ID :
16675
Fri, 08/22/2008 - 17:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16675
The shortlink copeid
Child trafficking allegations hit Qld
(AAP) The Queensland government will assist authorities investigating claims poor Indian children have been kidnapped and adopted out to Australian families.
More than a dozen attractive children kidnapped from Indian slums have been adoptedin Australia, TIME Magazine has reported.
The magazine interviewed an Indian mother named Fatima whose two-year-old daughterZabeen was allegedly kidnapped seven years ago.
According to the magazine, police in India now say she was processed by MalaysianSocial Services (MSS) and adopted by a family in Queensland.
Queensland Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech described the allegations asconcerning.
"This is a terrible predicament for a family who loves their adoptive children," MsKeech said.
"Adoption Services Queensland (ASQ) will offer any assistance it can to Indian,federal and state agencies investigating the claims.
"We were not aware of the child kidnap allegations until last year ... ASQ conducted an audit of Indian children who were adopted into Queensland between 1995 and 2007." She said they found only two of the 23 adoptions were through MSS and one was adopted two years before the period of 1998-99, when children were allegedlykidnapped in India.
Adoptions from India had to be authorised by a court, she said.
"The adoption of the Queensland child who was allegedly stolen was authorised by theMadras High Court in March 2000," she said.
TIME Magazine said Indian police believed at least 13 kidnapped children have beenadopted by Australian families.
Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland said the government was treating theallegations seriously.
"I am aware of allegations regarding child trafficking and share concerns for thesafety of children adopted from overseas," Mr McClelland said.
"I have asked my department to make direct contact with the Indian authorities and provide me with a brief on any potential legal issues arising in India andAustralia.
"I will ensure that any matters arising are duly acted upon by my department and where relevant are passed on for states and territories to implement."
More than a dozen attractive children kidnapped from Indian slums have been adoptedin Australia, TIME Magazine has reported.
The magazine interviewed an Indian mother named Fatima whose two-year-old daughterZabeen was allegedly kidnapped seven years ago.
According to the magazine, police in India now say she was processed by MalaysianSocial Services (MSS) and adopted by a family in Queensland.
Queensland Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech described the allegations asconcerning.
"This is a terrible predicament for a family who loves their adoptive children," MsKeech said.
"Adoption Services Queensland (ASQ) will offer any assistance it can to Indian,federal and state agencies investigating the claims.
"We were not aware of the child kidnap allegations until last year ... ASQ conducted an audit of Indian children who were adopted into Queensland between 1995 and 2007." She said they found only two of the 23 adoptions were through MSS and one was adopted two years before the period of 1998-99, when children were allegedlykidnapped in India.
Adoptions from India had to be authorised by a court, she said.
"The adoption of the Queensland child who was allegedly stolen was authorised by theMadras High Court in March 2000," she said.
TIME Magazine said Indian police believed at least 13 kidnapped children have beenadopted by Australian families.
Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland said the government was treating theallegations seriously.
"I am aware of allegations regarding child trafficking and share concerns for thesafety of children adopted from overseas," Mr McClelland said.
"I have asked my department to make direct contact with the Indian authorities and provide me with a brief on any potential legal issues arising in India andAustralia.
"I will ensure that any matters arising are duly acted upon by my department and where relevant are passed on for states and territories to implement."
