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Strasbourg, FranceJune 1st, 2016To: European Court of Human RightsAttention: Mr. Judge Paul Mahoney (UK), Mrs. Judge Iulia Motoc (RO)Dear Judges and Court,As citizens of Romania, as parents or future parents and as Orthodox Christians weneed to bring into your attention and report serious violations of the international lawsand national Romanian legislation(Law no. 272 of 2004 about protection of children’srights – Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, article 30 paragraphs 1, 41) by the local authorities in theUnited Kingdom and Ireland in the case of Barbu family.As you may have already taken note, the Barbu family’s children were removed fromtheir natural family (biological) and were entrusted for adoption after an offensive andridiculous approach of the local UK officials, without any right of reply. Please note thatall family members are Romanian citizens. So how is it possible that for two Romanianchildren – we emphasize Romanian citizens!!! – to be started a petition for adoption byforeign persons of another nationality, religion, values, even more, from father’snarrations, it seems that it’s a gay couple – against the Romanian legislation, and allthat without the involvement of the Romanian State and without direct consultation ofthe involved parties in this case?Why were not taken into account the reports sent from Romania written by ChildProtection Service Craiova to which a lot of people contributed?Abuses by local authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) in this case violates, by the wayhow they acted, many norms of international law related with human rights andchildren’s rights as follows:1. UN Convention regarding the Child Rights: Article 2, paragraph 2; Article 8,paragraph 1; Article 12, paragraph 2; Article 14; Article 20 alin.1,2,3; Article 21.,, The States Parties undertake to respect the rights of the child to preserve identity,including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law without unlawfulinterference,, (article 8, paragraph 1),, States Parties shall respect the child’s right to freedom of thought, conscience andreligion,, (article 14)
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2. International agreement on Civil and Political RightsArticle 23 alin.1,4.3. European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms – Article 6paragraph 2, Article 8, 9.Also, if we consider the legislation in Romania, Law 272 of 2004, we see that itsprovisions were not considered: “The best interests of the child shall prevail in allactions and decisions concerning children, undertaken by public authorities and privateauthorized bodies, as well in the cases decided by the courts. (paragraph 3); thepersons provided in paragraph 3 are obliged to involve the family in all decisions,actions and measures regarding the child care and support, growth and training,development and education of the child within the family.The provisions of this law apply to: a) The Romanian children citizens on Romanianterritory; b) The children of Romanian citizens abroad; (Articles 2, 3).In addition, Article 41, paragraph 2 of the above mentioned law states that “theindividual or the family that would be guardian must be assessed by the generaldirection of social assistance and child protection regarding the moral guarantees andmaterial conditions, which must be met to receive a foster child. The assessment ismade by the general direction of social assistance and child protection at the person’shome or family, giving priority to the child’s extended family members.,, – which has nothappened in this case.Therefore, we ask for the present delicate situation, with the complexity of the factorsthat led to this demarche, the case of Barbu family to be solved as soon as possible.Every moment is very important for their children deeply affected causing trauma thatmay have irreversible consequences due to separation from the natural family.Thus, we request urgent and insistent the two children of the Barbu family, put incustody and proposed illegal and abusive for adoption by a couple – as we mentionedabove it seems gay, to be returned unconditionally to the family or extended family.We underline also that abusive acts committed by British authorities were reachedendangering the health of Mr. Florin Barbu, the natural father of the children, being nowon hunger strike, 16th day, in front of the ECHR in Strasbourg. We are beside Barbufamily at these heartbreaking moments and we appreciate the dignity father’s that cango up to the supreme sacrifice in recovering his children.We count on direct support and institutional authority that you represent, to give backthe Barbu children to the natural parents, aswell as the other families in the samesuffering, the right to life and happiness by ending any abuse of this kind.