Interview with Jon-Åge Øyslebø, Embassy of Norway in Washinton DC, on Barnevernet

This is an exclusive audio interview by Marian Petruta, with Jon-Åge Øyslebø, in charge of Communications and Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Norway, Washington DC.

Tore Hjalmar Sævik, Dagen – Promisiuni de a fi luate in seama criticile aduse Barnevernet

DEMONSTRATII: in decembrie au avut loc demonstratii in fata ambasadei Norvegiei
din Madrid (vezi foto) si din Bucuresti. In luna aceasta se continua valul de proteste
impotriva Barnevernet in mai multe tari. Foto: M & M Photography

Barnevernet

Ministrul pentru problemele copiilor si ale egalitatii, Solveig Horne, subliniaza ca libertatea religioasa este puternica in Norvegia, dar ca aceasta nu da cale libera violentei impotriva copiilor.

PROMISIUNI CA VOR FI ASCULATE CRITICILE ADUSE BARNEVERNET

In luna ianuarie sunt planuite 20 de demonstratii impotriva Barnevernet in 18 tari asa cum a precizat si ieri ziarul norvegian Dagen. Unei perechi de romani-norvegieni care locuiesc in vestul Norvegiei li s-au luat cei cinci copii printr-o decizie de urgenta.

AFARA DIN SANTURILE DE TRAGERE

Ministrul pentru problemele copiilor si ale egalitatii, Solveig Horne, subliniaza pentru ziarul crestin norvegian Dagen ca ea nu poate comenta cazuri particulare. Pentru dansa este important ca institutia Barnevernet sa aiba credibilitate in fata populatiei si observa ca aceasta credibilitate este slabita atunci cand, la diferite intervale de timp, apar critici impotriva acestei institutii.

The Case of Bodnariu Family – A Further Norwegian Perspective

Note: As you can see below, my Norwegian friend has followed closely the conversation here on this case and is offering a further (and final) perspective on this matter.

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Dear Danut,

We certainly entered a wasps nest (or maybe a rats nest) engaging in this discussion. I have read all the postings you have sent me, and I have followed up the different links and watched the taped interviews with interest.

Before I make my comments, I want to make it perfectly clear that yes, errors are made, and every error is one too many, and that I am all for continued improvement of the organization and the routines of the Child Welfare Service. (I prefer to use the official name even if some call it the Child Protection service.)

BUT if you want to change a system you cannot do it based on anecdotal evidence. If you look it up, you will find a lot of definitions and descriptions of “anecdotal evidence”, but here is one from Wikipedia:

“Anecdotal evidence is evidence from anecdotes. Where only one or a few anecdotes are presented, there is a larger chance that they may be unreliable due to cherry-picked or otherwise non-representative samples of typical cases. Anecdotal evidence is considered dubious support of a generalized claim; it is, however, within the scope of scientific method for claims regarding particular instances, for example the use of case studies in medicine.”

If we look at what has been presented in this case, it is anecdotal evidence. Even if we assume that the stories presented are true examples of wrongdoings on the part of the Child Welfare Service, what do we have? Less than 10 examples spanning 5 years!

The Case of Bodnariu Family – A Norwegian Perspective

The Bodnariu family

I was asked lately, a number of times, why I am not commening on the case of Bodnariu family, a Romanian married to a Norwegian, whose children were taken recently by Barnevernet, the Child Welfare Service in Norway.

First, I want to express very clearly my compassion for this family. Whatever the case of this very painful situation, I hope no family would ever go through this. I also hope that, with wisdom and good will on both siodes, the situation will be solved, and children will be returned soon to their natural family.

Secondly, I did not comment on this until now because I do not know the facts. All I know is what the affected family is saying and what others comment about it. However, we do not have yet any official point of view and, really, we do not have the facts. I do not use to hold opinions on things I do not know enough about. I know that every Romanian has at least two (often conflicting) opinions about any given matter, but I am not a fan of this national sport.

Thirdly, in light of the above, when I was approached by somebody about this matter, I have suggested that those concerned should approach Forum 18, a respected Norwegian agency spoecialised in religious persecution. That have the credit of the public, the respect of the government, and the necessary expertise to explore the actual facts. I am not aware that anubody has done that yet. rather, the virtual space is filled with a sort of hysteria, if not real paranoia, about some ocult conspiracy. This is promoted especially by the fundamentalist comandos if the US (Cristian Ionescu and the like), who are stirring up regularly such campaigns in Romania, in order o justofy their financial campaigns (it’s all about money, stupid).