Comment: According to Italy's Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, Around 120'000 Roma Gypsies "have spontaneously gone to permissive Spain" in response to the emergency measures implemented by Berlusconi's government towards the Roma community since they have seized power in May. 'Adnkronos' reported that Italian groups and charities accused the government to exaggerate the number of Gypsies living in Italy to justify its fingerprinting measures. In the camps, the Italian authorities found out that 50% of the children were parentless.

Adnkronos full text

Comment: According to the news portal 'Aktualne', since 2000, 277 Czech children have found new families abroad in Denmark, Germany and Italy for the most of them. In fact, the large majority of the 277 Czech children adopted abroad were Romas. The figures and related assertions were dissussed last week in Brno during an International Adoption's Conference. Experts from a dozen of countries agreed that adoption by foreigners should be only the last resort. Czech citizens wrongly believe that Roma children are less talented than the others, this stereotype is one of the reasons they are unwanted.

Aktualne full text

Extract: In its last edition, the IPJJ newsletter informs on the latest UN Secretary-General's Guidance Note on the UN Approach to Justice for Children's issue which goal is to ensure greater attention to children who come in contact with justice and related systems as victims, witnesses and alleged offenders by ensuring the full application of international norms and standards. Furthermore, the IPJJ brings to mind the upcoming International Seminar regarding the issue of Child victims and witnesses of Crime that will be held mid october in Sion, Switzerland. This meeting is carried out by the International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE). (more infos here) Many other news related to juvenile issues in Europe and other parts of the world are available in this newsletter.

IPJJ newsletter full text

Comment: EGov reports that the International Forum on Child Welfare is being held in Cardiff next week. Among its priorities, this Conference was organized to find best practices in the field of Child Welfare, including child protection, disability, youth justice and education issues. Amongst 300 professionals, the organisators invited children from Hungary, Cyprus, Germany and the UK to talk about their experience during this 6 day programme. "We are eager to be able to share our experiences of how to tackle issues that may prevent any child fulfilling their potential", said Jane Hutt, the Welsh Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

EGov full text

Comment: 'Médecins sans Frontières' (MSF) announces in a press release that the organization has put to an end its emergency intervention in the detention center for migrants of Lesvos Island in Greece. This decision is the consequence of lack of support and commitment showed by the authorities since the beginning of the intervention of MSF. This situation affected the efforts of MSF to offer proper medical care in the center. Moreover, there are still woman, minors and infants detained in the same premises as adults and men in poor living conditions.

MSF Press Release