#Spain :Census of "stolen children" to be carried out

Census of "stolen children" to be carried out By: ThinkSpain , Thursday, April 12, 2012

The government has agreed to carry out a census of possible cases of "stolen children" (niños robados) in Spain, which will include name, date and place of birth, and a database in collaboration with the National Institute of Toxicology, which will enable scientists to compare genetic profiles of mothers and children, one of the original demands made by the victims of this scandal. In today's meeting with representatives of the victims' associations, Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz Gallardón (pictured, centre) said: "We want to help resolve this terrible human drama. We're not going to give up on it." His comments came on the same day Sister María, the first person to be charged in relation to the scandal, claimed her right to silence after being called to testify in court in Madrid. Furthermore, Spanish authorities are going to suggest an amendment to European Union law to facilitate access to healthcare files and thus determine blood relationships. The Justice Ministry has also agreed to make it easier for victims to get access to data held on the Civil Register, like births and possible deaths of newborn infants over the past 50 years. The victims' associations have asked for an "interdepartamental commission" or "specialised investigatory group" to be set up at national level, and offering international coverage. With regard to the state prosecutor, they have asked for local and regional offices to be instructed to act in a "uniform" way, basing their cases on the crime of "illegal detention" so that cases are not shelved. More than 900 cases of "stolen children" are currently being investigated, but new cases are coming to light all the time. Lawyers say the total could eventually reach 300,000. The scandal covers a period of about 40 to 50 years, beginning under the Franco dictatorship, and continuing up to the 1990s.  Hundreds, or possibly thousands of children were taken from parents judged to be morally or economically deficient and placed with approved Catholic, often childless, families.  An ingrained fear of or respect for the church and the medical profession has prevented the scandal being exposed before now.  Also, Spanish law does not require the biological mother's name on the birth certificate, which has slowed down exposure of the scandal in many cases. Source : Think Spain