Madam, - I refer to an article entitled "Helping or hurting?" (Weekend, August 30th), in which I was incorrectly quoted concerning the qualifications of Irish charity workers in Romania.
The remarks I made concerning the inadequacies of many international NGOs working in the area of child protection in Romania (particularly NGOs whose main focus is inter-country adoption) were general rather than country specific.
UNICEF's position in all matters of our work across the world is always looking at the "best interest of the child". The position of UNICEF on inter-country adoption is guided by this principle. Inter-country adoption should take place only if the child cannot be suitably cared for in his or her country of origin.
In the case of Romania, during the first years of the transition in the early 1990s, many adoptions took place without possible alternatives. The time has come for the international community and the various NGOs involved to change their position and to support the new policy.
Policy development must move from a charitable to a socially integrated perspective. This is the aim of the current child protection reform in Romania - one which has already given positive tangible results and still has to be reinforced. UNICEF is strongly supporting this reform.
The proportion of real orphans, in the truest sense of the word, in Romanian institutions is very low. The vast majority of these children have a family. The best interest of the child is clear: for them to stay in Romania, if needed being taken care of in small, family-like institutions or foster families, and maintaining contacts with the family.
I have personally visited many of the projects supported by UNICEF and there are numerous success stories. Some NGOs (among them many Irish organisations) are doing a great job with this perspective in mind. They deserve respect for the dedication of international staff and volunteers. - Yours etc.,
PIERRE POUPARD,
UNICEF
Representative,
Romania.