Better Care Network highlights recent news pieces related to the issue of children's care around the world. These pieces include newspaper articles, interviews, audio or video clips, campaign launches, and more.
This opinion piece from Al Jazeera America, discusses the “knotty mess of the orphanage industry built around Western volunteerism.”
In a recent investigation in the Kaski district of Nepal, conducted by the District Child Welfare Council, 63 children’s homes in the district were found to be operating illegally (without government registration), according to the article.
In a statement filed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, children have been brought into Kerala, the state in India, in order to supplement a shortage of orphans and “destitute children” at the orphanage at Mukkam at Kozhikode.
The Mexican Attorney General’s office is opening up an investigation into previous abuse allegations brought against a children’s home in Zamora, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico.
The 2014 Larissa Award will go to an initiative that focuses on “Child Deprivation and Vulnerability in Africa”.
This article from the UK's Independent explores the findings of a recent study conducted by York University and the NSPCC which finds that "on average there are between 450 and 550 cases of proven abuse every year in foster care and between 250 and 300 cases of confirmed abuse a year in residential care" in Britain.
The US President is preparing an emergency request to Congress for additional powers to enable the fast-track deportation of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America who are crossing the US border illegally.
This article from the Pacific Standard sheds light on a less-discussed area of intercountry adoption - the fact that many (predominantly Black) children born in the US are adopted out of country, primarily to Canada, as well as the Netherlands and the UK.
"About 21 per cent of children or more than three million children in Thailand do not live with either of their parents due to internal migration, a significant phenomenon that may have a long-term impact on the children’s development and well-being," says this press release from UNICEF.
Harold Goodwin, the man behind Responsible Tourism day at the World Travel Market and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, gives his thoughts after attending the Better Volunteering, Better Care workshop.