for these vulnerable children. In past years, it has been WACSN who provided food and medical supply to street children, ex-combatants and war-affected youths. Madame Diana Davis, former president of the union of orphanages in Liberia said, it has always been WACSN who have come to the aid of orphanages and street children by supplying critically needed food, clothing and medical supply for children. Over the past 11 years, it has been WACSN who we all turn to for assistance. There are about 95 registered orphanages with many informal group homes caring for Liberia’s over 60,000 homeless, abandoned and orphaned children. Orphanages are usually underfunded receiving erratic government funding of about US$4.00 per orphan per month; thereby, relying primarily on private donations. Orphanages throughout Liberia have difficulty providing basic sanitation, adequate medical care, education and appropriate diet for children. The government does not support adoption homes or other children centers. According to the March 2009 UN Report entitled, “Human Rights in Liberia’s Orphanages”, children living in Liberia’s orphanages are denied basic rights, ranging from the right to identity, family, leisure, education, adequate sanitation and hygiene, health and participation in cultural activities. The report concludes that the lack of these basic rights have an incremental and lasting effect on the development of the Liberian Child.In another related report compiled by IRIN, malnutrition will kill 74,000 Liberian Children by 2015 if nothing is done about the current situation of severe hunger and health amongst children. The IRIN report also states that currently in Liberia 37 % of all children under 5 suffers from chronic malnutrition. With these critical and vexing issues clawing at our national doorstep with our president’s tirelessly, persistently and frustratingly making every effort to effectively deal with the UN millennium development Challenges, why then are individuals like Deputy Minister Joseph Gebroo and his associate Lydia Sherman doing all they can to sabotage and hold hostage the president’s cardinal effort to protect and dignify the Liberian child? Where is this new dispensation headed with the democratic election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as president? One would have thought that this new dispensation was to change the face of Liberian life as many ordinary Liberians have come to know it for generations. Many Liberians truly believe that the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf would evolve a democratically driven society where the personification of integrity, honesty and a deep sense of purpose would be achieved. Instead, certain close-minded individuals in this government have been allowed to roam around Monrovia with nothing much to do but harass and torment the lives of productive citizens trying to make a difference in the lives of children. Our country will never change with this backward mindset. Will someone inform these individuals that Inter-Country adoption is not an avenue to build individual bank account? Inter-country adoption is a good thing for Liberia. It exposes our children to resources and opportunities not currently available in our country after 20 years of social devastation and economic dislocation. It allows children to grow up as kids during their formative years.
LIBERIA:
Don Bosco aids MOH in illegally Removing Children from WACSN Compound By: J. Eben Daygbor - ebendaygbor@yahoo.com
On Friday April 17, Judge James Zotaa of Criminal Court “A” angrily proclaimed in open court that the Ministry of Health (MOH) illegally removed 35 children from the Adoption Home of WACSN – the West African Children Support Network in Sinkor on March 26, 2009 without a court order and placed them in the Don Bosco Home for street children in Chocolate City, Gardnerville. This action by the MOH upon the WACSN children was reckless and a blatant violation of their human rights. The Ministry of Justice needs to be more concern with the basic human rights of the Liberian Child. The MOJ must see the necessity to shift the working paradigm from one of criminal sanction on the providers to that of human rights promotion of the children.The Ministries of Health and Justice, and the private adoption agency WACSN were brought into court by the Independent Human Rights activist Melvin Page under a writ of Habeas Corpus to answer questions as to the whereabouts of 3 children illegally snatched by the MOH from the care of WACSN. The 3 children were the Kerkula boys who were among the 35 children unlawfully removed by the MOH from the WACSN compound in Sinkor. Due to the forceful and unlawful manner in which the children were removed, the MOH had no mechanism in place to determine the names of children, their medical history, and levels of social, psychological and behavioral competence and performance. In short the MOH did not and still does not know the children which they illegally remove from WACSN’s care. WACSN is rightfully claiming that the 35 children in its care that the MOH illegally removed and took to the Don Bosco Home were relinquished by their parents for the sole purpose of adoption. The agency maintains that it is not an orphanage, and the children in its care did not come from any orphanage and do not know urban life, as they come from homes with parents, authority and Christian upbringing. Many of these children came from rural and semi rural settings and do not know the city lifestyles of street children which Don Bosco Home primarily cares for. The WACSN children are not street children. They came from a well managed WACSN home, entrusted by their parents, cared for by professional home mothers in a home setting that provided them love, caring, food, clothes, shelter, education, religion, and healthcare services. Consequently, placing a person who has learned to survive by victimizing others and becoming a criminal, no matter the tender age, with children that are innocent and protected has certain disadvantages. Don Bosco Home does not provide the necessary protection, security, treatment and care for the WACSN children. A policy reversal is needed for the sake of parents who do not understand the politics and power play of Monrovia and the pettiness of bureaucrats who are determine to advance their careers on the backs of innocent children. In reviewing the services of Don Bosco, this author finds that WACSN is correct. The Don Bosco Home does no more than what WACSN does. In fact, this author finds that the Don Bosco Home is a bad fit for the WACSN Children. The Director of WACSN’s Adoption Program, Mrs. Willette Urey said recently, that our children are our most valuable resource and most vulnerable citizens. Hence, the MOH cannot in good faith place our children in a ramshackle, dilapidated, shabby place just because it says it is being run by Don Bosco. Our children are sleeping on mats on the floor at Don Bosco. Mrs. Urey angrily says, this action by the MOH is not fair. It is not right. She wonders why Joseph Geebro, Lydia Sherman and Eva Morgan are playing politics with the lives of innocent children. According to the Don Bosco website, the organization only service children who live on the streets of Monrovia. These children are deprived of family care and protection, many between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old. Their population includes children who might not necessarily be homeless or without families, but who live in situations where there is no protection, supervision, or direction from responsible adults. Many of the street children in Don Bosco’s care while living on the streets were engaged in contracts to fetch water or wash dishes and carry loads short distance for people for money, whereas others simply stole to earn a living or to eat one square meal a day. When these children are not in the care of Don Bosco, they sleep in unfinished buildings, market stalls, abandon cars, soccer pitches and just any available place they can find regardless their safety, they are largely self-supervised. The Don Bosco children’s home website further states that the negative impact of street life on children in Liberia is enormous. Accordingly, many street children in Don Bosco’s care lack basic rights such as education, family love, health care, good food & safety. Other disadvantages include exposure to drugs, the risk of being knocked down by uninsured cars, harsh punishment for little offences. Also these conditions and behavior brings early arrival of adulthood, association with the wrong people & criminals and a loss of family ties. Another big problem with children at the Don Bosco Children Home is that they have been exploited by adults who hire them to work but often do not paid them for the work they do. The Don Bosco website further states that, these children allegedly face more attacks and abuses from law enforcers than they face from civilians. As such, protection/ advocacy groups determinately engage law enforcers in a dialogue to try and establish a working relationship with them to care for these vulnerable children. In past years, it has been WACSN who provided food and medical supply to street children, ex-combatants and war-affected youths. Madame Diana Davis, former president of the union of orphanages in Liberia said, it has always been WACSN who have come to the aid of orphanages and street children by supplying critically needed food, clothing and medical supply for children. Over the past 11 years, it has been WACSN who we all turn to for assistance. There are about 95 registered orphanages with many informal group homes caring for Liberia’s over 60,000 homeless, abandoned and orphaned children. Orphanages are usually underfunded receiving erratic government funding of about US$4.00 per orphan per month; thereby, relying primarily on private donations. Orphanages throughout Liberia have difficulty providing basic sanitation, adequate medical care, education and appropriate diet for children. The government does not support adoption homes or other children centers. According to the March 2009 UN Report entitled, “Human Rights in Liberia’s Orphanages”, children living in Liberia’s orphanages are denied basic rights, ranging from the right to identity, family, leisure, education, adequate sanitation and hygiene, health and participation in cultural activities. The report concludes that the lack of these basic rights have an incremental and lasting effect on the development of the Liberian Child.In another related report compiled by IRIN, malnutrition will kill 74,000 Liberian Children by 2015 if nothing is done about the current situation of severe hunger and health amongst children. The IRIN report also states that currently in Liberia 37 % of all children under 5 suffers from chronic malnutrition. With these critical and vexing issues clawing at our national doorstep with our president’s tirelessly, persistently and frustratingly making every effort to effectively deal with the UN millennium development Challenges, why then are individuals like Deputy Minister Joseph Gebroo and his associate Lydia Sherman doing all they can to sabotage and hold hostage the president’s cardinal effort to protect and dignify the Liberian child? Where is this new dispensation headed with the democratic election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as president? One would have thought that this new dispensation was to change the face of Liberian life as many ordinary Liberians have come to know it for generations. Many Liberians truly believe that the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf would evolve a democratically driven society where the personification of integrity, honesty and a deep sense of purpose would be achieved. Instead, certain close-minded individuals in this government have been allowed to roam around Monrovia with nothing much to do but harass and torment the lives of productive citizens trying to make a difference in the lives of children. Our country will never change with this backward mindset. Will someone inform these individuals that Inter-Country adoption is not an avenue to build individual bank account? Inter-country adoption is a good thing for Liberia. It exposes our children to resources and opportunities not currently available in our country after 20 years of social devastation and economic dislocation. It allows children to grow up as kids during their formative years.
Published In The Newspapers here~
Press Release
Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Justice Denied My Children A Golden Opportunity
An Aggrieved Father The father of the three children the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare illegally removed from the compound of the West African Child Support Network (WACSN) Mr. Randall Keculah ----says Acting Minister of Justice, Cllr. Eva Mappy Morgan has denied his children their ever life time golden opportunity that may never come their way again.Upon the directives of Acting Minister Morgan, he said his children were stopped from leaving the country at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) on grounds that the ministry did not give them a final clearance for departure. He said, in keeping with law and required legal procedures governing adoption, he and his late wife relinquished their 4 children to WACSN to be adopted under a court degree, which was later climaxed with an interview for visa at the United States Embassy, noting that the effort of the WACSN and the adoptive parents were wasted owing to the action of Acting Minister Morgan who singlehandedly ordered security officers at the RIA to stop his children from entering the plane for departure to the United States. Addressing himself to the rather unfortunate situation in a chat with reporters yesterday, Mr. Keculah indicated that because of the action of the Acting Justice Minister, the adopted parents have refused to accept the children due to the behavior of government officials and the length of time it has taken to resolve the situation before the President announced the ban on adoption.Mr. Keculah, a father of seven children, said the mother of the children died in child birth with their last child who was one of the children denied leaving Liberia, “after completing all necessary paperwork in compliance with Liberian Adoption Laws. This Process included approval from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the granting of a decree by the Probate Court of Liberia.In a press statement issued today, Mr. Keculah was quoted as saying that an independent investigation to establish the biological parenthood of the children was conducted by the US Embassy thereby allowing WACSN to put in place its customary practice of inviting the adopting parents to Liberia to spend three weeks to bond with the children. Mr. Keculah stressed that a required interview with the US Embassy was scheduled to complete the adoption process after which, the three Liberian children were then issued visas for travel to the United States by the US Embassy with their adoptive parents. While at the airport, the children were cleared by Liberian Immigration officers at the Roberts International Airport. The three children were then stopped with their adoptive parents from boarding the plane by Minister Eva Morgan who insisted that another clearance for departure was required before the children could depart Liberia. In this process, the children were denied travelling to America, while their adoptive parents looked on and felt insulted, embarrassed, and belittled.“A sad end to this story of the three boys now ends in a tragedy, with their future compromised and their father left in a state of bewilderment. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare illegally removed them from the WACSN Compound without a court order and placed them with street children at the Don Bosco Home,” the traumatized father of the children said. “Keep in mind that many of these children have been in WACSN’s care for the past three to five years attending private school and being cared for by doctors at the Saint Joseph Catholic Hospital. The tragedy of this situation is the adoptive parent in America has said that they do not want to adopt the children any longer because of the behavior of government officials,” Mr. Keculah is quoted as saying in the press statement. According to Mr. Keculah, the action of the Acting Justice Minister is something he will never forget ever in his life. “The Minister is a mother and good thing she took her children to the airport to travel to America, when she took that decision t prevent my children from going where her children is. Now my children are at the Don Bosco Home for street children a place where nobody wants their children to be, who knows such opportunity may never come to my children again”, he told reporters. Meanwhile Judge James Zota of Criminal Court “A” has found the Health and Social Welfare Ministry guilty for illegally removing the children from the WACSN compound without a court order.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Writing worth taking the time to read~
Dear Colleague,
As you are aware, there has been a debate raging in Liberia about adoption. Over the past month the government and a reputable adoption agency, WACSN, have been at loggerhead over the issue of inter-country adoption and trafficking.
I would appreciate it were you to please consider printing my perspective of that debate in your reputable news outlet or assist me by forwarding it to as many of your family and friends as possible.
Thanks
_____________________________________________
LIBERIA: Making A Mockery Out Of Adoption
By: J. Eben Daygbor - ebendaygbor@yahoo.com /Cell: 001.231.644.9267
This article seeks to look at the issue affecting the Liberian Child within a broader migration framework that deals specifically with child trafficking. Throughout the article, this author shall propose some tangible and practical suggestions which could be effective in addressing the misconceptions of trafficking in Liberia and discuss ways of preventing human rights violations which children are so often subjected to.
Over the past year, Liberia has taken center stage in international debate on issues regarding inter-country adoption. Even though the concerns raised in international circles had to do with the migration of children across international borders, it also opened a much needed and overdue debate on the treatment, protection and internal movement of children in the country. The debate centered on a study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which says that the plight of children in Liberia is desperate. The study also found that all of Africa's 53 nations reported human trafficking, spurred by poverty, armed conflict, and instability, as well as traditional practices, such as early marriage which allow girls as young as 13 years of age to be taken as brides for their purity.
Although the increased attention to children issues in Liberia was precipitated by published UN reports, it also draws into question without reservations the inadequate protection of children and safeguarding of their basic rights. Many children in Liberia incessantly fall through the cracks without any organized government effort to reduce their burden. Children are exploited in many ways without redress. Prostitution, child labor and poverty impede the chances of children succeeding in Liberia. For this reason, thousands of Liberian children have either been abandoned or given up for adoption by their birth parents because they cannot satisfactorily care for or protect them. For instance, children as young as eight years of age are seen selling on the street without attending school. In many cases, preschool is a luxury many ordinary parents cannot afford for their children.
Many very young children are seen all hours of the night on the streets of many urban or peri-urban center seeking shelter, food and protection not from the government but from total strangers. For example: peek into any Monrovia hotel today and chances are you’ll find a middle aged man with a teenage girl sitting across the table from him having lunch or drinks. The question then becomes, are we preventing our children from being adopted or are we leaving them to become prey to perverts or pedophiles. So this author wants to know, what are our options? Are we in Liberia arguing the lesser of two evils? Or are we selecting a lifestyle of prostitution, street selling over adoption, a better education, healthcare, and a career?
Poverty and severe economic conditions cause many parents to abandon their children into dilapidated orphanages hoping for a better future for their children or at least equal access to opportunity. For instance, this author would dare to call the reader’s attention to the quandary of vexing children’s issues existing in Liberia such as malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, preventable child illnesses and inadequate sanitation, public health and educational facilities which traps children into second class citizens thereby hampering national economic development and growth. Also, this author would add that these stringent social and economic conditions cause many thousands of children to end up on street corners peddling cheap goods dumped on the market, while others simply beg for loose change on street corners to eat one square meal.
Realizing these colossal challenges to the Liberian Child, the President of Liberia Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed an advisory commission to study and review our domestic laws regarding the plight of the Liberian child, with particular reference to our archaic adoption laws. This review was intended to be wide-ranging. The committee’s recommendations were projected to set national standards; implement international principles; and develop policies to protect the rights of the Liberian child. But, one crucial area which the President’s mandate completely ignored deals with our system of foster care giving, which includes our traditional ‘ward’ and ‘pawn’ systems. These systems are caused by repression, discrimination, and lack of equal access to basic services and opportunity which suffocates many innocent Liberian children. Migration of the Liberian child in all of its manifestations is not caused merely by poverty and war, but rather, by the treatment and protection granted each child in our society.
The President’s effort to deal with children’s issues in a meaningful and comprehensive manner is a good thing and must be applauded by every Liberian. Her sincere attempts to effectively restructure national policy to protect the human rights of children are noble and well-intentioned. Every Liberian including this author will continue to pray for those efforts to be successful, especially when the desired outcome remains purging corruption, developing oversight regimes, protecting the rights of children and sheltering the entire process from bureaucratic extortion. This author agrees with the President emphatically that our children are our country’s most precious resource; hence, issues regarding their welfare, treatment, security, safety, protection and rights ought to be regarded as sacred. However, since its inception, the Presidential Advisory Commission has chosen to focus only on inter-country adoption and not deal with demoralizing and seriously burning issues regarding the social, economic and cultural life of the Liberian child.
Inter-country adoptions for the most part makes the most sensational headlines and draw the most controversy in a country where the literacy rate is as low as 20 percent and where it is all too easy to contaminate public opinion and cloud vital national issues simply to score political points. So, let’s now examine the real issue regarding inter-country adoption in Liberia. Adoption by itself is a genuine human need and a noble action that gives an orphan or poverty stricken child a loving family, with unbridled comfort and a productive future. Inter-country adoption is not robbing Liberia of its greatest natural resource, or rescuing children FROM Liberia, but rather it is rescuing children FOR Liberia by providing resources and opportunities not currently available to them as our country works through this period of rebuilding and restoration after 20 years of unending social dislocation and chronic economic devastation.
Many of the individuals on the Presidential Advisory Commission openly oppose inter-country adoption, even when it is conducted legally by organizations like the West African Children support Network. Many of the individuals on the Commission simply have problem with white people adopting black children because of their own experience in the United States. This behavior is certainly a disadvantage to our country. We cannot get to the place where President Sirleaf is trying to take us as a people with this kind of mindset. For example, a Liberia father with four boys placed three of his sons in the WACSN adoption program after his wife died in childbirth leaving this poor farmer father at a total lost to care for his sons. The three boys were processed for adoption by WACSN. After completing all paperwork in compliance with Liberian Adoption Laws, which included the granting of a decree by the Probate Court, the children were then approved for adoption by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. An independent investigation of the biological parents was conducted by the US Embassy; thereby allowing WACSN to put in place its customary practice, of inviting the adopting parents to Liberia to spend three weeks to bond with the children. A required interview with the US Embassy was scheduled to complete the adoption process. After a successful interview, the three Liberian children were then issued a visa for travel to the United States by the US Embassy. After being cleared by Liberian Immigration at the Roberts International Airport, the three children were then stopped with their adoptive parents from boarding the plane by a Liberian government official who insisted that another clearance for departure was required before departing Liberia. In this process, the children were denied travel to America, while their adoptive parents looked on and felt insulted, embarrassed, and belittled.
A sad end to this story of the three boys now ends in a tragedy, with their future compromised and their father left in a bewilderment. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare illegally removed them from the WACSN Compound without a court order and placed them with street children at the Don Bosco Home. Keep in mind that many of these children have been in WACSN’s care for the past three to five years attending private school and being cared for by doctors at the Saint Joseph Catholic Hospital. The tragedy of this situation is the adoptive parent in America has said that they do not want to adopt the children any longer because of the behavior of government officials.
So, inquiring minds want to know what is the bottom line regarding inter-country adoption in Liberia? Is it child trafficking when a child is given to a family not related by blood as their own of which the child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural born-child, including the right of inheritance? Or, is it the adoption fees, which is used for feeding, upkeep, legal, medical and educational expenses, not to mention the processing of all appropriate paperwork? This author should add that even the great United States and all advanced countries charge fees for their adoption process as there is expense involved in all the legal process and appropriate paperwork to help perspective adopted children have an opportunity to education, health care, and a career not to mention a family? Or in Liberia, is it really a question of who gets the money as suggested by our two officials from the Ministry of Health at the Department of Social Welfare who believes that adoption fees should be paid directly to the Department of Social Welfare?
If one were to examine child trafficking against this backdrop and definition, given the prevailing view of the plight of the Liberian child, that this author has defined, one could say, instead of developing appropriate strategies on how to get Liberian children out of this penury trap of disease, poverty and economic suffocation, the Presidential Advisory Commission along with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has opted to hoodwink the process and engage in illusory practices to dupe the Liberian people.
Liberian children desperately need the protecting of their government not the strong arm tactic being demonstrated by overzealous bureaucrats’ desperately seeking attention and recognition of the president. If Liberia is to become serious about the issue of child trafficking, then the country must eradicate abusive forms of work, exploitation, sexual abuse of children and the worst forms of child labor. Child trafficking is the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring or receipt of children by means of threat of coercion, or by the giving or receiving of payment or benefits to achieve the control over children for the purpose of exploitation.
Our country has enormous problems that would take numerous pages to enumerate all, yet those on the Presidential Advisory Commission have taken unto themselves to selectively target innocent children who have no voice of their own simply to play politics with their lives. Many of the children targeted are being removed from children centers in a dehumanizing manner and forced into substandard and inadequate care. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare does not have the capacity to deal with children in this respect. However, when one listens to the argument being promulgated by the Presidential Advisory Commission, one could immediately conclude that the entire exercise is a campaign of intentional disinformation meant to mislead our international partners and the Liberian people.
The argument being presented by those at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is bogus and nonfactual. First, they present adoption as nothing more than child trafficking, which is absolutely not true. Secondly, they would have us believe that Liberian children are being flown out of the country in droves without proper procedures being followed. This is utterly not the case and has never been the case in our history with inter-country adoption. Third, they present our urban, peri-urban, and rural areas as complete with regards to the treatment and protection of children. But, when one look closely, it quickly becomes obvious that many Liberian children are suffering from a host of easily preventable diseases and lack of basic services.
This author would readily admit that the problems of children in Liberia grow worse day-by-day, and successive generations are coming of age under conditions their ancestors could never have imagined. Disease, abject poverty and terrible economic conditions trap many Liberian children into an awful social conundrum. Children account for half of the poor in Liberia. Many live at subsistence levels fraught with poor environment, education and health care. Consequently, the single greatest obstacle to the advancement of children in Liberia is poverty. One in four Liberian children lives in extreme poverty. According to the United Nations Child’s Fund (UNICEF) Liberia has the third highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. Thirty-seven percent of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, which causes chronic stunting in nearly one-third of Liberian children. One in five children in Liberia is underweight thereby hampering economic development and growth.
Does the President really believe that those in the Department of Social Welfare speak in her best interest? They certainly do not speak for the Liberian people. Being left alone to define and interpret the adoption laws of Liberia without accountability is extremely dangerous, incommodious and detrimental to our country’s image. Is there no oversight in the Ministry of Health than to allow these functionaries to distort the image of our beloved country by politicizing the lives of innocent children many of whom have been abandoned by their birth parents or orphaned after 20 years of vicious social dislocation and brutal civil war? With all due respect, functionaries in the Ministry of Health at the Department of Social Welfare are not qualify to speak solely on pertinent national issues regarding the social development of the Liberian Child let alone be allowed to have the final saying on issue such as the social rearing, nurturing and fostering of our children. Let’s be reminded that Children are our planet’s most precious resource. They represent our hopes, dreams and future. Every Liberian bears a sacred trust and responsibility for their protection, growth and development. Whenever we can, every Liberian child should be given equal access to opportunity and resources not available here. Families who adopt from America show the generous spirit of the United States.
This author believes that every child desires a permanent and prosperous home fill with love and happiness, and whenever American parents adopt a child to love as their own, lives are forever changed. Be reminded that the decision to adopt a child from Liberia is among life's greatest and happiest turning points for many. Every Liberian child adopted will have opportunities many of us take for granted such as education, health care, and family. Generally, Liberia has the natural resource to lift herself out of poverty into a life of peace, prosperity and dignity. But, due to war, disease, abject poverty and terrible economic conditions, even those children lucky enough to find a place in an orphanage have no real hope for any kind of a future. Let’s face it; adoption is to give hope and the possibility to face the future for those of our children born into a difficult reality of poverty, disease and hopelessness. From the vantage point of this author, adoption is an effective means to combat malnutrition and illiteracy, and to help our children grow in a dignified manner.
The government cannot and will not provide for all the children needing care in Liberia. Private orphanages and adoption agencies fill a need that the government should. One hopes that the government would support these agencies like the West African Children Support Network (WACSN) instead of putting impediments in their way, as is currently the case with the Presidential Advisory Commission charged with restructuring adoption laws and protocols of Liberia. The Commission’s direction of using the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to harass institutions like WACSN is not Liberian. Does the Presidential Advisory Commission really not get it that the "external family structures" in Liberia is just about gone? Our extended family structure have been dying off for the past twenty years at an ever-increasing rate and leaving nothing in its place. The civil war did more to destroy that process and tradition. Henceforth, it's all well and good for those on the Presidential Advisory Commission to say that the "best idea is to strengthen family structures and discourage the institutionalizing of orphans", but is saying it enough to put food in the mouths of hungry Liberia kids now? Do the ideas they have proposed provide children the necessary protection from harsh social, economic and environmental elements? The Presidential Advisory Commission focus should be the protection of the Liberian Child, from mistreatment, neglect and abuse irrespective of their status as orphans, vulnerable young adults or those that are well-off.
Our country’s natural resources have not helped us at all to register the necessary economic growth and development which should have brought about a fundamental and meaningful improvement in the standards of living of the majority of our people. More than three quarter of our people now live in absolute poverty; rural life is at subsistence level fraught with poor education and health care systems, and urban living has been extremely difficult with lack of basic services, employment and skill. Since the adoption of the UN Millennium Declaration and the pledge of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger by 2015, June 16th is now also a day to examine the level at which the Millennium Development Goals are benefiting the Liberian Child. For example, children in Liberia are more likely to be ill, less likely to be in school and far more likely to die before the age of five than children in Europe and North America. Members of the Presidential Advisory Commission need to ask themselves why in fact are these things happening in Liberia today?
The Presidential Advisory Commission needs to review its tactics and flaw strategies in protecting our most precious resource. They must understand that poverty is a multi-faceted, complex phenomenon that extends far beyond income. In so doing, they should realize that the active participation of children in civil society is vital to making critical changes that can help end poverty in Liberia. Despite our levels of poverty and recent history of conflicts, crime, open sewer, unsafe drinking water, clogged drainage and stockpiles of untreated garbage, relatively few children end up as candidates for inter-country adoption. For instance, according to the U.S. State Department, adoption to America from Liberia accounted for the following: 2004 = 86 children; 2005 = 183 children; 2006 = 353 children; 2007 = 314 children; 2008 = 249 children.
The way this author understands it, in a period of five years, a total of 1,185 children we adopted to the United States from all six Liberian adoption agencies as well as private adoptions from churches, families and other institutions. Seriously then, out of 3.9 million Liberians, of which one million are children, is the fuss really about 1,185 Liberian Children being adopted to white American families in 5 years? Or is it something else that deals with politics and money? Which is it? Better yet, is this the kind of legacy we want to leave for our children? This very successful political dispensation begun with the election of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as President is a worthwhile experiment with democracy and respect for the rule of law that we cannot afford to trash. Many ordinary Liberians give their lives for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in order that she might rescue our country from the grip of tyranny, dictatorship and a criminal empire.
As you are aware, there has been a debate raging in Liberia about adoption. Over the past month the government and a reputable adoption agency, WACSN, have been at loggerhead over the issue of inter-country adoption and trafficking.
I would appreciate it were you to please consider printing my perspective of that debate in your reputable news outlet or assist me by forwarding it to as many of your family and friends as possible.
Thanks
_____________________________________________
LIBERIA: Making A Mockery Out Of Adoption
By: J. Eben Daygbor - ebendaygbor@yahoo.com /Cell: 001.231.644.9267
This article seeks to look at the issue affecting the Liberian Child within a broader migration framework that deals specifically with child trafficking. Throughout the article, this author shall propose some tangible and practical suggestions which could be effective in addressing the misconceptions of trafficking in Liberia and discuss ways of preventing human rights violations which children are so often subjected to.
Over the past year, Liberia has taken center stage in international debate on issues regarding inter-country adoption. Even though the concerns raised in international circles had to do with the migration of children across international borders, it also opened a much needed and overdue debate on the treatment, protection and internal movement of children in the country. The debate centered on a study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which says that the plight of children in Liberia is desperate. The study also found that all of Africa's 53 nations reported human trafficking, spurred by poverty, armed conflict, and instability, as well as traditional practices, such as early marriage which allow girls as young as 13 years of age to be taken as brides for their purity.
Although the increased attention to children issues in Liberia was precipitated by published UN reports, it also draws into question without reservations the inadequate protection of children and safeguarding of their basic rights. Many children in Liberia incessantly fall through the cracks without any organized government effort to reduce their burden. Children are exploited in many ways without redress. Prostitution, child labor and poverty impede the chances of children succeeding in Liberia. For this reason, thousands of Liberian children have either been abandoned or given up for adoption by their birth parents because they cannot satisfactorily care for or protect them. For instance, children as young as eight years of age are seen selling on the street without attending school. In many cases, preschool is a luxury many ordinary parents cannot afford for their children.
Many very young children are seen all hours of the night on the streets of many urban or peri-urban center seeking shelter, food and protection not from the government but from total strangers. For example: peek into any Monrovia hotel today and chances are you’ll find a middle aged man with a teenage girl sitting across the table from him having lunch or drinks. The question then becomes, are we preventing our children from being adopted or are we leaving them to become prey to perverts or pedophiles. So this author wants to know, what are our options? Are we in Liberia arguing the lesser of two evils? Or are we selecting a lifestyle of prostitution, street selling over adoption, a better education, healthcare, and a career?
Poverty and severe economic conditions cause many parents to abandon their children into dilapidated orphanages hoping for a better future for their children or at least equal access to opportunity. For instance, this author would dare to call the reader’s attention to the quandary of vexing children’s issues existing in Liberia such as malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, preventable child illnesses and inadequate sanitation, public health and educational facilities which traps children into second class citizens thereby hampering national economic development and growth. Also, this author would add that these stringent social and economic conditions cause many thousands of children to end up on street corners peddling cheap goods dumped on the market, while others simply beg for loose change on street corners to eat one square meal.
Realizing these colossal challenges to the Liberian Child, the President of Liberia Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed an advisory commission to study and review our domestic laws regarding the plight of the Liberian child, with particular reference to our archaic adoption laws. This review was intended to be wide-ranging. The committee’s recommendations were projected to set national standards; implement international principles; and develop policies to protect the rights of the Liberian child. But, one crucial area which the President’s mandate completely ignored deals with our system of foster care giving, which includes our traditional ‘ward’ and ‘pawn’ systems. These systems are caused by repression, discrimination, and lack of equal access to basic services and opportunity which suffocates many innocent Liberian children. Migration of the Liberian child in all of its manifestations is not caused merely by poverty and war, but rather, by the treatment and protection granted each child in our society.
The President’s effort to deal with children’s issues in a meaningful and comprehensive manner is a good thing and must be applauded by every Liberian. Her sincere attempts to effectively restructure national policy to protect the human rights of children are noble and well-intentioned. Every Liberian including this author will continue to pray for those efforts to be successful, especially when the desired outcome remains purging corruption, developing oversight regimes, protecting the rights of children and sheltering the entire process from bureaucratic extortion. This author agrees with the President emphatically that our children are our country’s most precious resource; hence, issues regarding their welfare, treatment, security, safety, protection and rights ought to be regarded as sacred. However, since its inception, the Presidential Advisory Commission has chosen to focus only on inter-country adoption and not deal with demoralizing and seriously burning issues regarding the social, economic and cultural life of the Liberian child.
Inter-country adoptions for the most part makes the most sensational headlines and draw the most controversy in a country where the literacy rate is as low as 20 percent and where it is all too easy to contaminate public opinion and cloud vital national issues simply to score political points. So, let’s now examine the real issue regarding inter-country adoption in Liberia. Adoption by itself is a genuine human need and a noble action that gives an orphan or poverty stricken child a loving family, with unbridled comfort and a productive future. Inter-country adoption is not robbing Liberia of its greatest natural resource, or rescuing children FROM Liberia, but rather it is rescuing children FOR Liberia by providing resources and opportunities not currently available to them as our country works through this period of rebuilding and restoration after 20 years of unending social dislocation and chronic economic devastation.
Many of the individuals on the Presidential Advisory Commission openly oppose inter-country adoption, even when it is conducted legally by organizations like the West African Children support Network. Many of the individuals on the Commission simply have problem with white people adopting black children because of their own experience in the United States. This behavior is certainly a disadvantage to our country. We cannot get to the place where President Sirleaf is trying to take us as a people with this kind of mindset. For example, a Liberia father with four boys placed three of his sons in the WACSN adoption program after his wife died in childbirth leaving this poor farmer father at a total lost to care for his sons. The three boys were processed for adoption by WACSN. After completing all paperwork in compliance with Liberian Adoption Laws, which included the granting of a decree by the Probate Court, the children were then approved for adoption by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. An independent investigation of the biological parents was conducted by the US Embassy; thereby allowing WACSN to put in place its customary practice, of inviting the adopting parents to Liberia to spend three weeks to bond with the children. A required interview with the US Embassy was scheduled to complete the adoption process. After a successful interview, the three Liberian children were then issued a visa for travel to the United States by the US Embassy. After being cleared by Liberian Immigration at the Roberts International Airport, the three children were then stopped with their adoptive parents from boarding the plane by a Liberian government official who insisted that another clearance for departure was required before departing Liberia. In this process, the children were denied travel to America, while their adoptive parents looked on and felt insulted, embarrassed, and belittled.
A sad end to this story of the three boys now ends in a tragedy, with their future compromised and their father left in a bewilderment. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare illegally removed them from the WACSN Compound without a court order and placed them with street children at the Don Bosco Home. Keep in mind that many of these children have been in WACSN’s care for the past three to five years attending private school and being cared for by doctors at the Saint Joseph Catholic Hospital. The tragedy of this situation is the adoptive parent in America has said that they do not want to adopt the children any longer because of the behavior of government officials.
So, inquiring minds want to know what is the bottom line regarding inter-country adoption in Liberia? Is it child trafficking when a child is given to a family not related by blood as their own of which the child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural born-child, including the right of inheritance? Or, is it the adoption fees, which is used for feeding, upkeep, legal, medical and educational expenses, not to mention the processing of all appropriate paperwork? This author should add that even the great United States and all advanced countries charge fees for their adoption process as there is expense involved in all the legal process and appropriate paperwork to help perspective adopted children have an opportunity to education, health care, and a career not to mention a family? Or in Liberia, is it really a question of who gets the money as suggested by our two officials from the Ministry of Health at the Department of Social Welfare who believes that adoption fees should be paid directly to the Department of Social Welfare?
If one were to examine child trafficking against this backdrop and definition, given the prevailing view of the plight of the Liberian child, that this author has defined, one could say, instead of developing appropriate strategies on how to get Liberian children out of this penury trap of disease, poverty and economic suffocation, the Presidential Advisory Commission along with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has opted to hoodwink the process and engage in illusory practices to dupe the Liberian people.
Liberian children desperately need the protecting of their government not the strong arm tactic being demonstrated by overzealous bureaucrats’ desperately seeking attention and recognition of the president. If Liberia is to become serious about the issue of child trafficking, then the country must eradicate abusive forms of work, exploitation, sexual abuse of children and the worst forms of child labor. Child trafficking is the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring or receipt of children by means of threat of coercion, or by the giving or receiving of payment or benefits to achieve the control over children for the purpose of exploitation.
Our country has enormous problems that would take numerous pages to enumerate all, yet those on the Presidential Advisory Commission have taken unto themselves to selectively target innocent children who have no voice of their own simply to play politics with their lives. Many of the children targeted are being removed from children centers in a dehumanizing manner and forced into substandard and inadequate care. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare does not have the capacity to deal with children in this respect. However, when one listens to the argument being promulgated by the Presidential Advisory Commission, one could immediately conclude that the entire exercise is a campaign of intentional disinformation meant to mislead our international partners and the Liberian people.
The argument being presented by those at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is bogus and nonfactual. First, they present adoption as nothing more than child trafficking, which is absolutely not true. Secondly, they would have us believe that Liberian children are being flown out of the country in droves without proper procedures being followed. This is utterly not the case and has never been the case in our history with inter-country adoption. Third, they present our urban, peri-urban, and rural areas as complete with regards to the treatment and protection of children. But, when one look closely, it quickly becomes obvious that many Liberian children are suffering from a host of easily preventable diseases and lack of basic services.
This author would readily admit that the problems of children in Liberia grow worse day-by-day, and successive generations are coming of age under conditions their ancestors could never have imagined. Disease, abject poverty and terrible economic conditions trap many Liberian children into an awful social conundrum. Children account for half of the poor in Liberia. Many live at subsistence levels fraught with poor environment, education and health care. Consequently, the single greatest obstacle to the advancement of children in Liberia is poverty. One in four Liberian children lives in extreme poverty. According to the United Nations Child’s Fund (UNICEF) Liberia has the third highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. Thirty-seven percent of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, which causes chronic stunting in nearly one-third of Liberian children. One in five children in Liberia is underweight thereby hampering economic development and growth.
Does the President really believe that those in the Department of Social Welfare speak in her best interest? They certainly do not speak for the Liberian people. Being left alone to define and interpret the adoption laws of Liberia without accountability is extremely dangerous, incommodious and detrimental to our country’s image. Is there no oversight in the Ministry of Health than to allow these functionaries to distort the image of our beloved country by politicizing the lives of innocent children many of whom have been abandoned by their birth parents or orphaned after 20 years of vicious social dislocation and brutal civil war? With all due respect, functionaries in the Ministry of Health at the Department of Social Welfare are not qualify to speak solely on pertinent national issues regarding the social development of the Liberian Child let alone be allowed to have the final saying on issue such as the social rearing, nurturing and fostering of our children. Let’s be reminded that Children are our planet’s most precious resource. They represent our hopes, dreams and future. Every Liberian bears a sacred trust and responsibility for their protection, growth and development. Whenever we can, every Liberian child should be given equal access to opportunity and resources not available here. Families who adopt from America show the generous spirit of the United States.
This author believes that every child desires a permanent and prosperous home fill with love and happiness, and whenever American parents adopt a child to love as their own, lives are forever changed. Be reminded that the decision to adopt a child from Liberia is among life's greatest and happiest turning points for many. Every Liberian child adopted will have opportunities many of us take for granted such as education, health care, and family. Generally, Liberia has the natural resource to lift herself out of poverty into a life of peace, prosperity and dignity. But, due to war, disease, abject poverty and terrible economic conditions, even those children lucky enough to find a place in an orphanage have no real hope for any kind of a future. Let’s face it; adoption is to give hope and the possibility to face the future for those of our children born into a difficult reality of poverty, disease and hopelessness. From the vantage point of this author, adoption is an effective means to combat malnutrition and illiteracy, and to help our children grow in a dignified manner.
The government cannot and will not provide for all the children needing care in Liberia. Private orphanages and adoption agencies fill a need that the government should. One hopes that the government would support these agencies like the West African Children Support Network (WACSN) instead of putting impediments in their way, as is currently the case with the Presidential Advisory Commission charged with restructuring adoption laws and protocols of Liberia. The Commission’s direction of using the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to harass institutions like WACSN is not Liberian. Does the Presidential Advisory Commission really not get it that the "external family structures" in Liberia is just about gone? Our extended family structure have been dying off for the past twenty years at an ever-increasing rate and leaving nothing in its place. The civil war did more to destroy that process and tradition. Henceforth, it's all well and good for those on the Presidential Advisory Commission to say that the "best idea is to strengthen family structures and discourage the institutionalizing of orphans", but is saying it enough to put food in the mouths of hungry Liberia kids now? Do the ideas they have proposed provide children the necessary protection from harsh social, economic and environmental elements? The Presidential Advisory Commission focus should be the protection of the Liberian Child, from mistreatment, neglect and abuse irrespective of their status as orphans, vulnerable young adults or those that are well-off.
Our country’s natural resources have not helped us at all to register the necessary economic growth and development which should have brought about a fundamental and meaningful improvement in the standards of living of the majority of our people. More than three quarter of our people now live in absolute poverty; rural life is at subsistence level fraught with poor education and health care systems, and urban living has been extremely difficult with lack of basic services, employment and skill. Since the adoption of the UN Millennium Declaration and the pledge of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger by 2015, June 16th is now also a day to examine the level at which the Millennium Development Goals are benefiting the Liberian Child. For example, children in Liberia are more likely to be ill, less likely to be in school and far more likely to die before the age of five than children in Europe and North America. Members of the Presidential Advisory Commission need to ask themselves why in fact are these things happening in Liberia today?
The Presidential Advisory Commission needs to review its tactics and flaw strategies in protecting our most precious resource. They must understand that poverty is a multi-faceted, complex phenomenon that extends far beyond income. In so doing, they should realize that the active participation of children in civil society is vital to making critical changes that can help end poverty in Liberia. Despite our levels of poverty and recent history of conflicts, crime, open sewer, unsafe drinking water, clogged drainage and stockpiles of untreated garbage, relatively few children end up as candidates for inter-country adoption. For instance, according to the U.S. State Department, adoption to America from Liberia accounted for the following: 2004 = 86 children; 2005 = 183 children; 2006 = 353 children; 2007 = 314 children; 2008 = 249 children.
The way this author understands it, in a period of five years, a total of 1,185 children we adopted to the United States from all six Liberian adoption agencies as well as private adoptions from churches, families and other institutions. Seriously then, out of 3.9 million Liberians, of which one million are children, is the fuss really about 1,185 Liberian Children being adopted to white American families in 5 years? Or is it something else that deals with politics and money? Which is it? Better yet, is this the kind of legacy we want to leave for our children? This very successful political dispensation begun with the election of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as President is a worthwhile experiment with democracy and respect for the rule of law that we cannot afford to trash. Many ordinary Liberians give their lives for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in order that she might rescue our country from the grip of tyranny, dictatorship and a criminal empire.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Blessings Abound~
We want to express a huge thank you to Fresh Start Fellowship for the donation of a satellite internet for the Spirit of truth Network Pastors!
We pray for God to bless you a hundred fold for your gift.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Court today April 21~2009
A quick note to everyone who is reading, the Habeas Corpus proceeding is reassigned for hearing next Monday, April 27~2009 at 2:00pm. Please keep the prayers coming, and
A huge thank you to all of you who have been praying!
A huge thank you to all of you who have been praying!
Monday, April 20, 2009
In The Spirit of Truth we bring you todays Court update April 20~2009
4th DAY’S SPECIAL CHAMBER SITTING CRIMINAL COURT “A”
FEBRUARY A.D. 2009 TERM
Monday, April 20, 2009 SHEET (3)
THE SHERIFF’S REPORT:
TRIAL CASE CALLED, ALL PARTIES PRESENT.
REPRESENTATION
The petitioners are present as per record and present is Cllrs. Thompson Jerbeh. And submits.
While the co-respondents(Ministries of Justice, Health and the Social welfare are represented by the Ministry of Justice and present in court are Atty. Samuel K Jacobs county attorney for Montserrado county, cllr. Aaron Kpakpelline Asst. ministry of Justice for Taxatio, Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah asst. Minister of Justice and litigation and Cllr. Eva Mappy-Morgan Acting Minister of Justice and attorney General Republic of Liberia who says and submits that the Co-respondents herein named above are present in court, And submits.
Co-respondents says and submits that while they are still on their feet they have a submission to make and be spread on the minutes of this record after notation of these representatives. And submits.
THE COURT:
The representation are noted and co-respondents Ministry of Justice may now proceed to make its submission on the minutes of the court. AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
Co-respondents say they respectfully want to inform this honourable court that the children subject to these proceedings are in the care and custody of the ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and that said children have been placed by the Ministry in the care of DON BOSCO a reputable Child Welfare Agency for their protection and for their care. Co-respondents say further that it does not deny the moving of the said children in the care of WACSN but said that such an action on the sport was done to protect Health and Welfare of the children and as it astringed in all matters of law appertaining to the welfare of children that the best interest of a child is paramount to all. Co-respondents say and respectfully begs the court for protection and for the best interests of the children to be carefully, judicially, seriously looked into this matter as it bears on the health and security and the lives of these children for their welfare continue to be in the custody of DON BOSCO a reputable child welfare institution so that they have fair chance, to
life, to that risk, to security, to non-trafficant and to grow and be productive members in the Liberian society and respectfully submit.
THE COURT:
The court says that to the extent that the Ministry of Justice and Health and Social Welfare have stated that they took custody of the minors involved in these petition because of the best welfare of said minors and placed them with DON BOSCO center. The court says that to the extent that the whereabouts of the minors is now known to this honourable court, this court will postpone the hearing until April 21, AD 2009, at the hour of 2:00 pm.
AND IT IS HEREBY ORDERED. MATTER SUSPENDED.
FEBRUARY A.D. 2009 TERM
Monday, April 20, 2009 SHEET (3)
THE SHERIFF’S REPORT:
TRIAL CASE CALLED, ALL PARTIES PRESENT.
REPRESENTATION
The petitioners are present as per record and present is Cllrs. Thompson Jerbeh. And submits.
While the co-respondents(Ministries of Justice, Health and the Social welfare are represented by the Ministry of Justice and present in court are Atty. Samuel K Jacobs county attorney for Montserrado county, cllr. Aaron Kpakpelline Asst. ministry of Justice for Taxatio, Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah asst. Minister of Justice and litigation and Cllr. Eva Mappy-Morgan Acting Minister of Justice and attorney General Republic of Liberia who says and submits that the Co-respondents herein named above are present in court, And submits.
Co-respondents says and submits that while they are still on their feet they have a submission to make and be spread on the minutes of this record after notation of these representatives. And submits.
THE COURT:
The representation are noted and co-respondents Ministry of Justice may now proceed to make its submission on the minutes of the court. AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
Co-respondents say they respectfully want to inform this honourable court that the children subject to these proceedings are in the care and custody of the ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and that said children have been placed by the Ministry in the care of DON BOSCO a reputable Child Welfare Agency for their protection and for their care. Co-respondents say further that it does not deny the moving of the said children in the care of WACSN but said that such an action on the sport was done to protect Health and Welfare of the children and as it astringed in all matters of law appertaining to the welfare of children that the best interest of a child is paramount to all. Co-respondents say and respectfully begs the court for protection and for the best interests of the children to be carefully, judicially, seriously looked into this matter as it bears on the health and security and the lives of these children for their welfare continue to be in the custody of DON BOSCO a reputable child welfare institution so that they have fair chance, to
life, to that risk, to security, to non-trafficant and to grow and be productive members in the Liberian society and respectfully submit.
THE COURT:
The court says that to the extent that the Ministry of Justice and Health and Social Welfare have stated that they took custody of the minors involved in these petition because of the best welfare of said minors and placed them with DON BOSCO center. The court says that to the extent that the whereabouts of the minors is now known to this honourable court, this court will postpone the hearing until April 21, AD 2009, at the hour of 2:00 pm.
AND IT IS HEREBY ORDERED. MATTER SUSPENDED.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
April 19~2009
Greetings from Liberia!
A quick update today, Tomorrow is the next hearing for WACSN. We thank all of you for the many encouraging e-mails, and support you have sent. Your continued prayers are always appreciated.
In other news, We are looking at property to build a new home for our children, away from the city. We have also been blessed with the use of two water packaging machines. God is making a way for us here, and each day is very FULL!! It is our desire to bring a sustainable income, and employment for the people here.
Many blessings to all of you~
Friday, April 17, 2009
April 17~2009 Court proceedings
Today at 2:00 was the hearing before His Honour James W. Zotaa. Jr.
Here are several Highlights taken from the actual court record of today's proceedings:
First, there are three respondents:
The Ministry of Justice, which asked for more time to investigate. Having just learned about this a few hours before appearing in court.
The Ministry of Health, & Social Welfare it's Minister, and Principal Deputies. Which was absent from court.
The West African Childrens Support Network ( WACSN)
The West African Childrens Support Network submits the following: " That several minor children have been relinquished to it, and that some have been adopted. However, strangely the Ministry of Health co-respondent in these proceedings, moved onto the premises of of co-defendant WACSN without court orders, and seized therefore both adopted, and relinquished minor children, and took them to a destination unknown to WACSN. To date co-respondent WACSN does not have any of the main prisoner/petitioner in it's possession."
"The Court: After listening to the arguments, the court grants the request of The Ministry of Justice to the extent that the Ministry of Justice will appear in this court Monday April 20 2009 at 2:00 pm with all of the children involved in this petition. This court says that it is not granting the request for the Ministry of Justice to conduct an investigation as to who is the proper person to be in custody of the children, but it is mandated by this court only to locate the children, and have them brought forthwith to this court. This court wants to say that this matter concerning the whereabouts of thirty five Liberian children is so grave that same should be taken very seriously as the welfare of said children is not only the concern of their parents but the general public."
"As to the absence of the Ministry of Health, this court says that it viewed their absence as contempt."
" It is incumbent upon that Ministry to appear thru a designated representative in respect for the dignity of the court. The absence of the authority of the Ministry of Health is viewed by this court as an attempt to bring this court into disrepute hence, this court will address itself to same to ensure that same is not repeated. The clerk of this court is ordered to issue a writ of summon in contempt on the Minister of Health and it's Deputy to appear in court on April 20 2009 at 2:00 pm."
The hearing of these Habeas Corpus is suspended until april 20 2009 at 2:00pm at which time the Ministry of Justice is ordered to produce the living body of the children involved in these petitions no matter their condition."
Here are several Highlights taken from the actual court record of today's proceedings:
First, there are three respondents:
The Ministry of Justice, which asked for more time to investigate. Having just learned about this a few hours before appearing in court.
The Ministry of Health, & Social Welfare it's Minister, and Principal Deputies. Which was absent from court.
The West African Childrens Support Network ( WACSN)
The West African Childrens Support Network submits the following: " That several minor children have been relinquished to it, and that some have been adopted. However, strangely the Ministry of Health co-respondent in these proceedings, moved onto the premises of of co-defendant WACSN without court orders, and seized therefore both adopted, and relinquished minor children, and took them to a destination unknown to WACSN. To date co-respondent WACSN does not have any of the main prisoner/petitioner in it's possession."
"The Court: After listening to the arguments, the court grants the request of The Ministry of Justice to the extent that the Ministry of Justice will appear in this court Monday April 20 2009 at 2:00 pm with all of the children involved in this petition. This court says that it is not granting the request for the Ministry of Justice to conduct an investigation as to who is the proper person to be in custody of the children, but it is mandated by this court only to locate the children, and have them brought forthwith to this court. This court wants to say that this matter concerning the whereabouts of thirty five Liberian children is so grave that same should be taken very seriously as the welfare of said children is not only the concern of their parents but the general public."
"As to the absence of the Ministry of Health, this court says that it viewed their absence as contempt."
" It is incumbent upon that Ministry to appear thru a designated representative in respect for the dignity of the court. The absence of the authority of the Ministry of Health is viewed by this court as an attempt to bring this court into disrepute hence, this court will address itself to same to ensure that same is not repeated. The clerk of this court is ordered to issue a writ of summon in contempt on the Minister of Health and it's Deputy to appear in court on April 20 2009 at 2:00 pm."
The hearing of these Habeas Corpus is suspended until april 20 2009 at 2:00pm at which time the Ministry of Justice is ordered to produce the living body of the children involved in these petitions no matter their condition."
Thursday, April 16, 2009
News for April 16-2009
Today here in Liberia Maria Luyken was served a Writ of Habeas Corpus. A legal document instructing her to physically present the Kerkula children, as well as the 35 other children in her care.
On March 26-2009 the Health Ministry, led by the Deputy Minister for Social Welfare unlawfully entered the compound for the children's home.
They proceeded to forcefully remove them from the premises in the presence of international guests visiting with the children.
These children are now in the custody of the Ministry, and residing at Don Bosco. Those children not at the home that day, have been returned to their relatives. They are no longer in her care.
Maria has been summoned to appear in court tomorrow at 2:00 with said children. We all welcome this happening, as now the truth can come out in a public forum. Those responsible can be held to accountability for their actions, and allegations. Please keep WACSN, and everyone here in your prayers. The battle against powers, and principalities is fierce. We covet the prayer support from all of you.
May HE glorify Himself through all of this, and may we reflect Him~
On March 26-2009 the Health Ministry, led by the Deputy Minister for Social Welfare unlawfully entered the compound for the children's home.
They proceeded to forcefully remove them from the premises in the presence of international guests visiting with the children.
These children are now in the custody of the Ministry, and residing at Don Bosco. Those children not at the home that day, have been returned to their relatives. They are no longer in her care.
Maria has been summoned to appear in court tomorrow at 2:00 with said children. We all welcome this happening, as now the truth can come out in a public forum. Those responsible can be held to accountability for their actions, and allegations. Please keep WACSN, and everyone here in your prayers. The battle against powers, and principalities is fierce. We covet the prayer support from all of you.
May HE glorify Himself through all of this, and may we reflect Him~
Monday, April 13, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to the WACSN Spirit of Truth blog. It is our desire, and heartfelt prayer to use this forum to shed His light on the spiritual battles going on in this country. We want to give those of you who are friends of WACSN, a place to come for truthful updates. Please keep us in your prayers, as we seek to stand for Him in the midst of a perverse generation.
May God keep you in His abundant mercy~
WACSN
May God keep you in His abundant mercy~
WACSN
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