Corps de femmes et maisons d’enfants dans Enfants du diable de Liliana Lazăr

Women Bodies and Children’s Homes in Liliana Lazar’s Enfants du diable [The Devil’s Children]. Many contemporary Romanian writers who chose French as a literary language seem to share a common interest in revisiting through fiction Romania’s relatively recent communist past, thus exposing the dysfunctionalities of the ‘multilaterally developed socialist society’ during the last years of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship. In her novel, Enfants du diable (2016), Liliana Lazar’s merit is to emphasize the abusive nature of the Romanian totalitarian regime by exploring a topic which is normally less taken into account by post-communist Romanian fiction, namely the private body of women transformed into a public, even political body after the implementation of the Anti-abortion Decree 770/1966. Our aim is to examine the way in which Lazar’s book deals with this topic and its social and personal consequences, as well as its denunciation of a less evident form of the communist carceral system, namely the institutionalization of orphaned children. Keywords: communism, totalitarian regime, women’s body, orphanage, carceral system, Liliana Lazar, Nicolae Ceaușescu

Nutrition of children in orphanages in the Moldavian SSR (1944–1947)

In this article, we elucidate the problem of providing food products to orphanages in the Moldavian SSR in the years 1944–1947. The research found that the expansion of the orphanage network in the MSSR in the post-war years was due to the social policy of reducing the number of wandering and orphaned children suffering from hunger. The number of orphanages increased during the famine, and gradually decreased after its overcoming. The controls carried out by the authorities in the field of education and healthcare found serious gaps in the process of providing food to orphanages, irregularities in the management of products and even abuse of staff towards children. These realities aggravated the situation of children in orphanages, who were affected by the difficult family situation, famine and precarious conditions in institutions. Survivors’ testimonies show that most of the orphans who were taken to orphanages were rescued from starvation, and in some cases, when taken by relatives for maintenance, they died. The archive documents, but also the testimonies of the survivors show that the difficult situation of the children in the post-war years, the starvation, the vagrancy, the increase in the number of orphaned children, etc. were a consequence of the totalitarian politics and the irresponsibility of the local authorities.

Psychosocial Challenges Facing Orphaned Children and Caregivers in Tanzanian Institutionalized Orphanage Centres

This study investigated psychosocial challenges facing orphaned children and caregivers as well as possible intervention strategies that could be adopted to mitigate these challenges in the institutionalised orphaned children centres in Ubungo Municipal, Dar es Salaam. The study used a qualitative research approach and a descriptive research design. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select six orphanage centres. The study had a sample of 67 participants including children receiving orphanage care at the institutionalised orphaned children centres, caregivers and directors of the centres who were selected through purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and a non-observation method and were sorted and coded based on themes and presented according to the research questions. Thematic analysis was used in qualitative data. Findings from the study revealed that orphaned children were supported with various services including food, clothes, accommodation, health services, spiritual and educational support, life skills, sports and games. It was found further that the orphans were faced with a lack of adequate health facilities including health insurance coverage, educational materials, sports gear and in some centres inadequate clean and safe water. Caregivers lack counselling knowledge and skills. Therefore, the study recommends community participation in providing care to orphaned children and equipping caregivers with relevant knowledge and skills to perform their duties competently

Psychological Challenges Facing Orphaned Children and Caregivers: A Case of Ubungo Institutionalized Centers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The purpose of the study was to establish psychological challenges facing orphaned children and caregivers residing in six institutionalized institutions located at Ubungo District in Dar es Salaam. The study involved 67 participants who were selected through purposive sampling technique. They included twelve caregivers, six Directors, one Social Welfare Officer and 48 children. The study applied the descriptive research design. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and non- participant observation. Data were sorted and coded based on themes and presented according to the research questions through the thematic approach. Results indicated that orphan children were faced with stigma, discrimination, bullying, physical punishment, anxiety, poor attachment and isolation. To some extent, the challenges were caused by grief and lack of counseling knowledge and skills from the caregivers. Additionally, care givers had limited freedom to punish/discipline children with misbehaviors. Therefore, the study recommends counseling training for caregivers in order to minimize children psychological complexities and misbehaviors as well as furnishing of life skills training for orphans

On the issue of socialization of orphaned children in a foster family: pedagogical aspect

Актуальность статьи обусловлена тем, что в условиях интернатного учреждения ребенок, оставшийся без попечения родителей, не имеет возможности полноценно социализироваться. Цель статьи заключается в выявлении ресурсов приемной семьи в оказании помощи таким детям стать полноценными членами общества, научиться управлять своим поведением в соответствии с принятыми нормами и ценностями, так как именно семья является важнейшим институтом социализации. Автором выявлены сущность и содержание процесса социализации, особенности его протекания в условиях приемной семьи, определены уровни социализированности ребенка. Предложены критерии оценки составляющих процесса социализации и соответствующий диагностический инструментарий. Статья предназначена для специалистов органов опеки и попечительства, сотрудников интернатных учреждений, социальных педагогов. The relevance of the article is due to the fact that in the conditions of a boarding institution, a child left without parental care does not have the opportunity to fully socialize. The purpose of the article is to identify the resources of a foster family in helping such children become full-fledged members of society, learn to manage their behavior in accordance with accepted norms and values, since it is the family that is the most important institution of socialization. The author reveals the essence and content of the process of socialization, the peculiarities of its course in the conditions of a foster family, the levels of socialization of the child are determined. The criteria for evaluating the components of the socialization process and the corresponding diagnostic tools are proposed. The article is intended for specialists of guardianship and guardianship authorities, employees of boarding institutions, social educators

Mit üzen a múlt?

One of the greatest global traumas of the 20th century was World War II. Millions of children have become abandoned. In this extreme life situation, professionals, responsible adults and reform educators felt it their job to embrace and save them. They worked to ensure that orphaned children could continue their lives without a family background. In my study, I present the importance of action instead of ‘bystander effect’ and the importance of ‘becoming capable’ and ‘empowerment’ instead of simple care for children in need through a couple of examples of so-called children’s republics, primarily Father Flanagen’s Boys Town and Gábor Sztehlo’s Gaudiopolis.

BREAKING THE SILENCE – FRIENDS OF THE COURT CAN ADDUCE EVIDENCE Children’s Institute v Presiding Officer of the Children’s Court District of Krugersdorp Case CCT 69/12 [2012] ZACC 25

An amicus curiae, literally friend of the court, is a person or organization with a strong interest or views on the subject matter of an action, but not a party to the action who may petition a court for permission to file an application on behalf of a party. Other definitions state that the amicus is able to advise the court on matters of fact. An amicus curiae educates the court on points of law that are in doubt, gathers or organizes information, or raises awareness about some aspect of the case that the court might otherwise overlook. Justice O’Connor of the United States Supreme Court has justified the amicus procedure on ground that “[t]he ‘friends’ who appear today usually file briefs calling our attention to points of law, policy considerations, or other points of view that the parties themselves have not discussed”. The participation of amicus curiae in litigation is a practice which has been entrenched in the common law and civil law of various jurisdictions. It is for this reason that an amicus has become versatile and is said to fulfil a wide range of important functions. The participation of amicus curiae in litigation is a well-established practice in South African legal history. Indeed, the South African courts “are increasingly recognizing that certain matters must necessarily involve the perspectives and voices of organizations or entities that may not have a direct legal interest in the matter”. Amicus curiae briefs have helped the courts to clarify and develop judicial approaches that would assist the courtsin handling intricate issues. The role of amicus curiae in South Africa must be viewed against the background of public-interest litigation which is largely the result of the “apartheid” era in which human-rights activists and civil society organizations sought to fight the inequalities of the “apartheid” regime. With the advent of the Constitution the challenge has now moved away from addressinginequalities of the past but towards ensuring that all persons benefit from the rights enshrined in the Constitution. This has been greatly helped due to the South African Constitution adopting a liberal position with regard to locus standi. This approach has been usefulespecially for those wishing to enforce the rights in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution by litigating in the public interest. Although, technically, locus standi can be distinguished from the amicus curiae procedure, the courts have applied the same locus standi flexibility to the amicus curiae procedure. In light of this, organizations sought to be admitted as amicus curiae in order to adduce statistical evidence, initiate court cases or have sought to be admitted as amicus curiae on behalf of individuals or groups in litigation. The Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town in the case of Children’s Institute v Presiding Officer of the Children’s Court District of Krugersdorp (Case CCT 69/12 [2012] ZACC 25) is a classic example of such a case. The Children’s Institute sought to be admitted as amicus curiae in order to adduce statistical evidence demonstrating why orphaned children living with family members should receive the foster child grant. The Children’s Institute contended that the Children’s Court decision would lead to roughly 350 000 orphaned children (who live with family members) losing their foster grants.

Undernutrition and associated factors in orphan children aged 6–59 months in Gambella Southwest, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and associated factors in orphaned children under 5 years old.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingGambella City, Ethiopia.ParticipantsA sample of 419 under 5 orphaned children included in the study. Eligible households with orphans had selected using a systematic random sampling method. The lottery method was used when more than one eligible study participants live in the household. An OR with 95% CI was performed to measure the strength of association between each dependent variable and independent variables. Variables with p<0.05 were declared statistically significant.Primary outcomeThe main outcome of this study was the prevalence of undernutrition among orphaned under 5 and its associated factors.ResultsPrevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in orphan children under 5 were 12.2%, 37.8% and 21.7%, respectively. The prevalnce of wasting peaks among age group of 36–47 months (42.5%), whereas underweight peaks in 48–59 months (27.7%). Food insecurity, wealth index, family size, vitamin A supplementation, diarrhoea, fever 2 weeks before the survey, children under 5 and parents’ death were associated with undernutrition.ConclusionThe prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among orphan children under 5 was significantly high. Multisectoral collaborative efforts towards access to health services, improving income-generating activities, micronutrient supplementation and social support and protection targeting orphan and vulnerable populations have to be built up.