BUJUMBURA March 23rd (ABP) – The Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender in collaboration with the organizations Wide Horizons for Children and All God’s Children International, organized on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, a two-day information and awareness-raising workshop on the adoption in foster families of children abandoned by their families, a check by ABP revealed.
On that occasion, Mr. Pontien Hatungimana, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, announced that in legal matters, our country has ratified international and regional texts in protection of children’s rights.
With regard to adoption, Burundi has signed the international convention of The Hague on May 29, 1993 on the protection of children and international adoption.
Since 2018, he said, that ministry has removed child beggars from the streets who were handed over to 89 original families and closed orphanages that did not meet standards. 23 children staying there were placed in other orphanages meeting the standards, while 30 orphaned children were placed in foster families in Burundi.
Mr. Hatungimana also informed that some 365 children without families have been placed within foster families abroad, including 141 in the United States of America. Delegations have visited some of the foster families abroad, he pointed out, and found that the children are being treated well.
He asked for support to make visits to all the host families.
He did not fail to point out that a strategy in this area has been adopted, in synergy with all the ministries involved (health, security, education and justice), so that the rights of children are fully ensured.
Mr. Hatungimana invited the governors of the provinces present and the organizations Wide Horizons for Children and All God’s Children International to help in order to protect the rights of children with no families.
For his part, Mr. Pierre Noël Nibigira, who represented Wide Horizons for Children and All God’s Children International, indicated that this workshop aimed to exchange experiences and build capacity on the search for adoptive families for children abandoned by their original families. He indicated that it was a good opportunity for all stakeholders in that sector to share achievements and jointly find solutions to the challenges that arise so that the protection of children’s rights in Burundi becomes a reality.
Alongside the search for foster families for children left to fend for themselves, Mr. Nibigira noted that the organizations he represents support the various orphanages. Their aid consists of food, milk for infants who have lost their mothers, beds and mattresses.
It is worthy to note that the two organizations are American and began their support in Burundi in 2014.