*
10 February 2017 (31 December 2016)
Seshadri Chari & Suranya Aiyar:
Norway’s child snatching laws must exempt Indians
Sunday Guardian Live
New Delhi
31 December 2016
• • •
Seshadri Chari is a writer, commentator and former editor of Organiser. Suranya Aiyar is a lawyer and mother who advises and supports pro bono families facing confiscation of their children abroad by child protection authorities.
• • •
From the article:
#
The Norwegian Child Welfare Services, Barnevernet, literally meaning “child protection”, is anything but that.
....
Strangely, the Norwegian Ministry for Children and Equality washes of its hands saying it has no jurisdiction over individual cases.
...
The problem is systemic and affects not just immigrants in Norway.
....
Tragically, appeals against all such draconian orders affecting the child and crippling the parents have no usual checks and balances against the misuse of coercive State powers. The proceedings are insulated by confidentiality laws.
......
Norwegians make this out to be a case of cultural difference, saying that in Norway violence against the child is not permitted. But in which culture is child abuse “permitted”? But is such devilish act of forcibly snatching a toddler from his or her loving parents on mere suspicion and anonymous complaints “culturally” justified?
....
No amount of citing “cultural differences” and “local rules” can replace fundamental rights to family and fear free life. Moreover, no state, not even the most oppressive despotic rulers can be pardoned for ruining the life and future of a whole generation by adopting draconian child stealing arrangement.
....
There can be no two opinions on the need to prevent child abuse, improve parental counselling and sensitise the society on these issues, besides instituting stringent laws for wilful violators. But the lesson for India should be that aping Western laws, institutions and cruel state intervention will do very little in correction and much more damage to children by breaking the traditional family bonding and ties, so integral and unique to our life style for ages.
#
Some further references in connection with issues and cases discussed in the article:
Suranya Aiyar:
Foster care: It's time to think out of the box
10 May 2012
Suranya Aiyar:
Family must come first
14 February 2013
Marianne Haslev Skånland:
Norwegian CPS attacks an Indian family
The Bhattacharya case in Stavanger
27 January – 1 February 2012
Marianne Haslev Skånland:
The Norwegian "child protection service" and the children's uncle
(The India/Stavanger case)
11 February 2012
Indiske barn konfiskert – Såkalt barnevern ignorerer ambassade (Indian children confiscated – so-called child protection service ignores embassy)
Forum Redd Våre Barn (Forum Rescue Our Children)
24 December 2011 –
(The comments are largely in Norwegian, but the thread invludes very many links to articles in English)
En ny sak hvor et indisk barn, Aryan, er tatt (A new case in which an Indian child, Aryan, has been taken)
Forum Redd Våre Barn (Forum Rescue Our Children)
2 December 2016 –
(The comments are largely in Norwegian, but there are some informative links and articles in English)
Summary and comments in translation:
Jan Simonsen:
Norsk barnevern under lupen i indisk avis (Norwegian child protection scrutinised in Indian newspaper)
Frie Ytringer, Jan Simonsen's blogg, 13 February 2017
*