CELEBRATING Fact-Finding Visit of MEPs to ABOLISH #ForcedAdoptions #PETIFactFindingForcedAdoptionsUK

Theatro Technis[1] in Camden near Kings Cross was the venue for parents who lost their children to come together with survivors of sexual abuse and McKenzie Friends who tried to came to their rescue. Triggered by the fact-finding visit[2] of eight MEPs from Brussels, this meeting was also a ‘cyber event’, addressing the issues with a global audience via skype and by ‘web casting’ on http://bit.ly/1lfq8px

The visit of the MEPs is the result of a petition to Abolish Adoptions without Parental Consent[3] representing the Systemic Pattern of Child Snatching[4] and Forced Adoptions[5] in the Secrecy of UK Family Courts[6]. They will meet on 12 November to debate the findings. From the UK, MEP Jude Kirton-Darling[7] was the representative.

While the MEPs met UK authorities in Europe House, the public meeting picked up a tradition started by Theatro Technis with “Hole in the Heart”, a play about the forced adoption of a Cypriot girl in the 80s, and “The Orchard House”, about the survival of sexual abuse earlier this year.

In addition to a global list of speakers on skype, live panellists comprised

• Belinda McKenzie[8], human rights activist since 1997;
• Deborah Mahmoudieh[9] from Sheffield who published reports addressing the issues at UK, EU and UN levels; see http://bit.ly/1XQntRh
• Maggie Tuttle[10] from Southend-on-Sea who founded the charity Children Screaming to be Heard[11].

Skype was also the vehicle of communication for the veteran of all McKenzie Friends, Ian Josephs who lives in Monaco. He has been observing cases for over 50 years and publishes www.forced-adoption.com
In addition to the live webcast, videos will be produced of the conversations in the theatre as well as on skype. The initiative came from Cypriot / Russian multi-media producer David Edmond Efthyvolou[12].

For further information, please visit the latest post on the McKenzie Friends’ website: http://bit.ly/1XIFYXN or call Sabine K McNeill on 07555 407 477.

[1] http://www.theatrotechnis.com/

[2] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/peti/home.html

[3] https://www.change.org/p/eu-parliament-abolish-adoptions-without-parental-consent

[4] http://mckenzie-friends.co.uk/petitions/our-five-issues/1-child-snatching/

[5] http://mckenzie-friends.co.uk/petitions/our-five-issues/3-forced-adoptions/

[6] http://mckenzie-friends.co.uk/petitions/our-five-issues/2-the-secrecy-of-family-courts/

[7] http://www.labour4ne.org.uk/judith_kirton_darling

[8] https://belindammckenzie.wordpress.com/

[9] https://www.youtube.com/user/debdah

[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je1rQ-43Sog

[11] http://childrenscreamingtobeheard.com/

[12] http://aspects.duckdns.org/Sabine_McNeill/20151105_Event_The-UK-and-EU-Dimensions-of-Forced-Adoptions.htm