THE PARLIAMENTARY Committee of the Permanent Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution expressing concern over how the family courts in countries like the UK, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Germany handle children’s rights. These countries are facing debates over laws that enable forced adoptions, i.e. adoptions without the parents’ consent, the Sme daily wrote on December 4.
The recently publicised cases that stirred debate and much controversy involved several Slovak families living in the UK who encountered problems with social authorities, and whose children were taken into foster care and later slated for adoption. According to the passed resolution, forced adoptions should only occur in exceptional cases, Sme wrote.
This resolution provides crucial instruction for countries on how to proceed in such cases, Slovakia’s representative before the European Court for Human Rights, Marica Pirošíková, said, as reported by Sme. After adopting the resolution, member states should adapt and harmonise their legislation and judicial practice.
