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Av Arnulf Øverland
Av Inger Marie Nilsen
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The Helena Lufuma Case By
Helena Lufuma, refugee mother of four
from Angola
Are
children commodities? the sign asks. From
Helena Lufuma's demonstration at Sergel Square, Stockholm Why
did the Swedish Social Services separate me from my children? My name is Helena Lufuma. I came to Sweden in 1987 from
Angola with my family, which consisted of 2 daughters, 10 years old and 3 years
old, plus two boys ages 7 and 6 years old. Background The whole thing started when I visited the social
welfare office on July 25th 1995, having realised that I needed a little help
and advice. I
thought that maybe the help that I could get would be to place my children in a
foster home for a month or two until I got on my feet again and was more
organized. I thought that maybe they could help me with some kind of guidance
and parental advice. But
instead quick decisions, short-term solutions were made and they talked me into
placing my children in different homes. I wasn’t for the idea of having my
children placed in different homes; I wanted help in my own home. The situation
resulted in my case being taken to court and I lost custody of my children.
"Why
are so many children being taken from their parents?? My opinion is that the court made the wrong decisions. In
the investigation there were several points missing: 1 - the children's behaviour and if
unsatisfactory how they could be corrected. 2 - my capacity and possibility of
taking care of my children. At
the same time the social authorities contacted a private child care company that
was supposed to help with the placement of my children in a foster home. I
didn't want my children to be put into a foster home, but my opinion was
ignored. I wanted to have an African guidance assistant who could easily
identify with me and my situation, but I was told that this wasn't possible and
that I wasn't allowed to choose the members at the meetings and that it was no
need for an African child guidance consultant.
"Stop
the dictatorial bureaucrats in the social services". Helena
Lufuma's demonstration at Sergel Square, Stockholm After awhile in a temporary foster family, my children
were forced to move to the home of one of the swedish child guidance
consultants, this having taken place without my knowledge. It
was after my children had been moved from their foster homes that I was
notified. The social authorities had not made an official decision. When I found
out I was upset and I contacted the Ombudsman and requested that he look into
the matter. The Ombudsman later told me that the social authorities had
committed a breach of duty. The
social authorities have never given me the advice, directions, therapy or help
that they said I needed for being able to return to my role as a good mother.
Plans for reuniting me with my children have never been made or drawn up. My children have instead been forced to move to new
homes10 times in three years, and to change school several times. In
one of the foster homes my children were not allowed to use their mother tongue
when talking to each other. I have asked to be reunited and placed with my
children in a neutral place, a place that would be good for all of us, where we
can get the help we need and repair the pain and suffering that was caused when
my children were taken away from me. But this suggestion is still not accepted
by the "Söderleds Stadsdelsnämnd".
"Why
are the social services breaking up my family???" The people in charge of my case were replaced by new
staff several times, without my knowledge, and many new decisions have been made
without me knowing and this has come to my attention months later. I
have been denied the right to read my case journal by the "Söderleds
Stadsdelsförvaltning" even thought I have made this request several times. My
children have been turned against me through bribes. Instead of returning my
children to me the social authorities gave them extra pocket money, nice clothes
and expensive things that they knew I couldn't afford, and I believe this was
done to keep them away from me. The monthly allowance that I can offer my
children is far less than the weekly allowance they receive.
"The
social services ill-treated me and my children. Then they called our reactions mental disorders" My
values and my attitude as a mother and my opinion concerning how my children
should be brought up do not seem to have any relevance in the social
authorities' eyes. They have given the children an environment where they can do
what they want, sleep where they want, come home when they feel like it. As
a mother I have never wanted my children to be brought up without taking
responsibilities in life.
"Söderled's
Social Service Army should be disarmed" The staff at the Social Services is trying to take my
life through psychic outrage. Söderled's Social Service Army should be disarmed. The
photos above are from my demonstration at Sergel Square (Sergels Torg) in
Stockholm August 1997 to May1998. Do
you want to support me? I am fighting for reunion of my family. Please send your support to: Helena
Lufuma, Pepparvägen 9.1tr, 12356 Farsta, Sweden You can mail to: fightingmother@hotmail.com
Thank
you! *********** This story was published by nkmr.org.
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