Documentary On Romanian Orphanages Lacks Objectivity, Presents False Data – State Secretary

Neagu visited the orphanage “Crinul Alb” in Bucharest’s district 3, where 56 children and teenagers people are cared for.

According to Neagu, since the orphanage was taken over by the Child Protection Authority in 2005, all conditions offered to its beneficiaries have improved, and the number of qualified staff working in this center has increased.

The Duchess of York visited the Saint Mary orphanage in district 5 and a family hostel in the county Bihor, western Romania, but criticism targeted only the Bucharest centers.

Neagu admitted that the orphanage in district 5 does not meet the conditions to offer protection to children, and the authority urged its shutdown in December 2007.

"We recommended the shutdown of this facility, and local authorities promised they would carry it out. The children’s situation is not clear, therefore they are still in the center,” Neagu added.

Neagu pointed at the fact that the Duchess of York mentions again the number of 10,000 children abandoned each year in Romania, when the real figure is of about 1,700, according to the authority’s data.

Neagu said Romanian law on Mental health allows, in exceptional cases, for children to be tied up for maximum four hours, to prevent self-mutilation or hurting other children.

British television station ITV1 broadcasted Thursday evening a documentary film made with the help of a hidden camera during the visit of the Duchess of York and her daughters to orphanages in Romania and Turkey, which showed the poor condition of the children sheltered there. The documentary was made with the collaboration of journalist Chris Rogers.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.