Voices from the Silent Cradles: Life Histories of Romania’s Looked-After Children
By Mariela Neagu
In 1990, disturbing television footage emerged showing the inhumane conditions in which children in Romanian institutions were living, and viewers were surprised that the babies were silent. The so-called ‘Romanian orphans’ became subjects of several international research studies. In parallel, Romania had to reform its child protection system in order to become a member of the European Union.
This book sheds light on the lived experiences of these children, who had become adults by the time the country joined the EU. Uniquely, the book brings together the accounts of those who stayed in institutions, those who grew up in foster care and those who were adopted, both in Romania and internationally. Their narratives challenge stereotypes about these types of care.
REVIEWS
“The rich detail Neagu presents of institutional and foster care and domestic and intercountry adoption, highlighting the importance of personal relationships and identity, provides a compelling basis for evaluating those systems.” John Eekelaar, Pembroke College, Oxford
"This book demonstrates powerfully how badly wrong things can go when children's rights are ignored, and the importance of including children's views and experiences in planning policies for them.” Virginia Morrow, University College London
"With powerful stories from her own Romania, Mariela Neagu highlights how quality rather than type of care matters most in achieving the best for children living apart from their families." Robert Gilligan, Trinity College Dublin
- Hardback | EPUB
- Published Jul 30, 2021
- Page count 224 pages
- ISBN 978-1447357988
- Imprint: Policy Press
- Publisher website
- Amazon.co.uk
Artwork courtesy of Daniel Balanescu