Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Norway Is Kidnapping Children Legally & People Are Furious

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


A group of activists from over 30 different countries are planning mass protests over Norway’s legal “kidnapping” of children

 

Demonstrations against the Norwegian Child Welfare Service are taking place on Saturday in what the activists call the agency’s practice of “kidnapping” children from their families.

According to The Local:

After a wave of demonstrations over the past several months, the Norwegian Child Welfare Service (Barnevernet) will be the subject of a coordinated ‘day of action’ that could draw as many as 300,000 people, organizers told The Local.

Spurred by a high-profile case in which five children were removed from their Norwegian/Romanian parents’ care by Barnevernet in November, Norway’s child welfare service will be the subject of protests by those who say the agency “kidnaps” children.

 

 

On Saturday, coordinated demonstrations will be held worldwide, including at five locations in Norway.

“Protests will be held in 70 cities in 29 countries and more than 300,000 people worldwide are expected,” said Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, a leading voice in the Barnevernet protests.

 

The protests will be broadcast live by Romanian media outlets and organizers say they are aiming to set a world record as the “largest protest against human rights abuse towards children and family”.

 

New case: Newborn twins taken at birth

Much of the protest movement centres around the Norwegian/Romanian Bodnariu family, who have become a rallying point for both Romanians and the international Evangelical community. But their case hardly stands alone.

Just this week, Barnevernet returned twin girls to their parents after authorities took the children away just hours after their birth.

The agency based the removal of the children on a medical report that wrongly concluded that the babies’ 24-year-old mother, Natasha Myra Olsen, suffered from mental illness. After two psychology experts testified that the diagnosis, which was given when Olsen was just 13, was incorrect, authorities ruled that the couple would have their children returned to them. Barnevernet, however, refused to apologize for taking the children in the first place.

“Difficult for foreigners to understand”

Anders Henriksen, the head of section at the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir), said that controversial child removals often have an element of cultural misunderstanding.

“The Norwegian Child Welfare is a system which can be difficult to understand for foreigners who settle in Norway. It may be challenging for them to understand that a public institution like the Norwegian Child Welfare can intervene in the private life of a family, and take over the care of the children,” he told The Local.

Henriksen said that a total of 1,664 children were taken into care in 2014. Of those, 424 had mothers who were born abroad.

“The Norwegian Child Welfare Act’s main purpose is to ensure that children who live in conditions that can harm their health and development are given necessary help and care. The Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their residential status, background or nationality/citizenship,” he said.

“All children in Norway should grow up in a secure environment,” Henriksen added.

Child removals on the rise

According to the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Equality, the overall number of children and young people removed increased by roughly 50 percent between 2008 and 2013.

TV2 reported this week that child removals are now increasingly happening immediately after birth. In 2008, Barnevernet took over the care of 16 children immediately following their birth. By 2014, that number had tripled to 44.

With the increase in cases, there has also been a rise of voices critical of Norway’s child protection practices.

In an open letter, 170 Norwegian child protection professionals including lawyers and psychologists called Barnevernet a “dysfunctional organisation which makes far-reaching errors of judgement with serious consequences”.

And the criticism has extended far beyond Norway. Citizens of the Czech Republic, Russia, Lithuania, India, and Brazil, among other countries, have accused Norway of abusing authority and ruining families.

So while Barnevernet and Bufdir say they are acting in “the best interest of the child”, those taking to the streets on Saturday counter that Norway’s “diabolical system” is destroying families.

Organizers of Saturday’s protests say that Norwegian authorities remove children for highly questionable reasons, such as not properly putting away folded clothes, using too much soap on the child and dressing children too “prettily”.

While he couldn’t discuss individual cases, Henriksen said that in most instances, children are removed because of “maltreatment, violence, substance abuse, psychological problems, drugs and sexual abuse”.

“It is required that people living in Norway obey Norwegian law [and] it is forbidden by law to punish children in Norway physically and psychologically,” he said.

The Bodnariu family at the centre of much of the international attention plans to attend the anti-Barnevernet demonstration in Stryn, organizers said.

 

http://yournewswire.com/norway-is-kidnapping-children-legally-people-are-furious/



Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.