Uzbek orphanages closed down

The measure covers five provinces. Almost all of the children adopted out to staff of the closed facilities, civil servants and policemen. Obligation of adoption in all probability imposedby the authorities: the State contributes between 120 and 250 euro per month per child. Fears about the physical and psychological wellbeing of the adopted out.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - By decree of President Šavkat Mirziyoyev, the authorities of Uzbekistan have closed "houses of mercy" in five provinces, home to children rejected by their families. The children were almost all adopted by the operators of the closing orphanages, various local government officials, the National Guard, the police and local businessmen, reports Radio Ozodi. It is not clear to what extent these adoptions are voluntary or imposed 'from above'.

The closures took place in the provinces of Karakalpakstan, Navoijska, Fergana, Namangan and Khorezm. More than 100 foster homes have been opened across the country in the last four months to replace state-run orphanages. The new adoptive parents, who are officially all volunteers, must meet certain requirements, such as sufficient living space and a fixed salary, to which the State adds the necessities for maintenance.

However, a worker at the Samarkand Adoption Office, who prefers to remain anonymous, is convinced that adoption is a compulsory measure taken by the government. According to him, 'in 10 years of working in this sector, I have never seen any manager or civil servant who has expressed the desire to adopt a child, and today they adopt up to five at a time'. The operator points out that they are mostly children between 8 and 16 years old, with the difficulties of adolescence, "and I don't know who will be able to control their future destiny; it will not be easy to follow children adopted by policemen".

According to the information available, the State provides those who take a child for adoption with either about 120 euro per month; if they are disabled up to 250 euro. Funds are also granted for clothes: a coat, a pair of boots, sports clothes and a school uniform. However, these fees are not enough to cover all the costs of maintaining and educating a teenager.

The question of monitoring the physical and psychological conditions of children in adoptive families remains open. This should be entrusted to the National Guard, which has a special sector for working with children.

• uzbekistan
• savkat mirziyoyev
• orphans
• children
• economy
• human rights
• children's homes