WACSN - West Africa Children Support Network

THE STATE OF THE LIBERIAN CHILD

2010-01-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Written December 31, 2009

Today, as 2009 comes to a close, education, healthcare, sanitation, safe drinking water and basic environmental services are luxuries not rights for many children in Liberia. Children are born into a country filled with miserable poverty, squalor conditions and rampant diseases that are preventable. Nearly a million children go through life on a daily basis in a serious struggle to survive, finding their way through life unparented, abandoned, neglected, malnourished, impoverished, uneducated, and discriminated against. For many, childhood, as a time to grow, learn, play and feel safe is in effect meaningless, denying them true joy of living altogether. Many children never get to see their fifth birthday due to preventable diseases and squalor living conditions.

Corruption, patronage, mismanagement, squalor and harsh environmental conditions still exacerbate conditions of poverty amongst children across Liberia. These conditions cause many parents to abandon their children to institutions, orphanages, the streets and adoption. Children’s progress in Liberia has come a long way from the widespread hardship they experienced during past two decades; however, far too many children still lives in chronic poverty without equal access to opportunity for better health, education, and future success.

Since 2006, the Sirleaf administration has devoted between 14-20 per cent of the national budgets to basic social services -- health, education, nutrition, sanitation, waste collection and clean water -- that benefit children most. This author believes that the Sirleaf administration needs to invest at a bare minimum 30 per cent of the country’s annual budget to basic services affecting children and promulgate targeted policies to enhance and improve their lives.

Additionally, the Sirleaf administration must forged new alliances with all civil society groups not only with those that are supporters and allies. But, also with those who are critics and detractors, and who by their standing can objectively offer constructive alternatives to assisting the administration tackle preventable diseases, provide safe drinking water, promote adequate toilets, and encourage proper hygiene promotion at every sector of the Liberian society.

This author calls on the Sirleaf administration to establish an independent department of children services and seek to build a children’s hospital catering specifically to children health issues. Additionally, the administration needs to review and strengthen children’s rights through the enactment of laws, which gives children explicit recognition as individuals. The rights of children as individuals, rather than members of a family must be expressly stated in national policy formulation under this administration. In order for children to take their rightful place in today’s Liberian, the Sirleaf administration must find the political will to fundamentally root significant social transformation that specifically benefits children and their families.

The State of the Liberian Child in 2009

One in four children in Liberia falls prey to death before their fifth birthday due to preventable diseases such as measles, diarrhea, and malaria. For instance, diarrhea is the leading cause of preventable death amongst children says UNICEF, and WATERAID. Yet, this gigantic killer of children is systematically neglected by the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare (MOH), in favor of the reckless and bogus policy of the Department of Social Welfare that depicts adoption as child trafficking, which it is not.

Over 75% of them struggle with daunting and dehumanizing social challenges resulting in 25% of them dying before age 5;

Over 40% of them do not have safe, accessible drinking water;

Over 19% of them die from diarrhea and infectious conditions caused by waterborne diseases;

Over 75% of them do not have access to adequate toilets;

Over 36% of them die from malaria and other poverty-related illnesses;

Over 85% of them have no access to adequate waste management or hygiene practices;

Over 37% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition with 7% of them suffering from acute malnutrition, causing stunting in nearly one-third, and leaving 1 in 5 underweight.

Over 500,000 children in Liberia are not in school. UNICEF says, of those enrolled in school, 42% of them sit on the bare floor without desks, or properly trained teachers to provide appropriate instructions, and adequate books to learn from;

Over 230,000 children are unparented, orphaned and abandoned with no strategic planning from the Ministry of Health and others on critical children’s issues except for the sensational, reckless and bogus claim that Intercountry adoption is child trafficking.

Today, Liberia is not on target of meeting most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 as agreed to at the United Nations in 2000. The MDGs set a framework for how the world could see the end of extreme poverty by the world’s poorest. The eight MDGs reflect an understanding of the devastation caused by global hunger and poverty and aim for a world that is free of such suffering. MDGs are to reduce hunger, provide access to primary education, and provide access to clean water; prevent children from dying of poverty-related illnesses, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Under the Sirleaf administration, Liberia has the means and the knowledge to protect and develop the lives of its children and diminish enormously their suffering. However, the administration must now muster the means, garner the political will and apply the practical knowledge, which exist on the ground, to make good on its promises to the children of Liberia. This author believes that the Sirleaf administration should affirm children's rights by improving children’s health, education, sanitation, water, and hygiene as critical stimulus to improving the prospects for their success. This is the test and yardstick from which to measure the kind of leadership that needs to be demonstrated in 2010 for the sake of the children and not for politics, patronage, party, ethnicity or family connection.

About The Author

Francis Nyepon is Country Director of the West African Children Support Network (WACSN) and managing partner of DUCOR Waste Management in Liberia. He is a policy analyst and Vice Chair of the Center for Security and Development Studies, and serves on several boards of humanitarian, environmental and human rights organizations in the United States and Liberia. He can be reached at fnyepon@gmail.com.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM WACSN-LIBERIA

2009-12-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

WACSN celebrates 14 years of providing humanitarian assistance to Liberia in 2010

Dear Friend:

As 2009 draws to a close, WACSN looks back on a proud history of providing humanitarian assistance to Liberia by supporting children in an effort to reduce poverty and improve families’ livelihood.

Peace, health, education, access to opportunity, and above all, the knowledge and love of God, are holiday gifts WACSN wishes on all Liberian families this year and many more years to come.

These are the adversities many ordinary Liberians endure each day. Many dream of a job to provide for their families, some wish for productive skill sets to improve livelihood, while others wish for food to feed their children.

This year as you celebrate the holidays, you can make the dreams and wishes of many ordinary Liberians come true by giving the ultimate holiday gift of HOPE – by choosing to support WACSN.

Your prayers, and the generosity of many of you, have made our success possible over the years. If you’ve been a supporter, we say “thank you." If this is your first introduction to WACSN, we hope you consider a tax-deductible donation to WACSN in this new year to help enrich the lives of children.

Bogus Charges against WACSN in Liberia

This year WACSN came under unwarranted and unprecedented attacks after 14 years of dedicated services to helping children and their families in Liberia. Although the Probate Court of Liberia ruled in favor of WACSN and found the government negligent in removing children with a court order, the politics of patronage and ethnicity interrupted the lives of innocent children. Many well meaning individuals presented distorted or confused views of international adoptions as a form of child trafficking to sensationalize public opinion on adoption in Liberia.

Erosion of Children’s Rights in Liberia

This year WACSN organized a symposium on the rights of the Liberian child because of the recently passed law in the lower house of the National Legislature. The symposium was intended to inform Senators of the upper house of the National Legislature where the Bill awaits deliberation before final passage into law. But, the intent of the symposium, ‘to promote children’s rights’, got misunderstood and taken out of context for political and personal reasons. Some organized groups saw the symposium as interfering with their turf and tempering unjustifiably in areas where only they should be heard on. WACSN is not deterred by these and other self-centered acts so long as our focus is on promoting the welfare of children and protecting their fundamental rights.

WACSN Reorganization

This year we are restructuring WACSN to enhance our circle of services to children and their families. We are building a new website, organizing new programs and projects, and setting up two new boards of directors in Liberia and the United States to guide us as we move forward with vigor, resilience and determination during the 2010 new year.

WACSN 2010

Throughout the New Year, we intend to focus more on our Spirit of Truth Pastoral Network as a springboard from which to leap into action spotlighting missions, adoptions and orphans. Our center of attention will be community driven with a focus on local Churches to provide basic services to enhance livelihood and living conditions of the people. Wouldn’t you come and join us as we endeavor to enrich the lives of children and their families through the power of Jesus Christ?

Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday and a prosperous new year.

Francis W. Nyepon

WACSN-Liberia

Country Director

LIBERIA CHILD RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM REPORT

2009-11-17T19:26:00.000-08:00

On Friday, November 13, 2009, the First Annual Liberia Child Rights Symposium was held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Liberia. The symposium was organized in part by the Child Protection Alliance of Liberia (CPAL) which was founded by WACSN in 2008. We believe this event helped make great strides for the children of Liberia and the issue of adoption. To view a report of the symposium, please click on the icon to the left.

PRESS RELEASE: Liberian Child Rights Symposium, November 13 and 14

2009-11-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Children Protection Alliance of Liberia in sponsorship and collaboration with FOHRD (the Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy), JPC (the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission), AFLL (the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia), LDI (the Liberia Democratic Institute), FIND (the Foundation for International Dignity), LCC (the Liberian Council of Churches), and NMCL (the National Muslim Council of Liberia) will hold a two day Symposium on the Rights of the Liberian Child.

The Symposium will take place at the Capitol Building under the theme "Looking beyond the 2009 Children’s Bill."

The two day Symposium is an interactive round table discussion aimed at ensuring that the evolving Children’s Bill serves the best interest of the Liberian Child.

Purposed topics for presentation during the Symposium will include: The Protection of the Liberian Child in contemporary Human Rights Practices, Towards a Human Rights Regime for the Children of Liberia, Appraising the proposed Children Law among others.

Speakers at the symposium will address the most pressing challenges facing the Liberian Child. Following the deliberations, participants will convene in group sessions and work out recommendations to strengthen the children’s Bill and advice legislators on the thinking of a broad spectrum of the Liberian society regarding the bill.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is among legislators, policymakers, child rights advocates, Supreme Court Justices, religious leaders, children services providers and the media that are expected to attend.

The Symposium will also see the National Interfaith Council of Liberia, students of the Louise Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia, the National Child Rights Observatory Group, the Liberian National Student Union, Federation of Liberian Youth, Children Services Providers, Union of Orphanages in Liberia, making presentation that would form part of the symposium’s resolution.

The Symposium is being held in association with the following organizations: Adoption Services Providers, Child Advocacy International, National Union of Liberian Orphanages and Children Welfare Institute, Children Assistance Program, Mano River Women Network for Peace, Liberian Girls Guide Association, Boy Scouts of Liberia, Liberia National Student Union, Varsity Christian Fellowship, Christian Health Association of Liberia, Young Men’s Christian Association, and Young Women’s Christian Association.

Sister Pam Gremillion: "Precious in the sight of the LORD are the death of HIS saints."

2009-10-26T04:32:00.000-07:00

The Gremillion, Luyken and WACSN families regret to announce the home going of our wife, mother, sister and friend Pam Gremillion. This sad event occurred on Sunday morning October 25, 2009. She was a very beautiful, caring and generous woman who touched the lives of many. She worked with all her heart to find a forever-family for over three hundred Liberian children in America and Canada. She will be remembered most by her greetings in the name of Jesus. Her life was an example of Christ our Lord Jesus whom she loved and adored to the very end. Sister Pam leaves to celebrate her life her husband Charles, four daughters and the entire WACSN family. For those of us who were blessed to know her, her spirit will live on. We love you Sister Pam, but God loves you best.

“You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her only that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

– David Harkins

So we say this now to you Sister Pam: Sail on dear sister, Sail on.

The funeral will be held at Memphis Memorial Park: 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38119. Visitation will be from 12:00 - 1:00pm, with the service beginning right after.

Spirit of Truth Has it's first visitors....

2009-09-03T04:09:00.000-07:00

Recently The Spirit of Truth Pastoral Network had the honor of hosting their first guests to Liberia:
Rev. Sonya Lydford, and her daughter Denise.
We invited Rev. Sonya to write something for the Spirit of Truth blog, she very graciously agreed to do so.

My 19 year old daughter Denise and I have had the extraordinary opportunity, and privilege to be a part of WACSN for the past week and a half, changing minds and attitudes about adoption. The public view of adoption is very grim. Denise, and I have spoken in a Palava hut at the University of Liberia, Veritas radio show, Star radio, ELWA radio, and the UN radio. As well as 6 different church settings. We were also able to visit with the families of my adopted children, as well as the pending adoptions. Spanning from Monteserrado County all the way to Bong County. Most recently we have spent time with Senators, introducing ourselves, telling them why we are here, and inviting them to discuss the pros and cons of the Childrens Rights Bill now sitting before them in the senate.
We have experienced the good and the bad of Liberia. This was our first trip, but I pray it won’t be our last. We are looking forward to the adoption of our 3 children still pending the lifting of the adoption ban. Prayer is what Liberia truly needs as many intelligent senators and their constituents have succumbed to such horrific rumors of adoption. To our advantage, America is viewed as a place as good as “heaven” itself.
If you or someone you know from Liberia through any organization, I urge you to send updates. This shows the Liberian parents, their village, and or neighbors, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as the lawmakers themselves….that indeed the Liberian children are alive and well! Even if your children are struggling with issues, and you hesitate to send bad news. It is important to let them know that they are alive, and eating well. Growing, and learning in school. Send photos to show how the children are doing. The Ministry of Health needs these, as do the families of the children. So please send at least two pictures. I believe this will help quite a bit. Also, please do NOT send the parents/families money as it only hurts the purpose by sending everyone the wrong message of adoption. I understand the aching heart that wants to provide for the family left behind, but it is best done by giving to an organization such as WACSN. They can best address much larger, and more critical issues to their survival and well being…… for example water purification, waste management, and adoption.
I’d like to thank all of you for your continued support of WACSN, for Liberia, and the people of Liberia. Pray. Pray. Pray.
In conclusion I’d like to strongly encourage adoptive parents who have had an adoption in process at the time of the ban, to fight for their children! We can contact the American Embassy in Liberia as well as our own states senators. Americans need to make some noise, and make our voices be heard! We have much power, and we need to use it!
With much love,
Rev. Sonya Lydford
If you have any questions please e-mail me at smilenny@aol.com

LIBERIA: Inter-Country Adoption: The Horrible Ripple Effects of False Accusation

2009-08-14T03:41:00.000-07:00

The horrible, false accusations with which the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH) smeared the reputation of the West African Children Support Network (WACSN) in a dispute over bogus charges of child trafficking are having an adverse ripple effect on the image of Liberia in the United States. It can be recalled that several months ago, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Joseph Geebro, granted interviews to media outlets in the United States disseminating misleading and ambiguous information about Inter-country adoption in Liberia involving WACSN. In a telephone interview with the Eden Prairie Star Tribune of Minnesota, USA, the deputy minister falsely accused WACSN, a reputable children’s support agency of smuggling children out of the country without proper documentation when in fact; two of the children in question were in the care of the government and the other in the care of a biological grandmother.
The deputy minister was very aware of the fact that the phony charges against WACSN were concocted by his co-worker Lydia Sherman in a calculated and politically motivated move due to the lack of the WACSN president and founder refusal to provides. Notwithstanding, what the deputy minister selectively chose not to mention is the fact that WACSN has been one of the only children service agency in Liberia that provided food, medicine, clothing to orphanages and children during the critical years of the Liberian civil war (1999-2003). According to Dr. Peter Coleman, former Minister of Health, and Madam Diana Davis, former President of the Association of Orphanages in Liberia, WACSN stood in the gap during the critical years of the Liberian civil war when the Government of Liberia was missing-in-action. Many Liberians now serving in government took refuge and sanctuary outside of the country while over 100,000 innocent Liberian children died needlessly.
According to a high level official in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, who also served in a senior level position in the MOH (2000 to 2006), spoke on condition of anonymity because she is not authorized to speak on a pending matter. This official stated that since 1997, every official in the MOH was made aware that WACSN has been singlehandedly providing generous and extensive services to Liberian orphanages and children irrespective of their ethnicity, social status, religion or class. She reiterated a well-known fact that many average Liberians already know that WACSN gained notoriety during the height of the Liberian civil war when it transported and provided food, clothing and medicine to starving children and families at the war front in Lofa, Nimba and Bong Counties. Rather than Mr. Geebro and Ms. Sherman tarnishing the reputation of this great Liberian Children’s Institution that stood in “the gap” during the critical stages of the Liberian civil war, they should be singing the praises of WASCSN. More than that, they should be joining WACSN in furthering its cause to provide unbridled and unconditional support to poor families and all the Children of Liberia.
Recently, some American adoptive parents expressed serious concern over the manner in which officials at the MOH treated these families when they were prevented from taking their children out of Liberia after obtaining a Court Decree granting them the legal right and permission to adopt several Liberian children. Their concerns were translated to other American families waiting and wanting to adopt Liberian children; including Americans wishing to engage in private investment in Liberia. The customary ugly tactics used by these officials at the MOH against WACSN have far-reaching and long term effects on people who want to help Liberia other than just adopt Liberian children. Since Americans became involved with Liberia through inter-country adoption, many have had a desire to do much more after their adoption experience was completed.
Many in their own way became goodwill ambassadors for Liberia by encouraging others to take a second look at Liberia and assist its people in a positive manner through business, social development and philanthropy. By attempting to ruin the integrity of WACSN, these MOH Officials are also accusing Americans who adopted Liberian children of also engaging in child trafficking. Is this the kind of message Liberia want to send to the international community?
“This behavior is preposterous and could have a negative ripple effect on the people-to-people relations between Americans and Liberians,” say Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Piety of Tennessee, USA. According to the Pietys, after seeing how the Government of Liberia works through the MOH, many Americans have become very disheartened and disillusioned to think that they could be of any real help to Liberia. Thanks to these two officials in the Department of Social Welfare, at the Ministry of Health, their actions have done Liberia a real disservice. Innocent children, which due to no fault of their own, find themselves embedded in communities that are caught in a cycle of disease, poverty and dehumanizing living conditions. This author believes that Inter-country adoption is
It is sad to see a mother or father who desperately wants another family to parent their child not given that choice. In other words, by Liberian parents opting to have their children adopted freely and justly under the Domestic Relations Laws of Liberia, without remuneration or coercion is not unethical or a crime. The manner in which a few at the Department of Social Welfare have treated Liberian parents and their adopted children speaks volumes to anyone in America desiring to help Liberian families. Many Americans have even questioned the utility value of aid money their government has earmarked for Liberia when it appears that the MOH cannot be trusted with equitably dealing with the least amongst its citizens, the innocent children.
When Judge James Zotaa in “Criminal Court A” ruled in May that the 35 WACSN children were illegally removed from the organization’s compound without a court order, there was nothing done to right that wrong by returning the children to WACSN. This act was in fact an absolute disregard for justice and the rule of law. This author genuinely believes that those in the Ministry of Health need to consider not only the impact they are having on the children they illegally removed without a court order, but also the shame they have brought to our country.
Let us call to order those who have not heard that ‘corruption is public enemy number one’, and are still choosing to perpetuate corruption as a de facto way of life in Liberia. A handful of misguided individuals at the MOH cannot be allowed to bring disrepute upon Liberia. Because WACSN refused to provide inducement when propositioned, is that sufficient reason why the character of this reputable organization be tarnished? Aren’t we all trying to build a new political dispensation where our country would change and evolve into a democratically driven society where the personification of integrity, honesty and a deep sense of purpose and nationalism would be achieved?
The Ministry of Health should reestablish its cordial working relationship with WACSN, other Children Services Providers and Child Advocacy Groups as it once did and collectively work to improve the lot of all Liberian Children. WACSN is a Christian based NGO that works with children, families and community-base groups to strengthen local people. Its Pastoral Network comprises of 800 grassroot churches and 1000 Pastors that promote the body of Christ in Liberia through sustainable development projects and protection of the environment. The children are the future of Liberia. Who will protect and guide them if it does not first start with MOH and Children Services Providers? Where would they be, if we did not nurture them properly in becoming productive and upright citizens? How would we develop our country, if children are not given a positive direction on the way forward to change their attitude, behavior and mindset? Liberians must fundamentally improve the livelihood of those living at the bottom of the social strata, especially the innocent and helpless children.

Francis W. Nyepon

LIBERIA – Adoption, Politics and the State

2009-08-05T03:11:00.000-07:00

One out of every four children in Liberia lives in extreme poverty. This is the result of Liberia’s civil war, deplorable social, economic and environmental conditions, which have deprived Liberian children of protection and fundamental human rights. Throughout the civil crisis, and again during the post-conflict era, these conditions made the plight of unparented Liberian children visible to the world, and forced many persons in advanced countries into action based on humanitarian ground. This author believes that the solution to this problem is to support the adoption of all unparented children in Liberia. Adoption provides that solution because it provides for the nurturing and caring of unparented children. Whether domestic or inter-country, adoption offers the permanent placement for orphaned, abandoned, vulnerable and street children in homes with loving families.

With the brutalities of the civil war behind us, adoption presents itself as a viable option for Liberians seeking a bright future for unparented children. Nurturing and caring for unparented children is an invaluable exercise of unconditional love demonstrated by individuals desiring to expand their families and provide a safe home for a child. Of course, the biggest obstacle to the fulfillment of children’s rights in Liberia is poverty. Yet, as we know, Liberia’s government is in no position to provide even the basic nurturing and care needed for Liberia’s unparented children. Obviously, therefore, poverty remains fundamentally the root cause of the conditions that limit our ability to improve the living standards of the Liberian child.

While it is true that adoption is among the oldest and most rewarding of human practices, its expansion into the international arena is in fact the least understood for many Liberians. As such, it is not without controversy that individuals who do not fully understand its complexities hold positions that do more harm than good to the debate on adoption. The result is that the vexing social conditions of Liberia’s unparented children have received rhetorical rather than practical solutions.

Traditionally, Liberians will assume responsibility for a relative’s child when that relative dies or is incapacitated. This is the principal form of adoption known to most Africans. Here, an adopted child is always a relative who is treated more as a ward than as a natural child. There are other forms of adoption, including inter-country adoption, which is similar to the latter except that individuals automatically assume responsibility for a child not related to them. In this case, the adopted child is viewed and treated as if he or she were a natural child. In addition, inter-country adoption allows children to accrue rights and privileges that pertain to an individual’s natural-born child including the right of inheritance and all other duties and privileges that pertain to a natural-born child.

Over the past 20 years, Inter-country adoption became widely known to ordinary Liberians. For most, it is an essential method of serving the needs of orphaned, abandoned, unparented and street children. On the one hand, while it is an effective means for combating malnutrition, disease, poverty and illiteracy, it is, on the other hand, a remedy for the desperate state of uncertainty and embarrassment generated by the plight of the Liberian child. Overcoming this uncertainty and embarrassment requires sustained international goodwill and intervention. Liberia’s unparented children could not survive without international intervention. However, beyond its instrumental utility as a humanitarian intervention, inter-country adoption provides hope for many unparented Liberian children born into a difficult reality of poverty, disease and war. It offers countless opportunities with great possibilities for many unparented Liberian children who are facing the future with severe test with issues of respect, dignity, opportunity and protection.

According to UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, more than 300,000 children in Liberia are unparented due to the war, death, or abandonment. Many live in desperately inadequate orphanage conditions, on the streets or in urban homes as domestics performing housework in exchange for food and basic protection from the streets. As a matter of personal wellbeing, this form of support may be appreciated but it is grossly inadequate. The UNICEF report shows both real and potential risks for Liberia’s unparented children.

In a 2008 UN report, 500,000 children in Liberia are not regularly enrolled in school; and, of the 300,000 that are enrolled in school, a staggering 40% are without qualified teachers, proper supervision, not to mention instructional materials. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented that over 37% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, while 7% suffer from acute malnutrition, leaving one in five children underweight in Liberia. The report further states that more than 25% of children in Liberia under five die each year from malnutrition, lack of clean drinking water, and preventable and treatable diseases, including garbage-borne diseases that result from poor hygiene, while 75% of children die from waterborne diseases and lack of access to adequate toilets. The report concludes that the lack of adequate healthcare, difficulties accessing education, employment and social marginalization cause many children to live in total destitution.

To this author, these conditions will cause Liberia to fall further behind in its development efforts if we do nothing to support the adoption of children, especially unparented children who suffer these conditions. This author’s case is that despite Liberia’s traditional kinship, foster-care, or extended family system of care-giving—a much needed service to children—little will be lost if we embrace inter-country adoption as a solution to supplement the traditional system of care-giving. In the past, orphaned, abandoned children or others who could not be cared for by their birthparents were taken in by relatives. As conditions worsen for many of our people, many surrogate parents are reconsidering their commitment to traditional standards and practice of care-giving, especially towards orphaned, abandoned and unparented children.

To make matters worse, the civil war, forced migration, economic dislocation and other crises created unprecedented numbers of unparented children for whom such traditional external family-care has become unavailable or extinct. For example, the civil war, including the attending economic dislocation of the population has forced many parents not only to leave home but also to abandon their children, thus, upsetting the extended family system. The result is the mass migration we see in the Monrovia Metropolitan Area (MMA), where most people sought sanctuary and work. When parents fall victim as they often do to the ravages of war and poverty, their children become vulnerable and are often subject to abuse and neglect. This leads children either to the streets or poorly supervised and inadequate orphanages which offer little to no hope for a bright future. No Liberian child should be denied an opportunity to escape such tragic conditions.

Given these conditions, it is safe then for this author to conclude that inter-country adoption offers a substantially better outcome for unparented Liberian children than the alternatives which now dominate the landscape. Notwithstanding, over the past four years, powerful political forces have aligned against inter-country adoption in Liberia, and have had an impact on the policies coming out of the Sirleaf administration. The administration has completely shot down inter-country adoption without an open discussion with service providers. The administration is promulgating a new regulatory regime, pending the conclusion of a presidential commission. This need not be this way as it may have an adverse effect on children, especially those in the pipeline for inter-country adoption. After all, these are Liberia’s children who are being adopted, not because we wish to dispose of them, but because we have a moral responsibility to secure their future.

Yes, this author agrees that inter-country adoption is a relatively new phenomenon for many Liberians, including policymakers and parents. However, for many Liberians, especially poor parents that are trapped in desperately fixed poverty conditions; the desire for better alternatives for their children’s advancement is paramount. Yearning for a better future for one’s child is a natural behavior and instinctive human conduct. It cannot be used to exploit the horrific social conditions of ordinary Liberians simply to satisfy a well-intentioned, but ill-fated social or political agenda. Hence, calling for a moratorium on inter-country adoption without a national dialogue or adequate justification impedes the progress, indeed, success of orphaned, unparented, vulnerable Liberian children.

Accordingly, nonprofit international organizations and institutions who desire to see Liberian children succeed and improve must make every effort to see to it that the adoption process works completely. Individuals in these organizations and institutions have a moral responsibility to support inter-country adoption in a manner that neither undermines nor limits the number of children that can legally be adopted by European and American families. We may disagree on the methods by which these organizations fund their efforts -- the images of death, destruction, hunger, destitution and disease they use throughout the media in both Europe and America — but, we must respect their motives, especially their desire to advance the cause of Liberia’s children. Surely, these organizations can expand their efforts to support inter-country adoption as a viable alternative and supplement to their efforts. This way, we accomplish two objectives relative to the plight of the Liberian child: (1) provide support for unparented children who live in Liberia, and (2) support those children already placed for adoption with families outside Liberia. These two objectives need not be in competition with one another. Similarly, they need not place advocates and supporters on opposing sides where compromise is impossible and unattainable.

What has happened in the past is that officials of government who should support this noble cause and drive the discussion about how best to serve Liberia’s unparented children, seems to have taken sides and formulated a fixed opinion on this sensitive issue thereby making it practically impossible to facilitate or begin any meaningful dialogue on the plight of all of the children, including those already placed with families outside of Liberia. Some of these families have invested time and money in attempting to complete the process of adopting many of Liberia’s unparented children. Many have waited a long time to conclude this process because of the presidential ban and moratorium on inter-country adoption. The Liberian Government has a moral obligation to ensure that these families are made whole. The Sirleaf administration has an even greater responsibility to ensure that these families are treated the way a just society treats its people.

This author believes that any comprehensive national strategy attempting to deal with children in Liberia must incorporate inter-country adoption as an integral part of its final outcome. For example, many of the models presented on inter-country adoption in ‘the Children’s Act’ are offered with a preference for in-country foster care-giving over inter-country adoption. Many in fact express giving mandatory holding periods during which children must be kept in-country before they can be placed internationally, which the author believes is harmful to the Liberian child, if not the state. For instance, ‘the Children’s Act’ gives no credence explicitly to the fact that the vast majority of Liberian children are suffocating from a host of treatable social conditions and socioeconomic challenges; including, many other problems caused by environmental degradation.

Furthermore, the ‘Children’s’ Act fails to recognize the fact that children who birth parents cannot adequately care for them or provide permanent nurturing to them for whatever reasons, are not allowed to exercise their fundamental right of placing their child internationally in a permanent adoptive home. On the one hand, the act does not ensure that the process is fair and balance; on the other hand, the implementation of the policy at the initial stage leaves open the possibility for bureaucratic red-tape and unconstrained extortion. Let’s face it, inter-country adoption is the best alternative to provide Liberian children with needed resources for personal growth and development. The Ministry of Health and the Presidential Task Force on Adoption needs to make every effort to identify unparented children and immediately grant them first preference to be adopted. Second, those children who cannot be reunited with their birthparents or those for whom the preferable permanent parenting solution of our traditional kinship/foster-care system is not immediately available, should be allowed to be adopted in short order.

Ultimately, the ‘Children’s Act’, does not consider inter-country adoption as a permanent nurturing placement option for children. It does not lend itself to the view that adoption is a fundamental right of every Liberian irrespective of social status. In fact, the Act does not present themes and concepts that are authentically Liberian. Its underlying intent is rooted fundamentally in European and American ideals while ignoring traditional Liberian ideals and values. Thus, the Act fails to give needed attention to the dire circumstances of the Liberian child’s relationship to family and a long heritage of giving, compassion, and trust of parents and elders.

Every Liberian has the fundamental right to relinquish or place their child for adoption. And, yet, the ‘Act’ fails to identify with the fact that abject poverty and unbearable socioeconomic conditions are the direct cause of inter-country adoption. It doesn’t acknowledge that inter-country adoption is consistent with other positive social responses to the problems of unparented children, or the fact that it brings new consciousness and resources to Liberia through the child. This author would suggest as countless others have done, that inter-country adoption brings fresh awareness to the plight of poor children and poor communities in Liberia. In fact, this may boost the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) by focusing attention on the plight of children, including their health, sanitation, clean drinking water, hygiene, nutrition, education, the environment, and the air they breathe.

In closing, what we have is not an either - or case. There are Liberian children who lack parents and who desperately need help outside of the traditional kinship and foster-care system. The alternatives are limited. This author’s point, therefore, is to support “Inter-country adoption” while maintaining that in-country adoption be sustained. There is no greater responsibility than to grant the needs of families who wish to adopt unparented children whether inside or outside Liberia. This is an imperative we must not and cannot ignore as a people.

Francis Nyepon

About The Author: Francis Nyepon is managing partner of DUCOR Waste Management in Liberia. He is a policy analyst and vice chair of the Center for Security and Development Studies, and serves on several boards of humanitarian, environmental and human rights organizations in the United States and Liberia. He can be reached at francis.nyepon@gmail.com

Support for International Adoption Principles Grows at Harvard Law School

2009-07-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

Harvard Law School’s Child Advocacy Program (CAP) and the Center for Adoption Policy win key backers for International Adoption Policy Statement
Professor Elizabeth Bartholet
June 15, 2009
Support for International Adoption principles is growing, says HLS Professor Elizabeth Bartholet, citing endorsements for Policy Statement and the recent Malawi ruling in the Madonna case.
Harvard Law School’s Child Advocacy Program (CAP) and the Center for Adoption Policy have won key endorsements promoting International Adoption to help meet the needs of homeless children worldwide.
Working with some of the nation’s leading child and human rights experts, CAP recently led a campaign to disseminate their International Adoption Policy Statement, and has now won backing from more than 130 legal scholars in the fields of human rights, child rights, civil rights, and family law, and from six children’s rights and adoption policy organizations.
CAP helped develop the Policy Statement to address the crisis in international adoption, as UNICEF and other organizations have increased the pressure to shut down adoption in favor of keeping children in their countries of origin at all costs. The Policy Statement takes the position that International Adoption should be part of a comprehensive strategy to address the needs of unparented children, and that it generally serves children’s needs far better than available in-country options like orphanages and foster care.
HLS Professor Elizabeth Bartholet ’65 said that “these endorsements demonstrate that organizations like UNICEF and Save the Children should not be seen as having a lock on the child human rights position. Many of the nation’s leading experts on child and human rights have joined in this campaign to endorse the principle that children’s most basic rights are to grow up in the true family that is often available only in International Adoption.”
Bartholet announced the Policy Statement endorsements in the same week the Supreme Court of Appeal in the Republic of Malawi released a decision granting Madonna’s application to adopt Chifundo “Mercy” James. “The Malawi court’s ruling is consistent with the core principles in our Policy Statement,” said Bartholet. “I applaud the court for making the child’s best interests primary, and approving the adoption so that Mercy can be released from the orphanage to grow up in a family.”
The Malawi court found adoption required under basic human rights principles contained in Malawi law and applicable international treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its key conclusions were: (1) the best interests of the child must be determinative in decisions related to adoption; (2) children’s most fundamental interests lie in being raised in a true family; and (3) technical “residence” requirements for adoption must be read in light of the new international order characterized by “globalization and the global village.”
Bartholet said that the ruling in the Madonna case is consistent with other recent court rulings in South Africa and India. “It is all evidence of a growing understanding that basic human rights principles point to making use of International Adoption as a source of homes for children in need,” said Bartholet.
Elizabeth Bartholet
Morris Wasserstein Public Interest Professor of Law
Faculty Director, Child Advocacy Program

Biographical Statement
Elizabeth Bartholet is the Morris Wasserstein Public Interest Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Child Advocacy Program (CAP) at Harvard Law School, where she teaches civil rights and family law, specializing in child welfare, adoption and reproductive technology. Before joining the Harvard Faculty, she was engaged in civil rights and public interest work, first with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and later as founder and director of the Legal Action Center, a non-profit organization in New York City focused on criminal justice and substance abuse issues.
Key Backers Endorse International Adoption Policy Statement - June 15, 2009
More than 130 legal scholars in the fields of human rights, child rights, civil rights, and family law, and from six children's rights and adoption policy organizations have endorsed the Int'l Adoption Policy Statement. The Malawi court's recent ruling approving Madonna's second adoption is consistent with the core principles in this Policy Statement.
Campaign to Support Child Rights and International Adoption - May 2009
Learn more about our International Adoption Campaign. If you are a faculty member, represent a law school program or a non-profit organization, you can endorse our International Adoption Policy Statement.
CAP Faculty Director's NYTimes Editorial "Celebrity Adoptions and the Real World" - May 10, 2009
In a New York Times editorial, CAP Faculty Director Elizabeth Bartholet was one of six contributors who shared their opinions on international adoption and what the standard should be for allowing international adoptions.
Research Assistant Position at CAP - Apply by April 24, 2009
Prof. Bartholet is looking for part-time help from a Research Assistant in mid-May to mid-June 2009 period in connection with article on International Adoption. Work can be done from a distance by email and telephone, since limited time needed would be consistent with another job. Send her (ebarthol@law.harvard.edu) emails indicating interest with c.v.'s by end of day Friday April 24th.
Save the Children from Save the Children - Press Release on Madonna's 2nd Adoption
CAP and associates release a statement in response to the Malawi court decision on Madonna's second adoption.
Clinical Forum - April 6, 2009
Stop by the Child Advocacy Clinic table at the Clinical Forum organized by the Office of Clinical Programs. The Forum is a great opportunity to learn about how CAP's Clinic works. 6:00-8:00 PM, Austin Hall, First Floor, Harvard Law School
Lunch Conversation on Forced Marriage - March 16, 2009
Join the Child Advocacy Program for a lunch conversation on Forced Marriage in the United Kingdom with Visiting CAP Scholar Mary Welstead. Lunch will be provided. Noon - 1:00 PM, Pound 407, Harvard Law School.
ABA Program on Public School Reform - Feb. 13, 2009
What is the Role of Lawyers and the ABA in promoting public school reform for at-risk youth? Join the ABA and others for this FREE day-long event. Hynes Convention Center, Room 309, 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
International Adoption Conference - March 6, 2009
Join the Center for Adoption Policy, HLS's Child Advocacy Program, and the Justice Action Center at New York Law School for "International Adoption, the United States and the Reality of the Hague System."
CAP Faculty Director Quoted in Calgary Herald Article on International Adoption - Nov. 8, 2008
CAP Faculty Director Elizabeth Bartholet responds to recent attacks on international adoption in a recent article in the Calgary Herald

Update On Adoptions~ July 3~2009

2009-07-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

To All Adopting Families of WACSN

Everyone here on the ground at WACSN – Liberia ask that you please except our deepest apology for not reaching out to you expeditiously as we would have liked. We would like to thank each and every one of you for being patient. While it is true that it has really been a very long time since we last posted any new information on the blog, we have been trying our level headed best to honor the Court Ordered instructions that placed a news block-out on communications regarding the case since all parties including WACSN have been ordered into conference to find an amicable resolution to the matter.

During this period, we have been engaged in active and ongoing communications with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Justice regarding the return of the children to WACSN’s care.

Things look very promising regarding the return of the children to WACSN. Please know that the presidential ban on adoption in Liberia has absolutely nothing to do with WACSN, but all to do with putting in place new adoption laws and regulations to replace our outdated ones that have not been revised to meet international standards over the past 40 years.

Liberia is very much interested in inter-country adoption, and we can assure you that every child that has been spoken for will be allowed to leave the country to be united with his/her adopting parents. The presidential ban on all adoptions in Liberia has not yet been lifted; hence, no adoption agency or individual in Liberia is allowed to process adoption here at this time. Activities of all six adoption agencies regarding the processing of adoption in Liberia remain on hold.

As a collective, adoption agencies have been holding meetings with stakeholders and meeting with Senators privately and as a group encouraging them to seriously consider passing the Children’s Act Bill or have the adoption portion of the legislation be removed from the Children’s Act Bill so that it can be debated and passed separately and independently.

On Wednesday June 24, Francis Nyepon met with an Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia concerning inter-country Adoption. The discussion centered on the law and why a reputable adoption agency (WACSN) and the MOH were at loggerhead about inter-country adoption. The Associate Justice also wanted to know from WACSN how adoption agencies in Liberia conduct adoption and by which means American parents come to adopt Liberian children. He also asked about any concerns that WACSN and other agencies had regarding adoption that should be looked into by the government and our particular disagreement with the MOH and MOJ.

Francis presented a written narrative to the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia regarding adoption and incorporated WACSN’s position on a way forward. A report was prepared dealing with adopting parents, the perspective of adoption agencies on the Children’s Bill that is currently pending before the House of Senate, and particularly the concern of many adopting parents. We give E-mails and letters from many adopting parents to the Associate Justice. The report included aspects of WACSN current engagement and dialogue with the MOJ and MOH through a Court Ordered conference with our lawyers. To our surprise, the very next day, Francis got a call from the Associate Justice assuring us that the matter will be brought immediately and directly to the attention of the president, and that he requested a meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Justice to discuss the matter in more detail.

We will personally continue to update you in this manner on developments regarding the Court Order conference and ongoing discussion and feedback from the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia on the matter.

Please communicate directly with Sister Pam and Francis. We ask that you please leave Maria out of all adoption matters for now so that she can continue to heal her family in love and peace after the untimely death of her husband just on May 3, 2009. We promise each of you that we will do our best to assist and answer any questions or concerns you or your family may have now and in the future.

May God’s purpose for you and each members of your family whom continue to burn in your hearts, and may you all seek diligently to fulfill it. May He bless each of you indeed, is our sincere prayer at WACSN.

In Him,

WACSN – Liberia Staff

Press Release

2009-06-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

Press Release
(June 07, 2009, Monrovia) The former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, and Past President of the Association of Orphanages in Liberia, Diana Davis, added her voice to the Inter-country adoption debate that has been taken place in the Country over the past few months. Madam Davis questioned the so-called suspension of WACSN’s certification as an adoption agency and legal NGO by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare when in fact the Ministry of Health does not have the authority by law to certificate any adoption agency in Liberia.
Madam Davis revealed that the exercise of Liberian adoption is the sole prerogative of the Probate Court of Liberia. She noted that the Domestic Relations Law of Liberia, revealed that: “the Probate Court is the final arbiter of adoptions in Liberia. An order of adoption abrogation made by a Judge of said Court shall have the force and effect of and shall be entitled to all the presumptions attaching to a judgment rendered by a court of general jurisdiction in a common law action” (Domestic Relations Law of Liberia, Subchapter C, Part I, Section 5.51).
Madam Diana Davis says most of those leading this false charge against WACSN abandoned the children of Liberia during the war and took sanctuary in the safety of the United States with their families. She concluded that the MOH action to suspend WACSN certification which it did not issue is also illegal. “The Ministry does not license or certificate NGO, nor does it accept filing of Articles of Incorporation from NGOs. Equally, the MOH does not certificate adoption agencies”, the release said.
Madam Diana Davis added that it was always WACSN that provided; food, medicine, clothing to orphanages and street children throughout the country when the government could least afford to do so. The former Deputy Minister says that it was WACSN who stood in the gap where the government was missing-in-action. “Accordingly, to hear officials at MOH tarnishing the reputation and good work of WACSN today is unacceptable and abominable”, she said.
Investigation conducted by several independent Human Rights groups and permanent news outlets in Monrovia revealed that two officials in the Department of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH), fabricated allegations of child trafficking against adoption agencies in Monrovia.
It can be recalled that the government of Liberia through the Health and Social Welfare Ministry suspended the certificate of adoption of the WACSN on grounds the organization was engaged in child trafficking; the allegation proved to be wrong by Criminal Court “A”. The Independent Human Rights Center dragged the two parties to Court and the Health Ministry was found guilty of illegally removing 35 children from the compound of WACSN.
Dr. Peter Coleman, former Minister of Health and Social Welfare (1997-2006), added that WACSN was the key player and channel used by the Ministry of Health, the International Red Cross, the World Health Organization and the World Food Program (WFP) to get relief, medicine and food supplies to children and families caught at the frontlines between belligerent warring factions in the brutal civil conflict.
He indicated that for the past 11 years, the organization engaged in feeding, caring and providing for children. WACSN is a Christian based NGO that works with children, families and community-based groups to strengthen local people. Its Pastoral Network comprises of 800 grass-root churches and 1000 Pastors that promote the body of Christ in Liberia through sustainable development projects and protection of the environment. The organization became renowned in the country and abroad doing the height of the civil war when it transported and provided food, clothing and medicine for starving children and families throughout greater Monrovia and at the war front in Lofa, Nimba and Bong Counties.
According to a release the independent investigation revealed that one of the nation’s most reputable children services providers, the West African Children Support Network (WACSN) which has been continuously operating legally in the country since 1997, was charged with this bogus claim. Since 2003, WACSN became involved in processing adoption to the United States through a direct appeal from the US Embassy in Monrovia.

Getting the job done~

2009-05-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Some of the hard-
working guys here at the WACSN compound. Lamine(on the tire) Kwesi(in front) Agon....and the guy you can't see who is actually working on our bus....Lazo~ These are just a few of the guys around here that help keep the bus's on the road, and the compound from falling down around us! Thanks guys!!!

Over the next few posts we'd like to introduce the behind the scenes people who help to make our compound run smoothly.

Current Events In Our Court Case

2009-05-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Current Events In The WACSN Court Case:

The Court ordered WACSN and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH) into conference after a request was made by lawyers for the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

My name is Francis Nyepon. I am representing WACSN in the settlement and reconciliation conference ordered by the Court along with our very able team of lawyers lead by the former Solicitor General of Liberia.

The Judge unequivocally stated that the MOH illegally removed the children from the WACSN Children’s Home. It would seem that the judge would have ordered the children returned to WACSN; but, as you would suspect, politics have now inexcusably entered into the plight of these innocent and helpless children.

There have been three conferences or settlement talks between WACSN, MOJ and MOH to settle this matter.

Here’s a recap of what has happened during the Court proceedings thus far.

First, it has been established by the Court that the MOH illegally removed the 35 Children from the WACSN Children’s Home by not seeking a court order to do so. After establishing this fact, the Court however requested that the MOH present all evidence on trafficking and/or smuggling of children by WACSN as have been alleged. The MOH could not and did not produce any evidence, or give any probable cause as to why they did not respect the rule of law.

During the Court proceedings, WACSN lawyers was able to articulate and demonstrate that the children, which WACSN was being accused of smuggling were in fact in the custody of the MOH and among the 35 children unlawfully taken. Throughout the proceedings, WACSN lawyers also presented documentation on old cases of children that have already been adopted and left the country; documentation on completed new adoption cases; and documentation on cases that were in process prior to the presidential band on adoption in January 2009. This was done to prove that all adoption work conducted by WACSN had been performed legally and within the confines of the Domestic Law of the Republic of Liberia. These actions established to the Court’s satisfaction that WACSN did not traffic or smuggled any children out of the country.

WACSN’s lawyers also presented to the Court, Dr. Susan Olson of Huron, South Dakota, a medical doctor who was the last person to conduct a comprehensive medical examination of all 35 children less than a year ago. Dr. Olson visited Liberia as a volunteer of WACSN and spent extensive time with the children at the WACSN children’s home. Dr. Olson also gave her professional opinion on the physical care, health, and wellbeing of the children. She presented growth charts of the children that included nutritional data, developmental levels of motor skill.

At the end of the Court proceedings and presentations, the Judge called for a closed-door meeting in his chambers between the lawyers representing WACSN, MOJ and MOH. After that meeting, the Judge came out to say in open court that based upon the request made by the Ministry of Justice, he was ordering the parties to come up with an amicable solution to reconcile and resolve the matter.

The first reconciliation meeting was held at the MOH where all parties including Mrs. Urey, head of the WACSN adoption program, and I represented WACSN. During that meeting, the MOJ admitted that the MOH had no jurisdiction and was not authorized to accredit any adoption agencies in Liberia. Hence, the letter written to WACSN by the MOH to suspend WACSN’s accreditation was not legal and therefore null and void.

During that conference, the Minister of Health was very upset with his Deputy Minister Joseph Geebro along with his senior staff Lydia Sherman, for this action against WACSN that has embarrassed and portrayed the MOH throughout the media in a negative manner. The Minister went on to say that we should all agree, on a resolution that show a positive light on the government so that a resolution can be found. I on the other hand argued that WACSN’s reputation and that of Maria’s had been tarnished, and that both Maria and WACSN should also come out clean and made whole and not just the government.

The meeting was concluded with the Ministry of Health appealing to WACSN to present documents of the 35 children that the MOH removed illegally without a court order. Later, we were informed that a representative from WACSN along with officials from the MOJ and MOH could go and see the children at the Don Bosco Home for Street Children. The next meeting was scheduled for the following week. However, before that meeting, Mrs. Urey along with our chief of security, Mr. Jonah Nagbe had the opportunity to see the children. Both Mrs. Urey and Mr. Nagbe reported to me that the children were all doing fine and that they were all excited and wanted to be back in WACSN’s care.

Also, the Kerkula children, which the MOH accused WACSN of smuggling out of the country, were identified and seen by their father and grandmother. This established that the children were not smuggled out of the country in the first place. It only demonstrated the weakness, carelessness and politics attached to case by the MOH.

I view this personally as an outrage because the MOH have assaulted the reputation of WACSN and Maria and have cast suspicion on them not only in Liberia but also in America where many people have trusted Maria and graciously wanted to help the people of Liberia. One would have thought that the Judge had the power to return the children to WACSN where their parents want them to be. But, the Judge did not entertain the idea of any charges being brought against the MOH for its illegal action against WACSN and the children.

The second meeting was scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Justice, but later rescheduled because Deputy Minister Geebro, the head of the Department of Social Welfare had to be at a United Nations sponsored workshop outside of the capital, Monrovia that conflicted with the designated time and could not be in attendance.

The third meeting was scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Health, however our lawyers did not show up and the lawyers for the MOJ and MOH refused to sit for that meeting due to their absence. Later that afternoon, I had a meeting with our lawyers and inquired as to their absence and reluctance to attend the conference. I was informed that our inability to satisfy the financial agreement was the reason for their no show. I made every effort to reason with them and appeal to them that we had an unfortunate situation regarding the death of Maria’s husband John, which posed a serious and severe setback to our effort. I am sorry to report to you that as of today we are at a standstill until we can reach an agreement with our lawyers. Therefore, I have written to the MOJ and MOH requesting a break (stoppage) in our deliberations and settlement talks due to the death of Maria’s husband John.

I hope that I was able to address the concerns of parents who might be wondering as to the outcome of the case. If any of you have additional concerns, please do not hesitate to address them directly to me or Sister Pam while Maria is away.

Once again, I apologize for the delay that the presidential ban on adoption may have caused your family. It is our deepest hope that we will soon get the children back to WACSN where they belong. I assure each of you that the ban will be lifted soon so that you can be united with your children.

Blessings,
Francis Nyepon francis.nyepon@gmail.com

Legal Battle Update May 21~2009

2009-05-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

The judge has ordered The Ministry of Justice, The Ministry of Health, and WACSN to conference. So far, we have met three times to discuss the issues.

Thank you to all of you who are praying!

WACSN doing what God has called us here to do....

2009-05-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Support........

Supporting the work our Liberian Sister Mother Doe is doing in New Georgia with women, and their children. This is a community that is self-sufficient. They farm, and support themselves, giving ALL the glory to God. We are honored to be able to share from the abundance God has blessed us with...medical equipment and first-aide supplies for the clinic at Mother Doe.

In The news~

2009-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Government schools here are deplorable! The uniforms, and compulsory attendence..for what??? They lack books, paper, writing utensils.....and desks to sit at! The teachers are undereducated, underpaid, and in short supply. The school system here in Liberia is a sham, and forces the people to look elswhere to meet the overwhelming needs of these schools. There is a huge burden on the poor to pay for uniforms, when food is hard enough to provide. Most students go hungry, because the family is so poor. The schools do not have safe, clean drinking water, or proper sanitation facillities.

A New Well

2009-05-12T15:04:00.001-07:00

Clean, sweet water for everyone!

A Tribute to The Co-founder of WACSN

2009-05-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Celebrating the life ofJohn George Albert De’Gautier Von Luyken in the Lord

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in theearth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted ashead above all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11
I thank and praise God for blessing my life with John, a very special and wonderful man. He was my best friend and confidant for 35 years,my mentor, my love, and my husband for 23 years. I Praise God that John believed in me, supported, encouraged, comforted, taught me, but best of all, loved me until his home going. John was the foundation that I built on and all that I accomplished was because of his encouragement and love for me. I Praise God for entrusting and blessing us with wonderful children. John was a loving, kind, caring,thoughtful, fun and disciplinary father. He made many sacrifices forthe kids and in many ways showed his tremendous love for them with great appreciation.
I extol God that John was a loving and generous son and son-in-law. He welcomed both of our moms into his home for over 18 years and willingly gave his time and effort to support them. I commend God that John was a good brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. I thank God for giving us a loving home that became a sanctuary, a place of hope, a place of encouragement, a place of opportunities, a place for second chances, and a place for new beginnings for so many people. In obedience to God, John willingly gave all that he had financially and materially to build, support and strengthen the organization, the West African Children Support Network. Through John’s vision, WACSN is and will continue to be ablessing for thousands of Liberians, especially children.
I praise and thank God that although we were afflicted in many ways,we were never crushed; persecuted, but never forsaken; struck down,but not destroyed. The Lord has always been our strength. Most merciful Father, at the end, you blessed John in the last day of his life and allowed him many hours of consciousness without pain to hear his family and friends tell him how much they loved him, cherished him and how he was a blessing to them. During the time of your calling, we prayed with him, sang many of his favorite songs, and held his hand until you finally called him home.
I give God all the praise and honor for designing a perfect, full, andbeautiful life for John. God’s bountiful blessing in John’s life wasalso a blessing to many that he touched to make a difference. Thereare six of us that John called “the women in my life” his mother Lizzy, my mother Angela, our cousin Mona, his two daughters, Katarina and Nikita, and me. As we the women in John’s life continue our journey, we do not know the future, but we know that you Lord holds our future and will continue to hold our hands. We thank you Lord that we are at peace, knowing that John is resting with you for all eternity. Through out our lives, I have always felt and knew you Lord orchestrated and controlled our every move each step of the way. We will continue to love, praise and serve you all the days of our lives. Hide us under your wings and in your care so that others may see youin us as we are blessed in the most precious name of your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Loving Memory of a Wonderful Man~

2009-05-11T16:04:00.001-07:00

Celebrating the Life of - John George Albert De’Gautier Von Luyken

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11

The loss of a loved one is painful, devastating and difficult to accept. However, the life of a loved one leaves a legacy that says, amid the pain and devastation, God must be justified in calling such a precious life home. With this in mind, it is with great sadness and deepest regret that we, the Luyken, Smith, and Dennis, families announce the home-going of our beloved and dearest husband, father, son, brother and friend,John George Albert De’Gautier Von Luyken,This sad event occurred on May 03, 2009 at the Methodist Hospital in Saint Luis Park, Minnesota. John leaves to mourn his loss his best friend, life partner and darling wife Maria, two beautiful daughters, Katarina, and Nikita, his mother Lizzy Smith, his sisters Evelyn and Patricia, his mother-in-law Angela Dennis, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial Service: May 16, 2009 at 12 noon Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel7625 Mitchell Road952-975-0400 Visitation 1 hour prior to the Service
Repast:Repast will follow immediately after the service at the Luyken residence in Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Contact informationLiberia: +231.684.6746+231.651.1453United States:+952.583.9220

Memorial Service

To family and friends who are unable to attend the services in the United States, a memorial service will be held at the Luyken Compound on Kennedy Drive in Congo Town, Liberia. Information regarding the memorial service will be posted at a later date, as well as contact information. We thank you and ask that you remember us in your prayers in our hour of need

The Family

Still pressing on~

2009-05-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

"I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. I am blessed beyond the curse, that HIS promises will endure, and that HIS joy is going to be my stay!"

There is very little to report in the court process right now, things have been set for everyone to meet, and come to some sort of agreement several times now. Then rescheduled for a variety of reasons. We want express our appreciation to everyone who are walking this out with us. A huge thank-you to Dr. Susan for all of her hardworking efforts here!

Only in Liberia....

2009-05-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

We say this a lot here....Only in Liberia, or it ain't easy-o.

Court today was something you had to be there to really appreciate. Let me try to paint the picture for you.....imagine a large room made of cement, no breeze, all around you sound reverbeats off the walls, and the 50+ foot high ceilings. So all words are swallowed up in the echos. add to this any number of legal counsel, who may, or may not be on time!! and a few cell phones each, some jokes between attorneys, the judge, and staff, a non-electric typewriter for records, counsel jumping up and leaving while the judge speaks to go talk to someone. At some point all typing..recording ceases so the judge can talk to the courtroom. Just another typical day in court!

We go back on Wed.

Scandalous Grace!

2009-05-02T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Grace of God is dangerous. It's lavish, excessive, outrageous.....and scandalous! God's grace is ridiculously inclusive. Apparently God doesn't care who He loves. He is not very careful about the people He calls His friends or the people He calls His church!!!

We are HIS! Bought and payed for by the blood of Christ....FOREVER! What will you do with This GRACE?

*Dangerous Wonder, Mike Yaconelli

A farm, and a visit with Sen. Banney

2009-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today has been a full day for Dr. Susan. She met with Sen. J. Jonathan Banney, Senior Sen. for River Cess County.... then a trip to visit the Farm project in Caldwell.

Let Justice Be Done~

2009-05-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

12 DAYS SPECIAL CHAMBER SECTION CRIMINAL COURT “A”
FEBRUARY A.D. 2009
FRIDAY MAY 1ST 2009
THE COURT:
MR. SHERIFF CALL THE CASE INDEPENDENT CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER, INC. REPRESENTED BY AND THRU ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, J. MELVIN PAGE, SR. VERSUS THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, BY AND THRU ITS ATTORNEY GENERAL, PHILIP A.Z. BANKS, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE BY AND THRU ITS MINISTER THEIR RESPECTIVE PRINCIPAL DEPUTIES ET-AL. AND WEST AFRICAN CHILDRENS SUPPORT NETWORK ( WACSN) RESPONDENTS, ACTION PETITION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS IS CALL FOR HEARING.
SHERIFF’S REPORT:
Parties are present.
COURT:
The court observes the absence of Cllr. Thompson Jerbeh who is the counsel for the petitioner. The court says that it has elected to take evidence from the adoption agency, co-respondent, and the Ministry of Justice only, before it can pass on this Habeas Corpus proceedings. The court is proceeding this way because even though co-respondent , and the adoption agency, was made, one of the defendents in this case, but the court should have been the real petitioner because, it is from its custody that the 35 or more children were taken by the Ministry of Health and Justice. The court will now take representation of the counsel for WACSN and the counsel for the Ministry of Justice.
Co-respondents, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of of Health and Social Welfare are represented as per record and present in court to be later joined by other prosecuting attorneys of records is Samuel K. Jacobs Esq. Attorney at law for Montserrado county, who says and submits that he is in court. And respectfully submits.
At this stage co-respondent WACSN is represented as per record and present in court is Cllr. Theophillus Gould and respectfully submit that following the notation of representation he has a submission to make. And respectfully submit.
THE COURT:
The representation are all noted. Co-respondent WACSN Adoption Agency is hereby permitted to make its submission to the minutes of court. AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
At this stage, co-respondents WACSN begs to inform court that consistent with the court ruling that it present to court instruments at or evidence to show why it is qualified to serve as an adoption agency respectfully submits to court Articles of Incorporation filed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consistent with the law. A Certificate of Accreditation issued by the Ministry of Planning bearing number 0212 and a historical summary depicting objectives of the said institution. Further counsel submits to the court an instrument for the Honourable House of Representative dated March 24, 2006 indicating primarily that there was no evidence to support the allegation of child trafficking. The subject instrument also reveals that there appears to be a confusion between adoption which is legal, and trafficking which is illegal. The Honourable body therefore concluded that WACSN is involved in legal activities that relate to humanitarian work.
Further substantiates the legitimacy and the effectuation of the aims and objectives of the entity WACSN has adopted or caused to be adopted several unfortunate Liberian minors including the grandchild of the current County Attorney of Montserrado , a staff of the Ministry of Justice. Also and present in this court is Dr. Olsen, an adoptive parent of one of the minor children and the immediate past attending medical doctor who attended to the subject minor children to ensure that they were healthy and that their physical well being was on par with children who have normal nutritive meals.
Wherefore and in view of the foregoing, counsel for co-respondent submits to this court the names, instruments, and by permission of the court respectfully request that Dr. Olsen please stand. Given the fact and in view of the fact that the minor children were without court order seized from the premises of WACSN it is the prayer of this co-respondent that while disposing the Habeas Corpus, that co-respondent Ministry of Health and Justice be ordered directed and adjust to return the minor children to the premises from which they were seized and that in the event they so desire they may seek appropriate to the court. This prayer is made in the interest of the minor children given the fact that since the dependency of this action they were said to be at various sites of Don Bosco, an entity which attracts wayward children, grant temporary relief and relese them to the public. The fear of co-respondent WACSN is that keeping these children in such an environment under such conditions will not be to their benefit. And so co-respondent so pray. AND SUBMITS.
THE COURT:
The submission of co-respondent WACSN is noted and the documents submitted to this court is hereby received to form part of its records. The court will now turn to the Ministry of Justice which is represented by its prosecuting attorney for Montserrado county to provide for the review of this court any reason if they have for this court not to grant the prayer of co-respondent WACSN to order the turning over of the children to WACSN. IT IS HEREBY SO ORDERED.
At this stage, co-respondent the Ministry of Justice and Health and Social Welfare say and submit that the Ministry of Justice has statutory mandate to protect the live and citizens as well as residents residing within the Republic of Liberia.
Co-respondents further say it is also incumbent upon the Ministry of Justice which serves as both the prosecuting are of government as well as the investigating arm also have the responsibility to ensure the welfare of its citizens and residents alike; in which a 35 minor children the subject of these proceedings are not excluded. Co-respondent the Ministry of Justice further bring to the attention of this court your Honour that prior to the adoption by WACSN of the 35 minors, had suspended the adoption license of co-respondent WACSN; further to the above, co-respondent the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health say and submit that their investigation has determined that the facilities of WACSN are not conducive enough to cater to the wellbeing of the 35 children. Hence it became obligatory on the part of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to secure the custody of the 35 minor children until WACSN can improve its facilities; since indeed the Ministry of Justice is responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of all of its citizens of whom the 35 minors are a part. Co-respondent the Ministry of Justice says and submit that the Ministry of Justice has not acted in contravention to the statutory of the Republic of Liberia as has been alleged by Cllr Gould that we entered the premises without a court order and or without any justifiable reason and therefore we should be adjudged and ordered to have the 35 minor children return to WACSN. Co-respondent the Ministry of Justice says and submit that the action of the government of Liberia to protect its citizens as in the instant case should not be construed as being in violation of the law. Further to the above fact co-respondent the Ministry of Justice say that the 35 children the subject of these proceedings are in good care that is in the care of the Government of Liberia and that we are prepared at any time as may be deemed expedient by this court and your Honour to convey the parents to the Don Bosco compound where the children are presently being cater to by the government; and that co-respondent WACSN has been ordered by this court should show evidence that they have improved facilities for the 35 children that have been relinquished to their custody for adoption; and that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should go and inspect the said facilities making show that they are conducive enough to have the minor children kept for subsequent adoption to their adoptive parents; and that the conditions under which the adoption license of WACSN was revoked and or suspended be met before such suspension and or revocation be lifted by the government. In closing the government of Liberia by and thru co-respondent the Ministry of Justice prays this honourable court and your honour that their action is not in any way made or done in bad faith but to ensure the wellbeing and welfare of its citizen and as such it should not be construed as kidnapping or hijacking as well as trafficking even to the forceful taking.
Wherefore in view of the foregoing co-respondent the Ministry of Justice and the Ministyr of Health pray court and your Honour to grant their application or request that they are ready at any time to convey the parents of the 35 minor children to the Don Bosco compound since the concern of the parent have been to know the whereabout of their children and that co-respondent WACSN be made to show evidence that they have improved the facilities for the well being and welfare of the 35 Liberian children as has been ordered by this court. AND SUBMIT.
THE COURT:
This court says that it has received all the evidences pertaining to this Habeas Corpus. It is now satisfied to render its ruling. It will do so on Monday, May 4, 2009 at the hour of 10:00 am. All parties being present this minute stand as notice of Assignment.
AND IT IS SO OREDERED. MATTER SUSPENDED.

Radio Veritas, and a Senator

2009-05-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight Dr. Susan, and Mrs. Urey were interviewed on Radio Veritas. They fielded questions from callers all over Monrovia about adoption. Afterwards Dr. Susan was greeted by Senator Nathaniel Williams, who is trying to get her an audience with the President on Monday.

Court~ May 1 2009

2009-05-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

Today was a very looong day~ This is the shorter version ~

We arrived at the courthouse at 10:00 for our hearing only to sit for several hours. We were then delayed until almost 4:00!! When the judge arrived, heard from both sides, and recieved the evidence presented by WACSN, (which we will post here shortly.) The judge stated that he will give his ruling Monday May 4 @ 10:00 am.......

Liberia's Adoption Bill.....soon to be a law~

2009-04-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

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.

Newspaper articles...

2009-04-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

Introducing Dr. Susan~

Coming soon to a soup pot near you.....

2009-04-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

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.

OH, Liberia~ April 28 2009

2009-04-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

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

April 27, 2009~ Court update, and a news article

2009-04-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Published In The Newspapers here~

2009-04-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Greetings from Farmington Liberia~

2009-04-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Move over Maytag~ it's laundry day in Liberia ~Liberian style!

Writing worth taking the time to read~

2009-04-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

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.

Blessings Abound~

2009-04-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Court today April 21~2009

2009-04-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

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!

In The Spirit of Truth we bring you todays Court update April 20~2009

2009-04-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

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.

Water production, & sustainability........

2009-04-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

April 19~2009

2009-04-19T14:24:00.001-07:00

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~

April 17~2009 Court proceedings

2009-04-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

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."

News for April 16-2009

2009-04-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

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~

Welcome

2009-04-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

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