Friday, April 29, 2016
There is no such thing as a 'non-existent' child. At least, there shouldn't be.
I was also born in outer space. I have an 'Alien's passport' to prove it. Finland didn't care for me, as my parents were not married. Thailand also didn't grant me citizenship because my father was not Thai. Legally speaking, I was nobody's problem. This was almost 33 years ago.
These days, Finland does not require parents to be married in order to prove that a child is a 'legal' citizen, just as Thailand no longer fears a huge influx of regional male migrants trying to gain entry into the country by fathering Thai babies. Both countries eventually saw fit to give me citizenship.
But you can still get one of these in Finland:
Despite all this, my existence was still logged somewhere, albeit in outer space. But there are kids, here in the EU, who 'do not exist' anywhere. On any paper. Not even as an alien.
Many Romanian children are not given legal identity at birth in Romania. And because they do not exist, it is impossible for them to go to school, to the doctor, or get any kind of social security. The Helsinki Deaconess Institute (where I work), works with Romanian families in Valea Seaca. This year, the main goal is to secure identities for Romanians who lack documentation. 25€ buys a child an identity. 50€ will give bring their mother into legal existence. By giving the gift of identity, you make it possible for these families and children to live a better life in their own home country.
It isn't every day I share a campaign on social media, but the idea of home and identity - and of existence - are close to my heart. From my point of view, it is both draconian and archaic that a living and breathing child simply 'does not exist'. Give the gift of identity.
Lahjoita henkilöllisyys! Olemassa-kampanja tukee HDL:n kummikylää Romaniassa.
Labels: discrimination, home, kummikylä, nationalism, olemassa, rasicm
fon @ 1:32 PM link to post * *