Email to the Joint Committee on Human
Rights from Harriet Asher
BULGARIA'S
CHILD INSTITUTIONS—I
AM WORKING
AS A
VOLUNTEER
To whom it may concern,
I have been in Bulgaria as a volunteer for the
past nine weeks working in an institution for mentally and disabled
children which is worse in comparison to the institution in Mogilino
made famous by Katie Blewets documentary based on the lost children
of Bulgaria.
The institution I am based in is 70km from Sofia
and homes 59 children all varying in age and disability. I have
never in my life seen such poor conditions and the every day scenes
of abuse and neglect are absolutely shocking. This is happening
all over the country. The institution I am working in is known
to be one of the worst in Europe and almost nothing is being done
to help these children and adults.
The children spend most of the day locked in
the day room, or as I like to call it the rocking room. They literally
rock back and forward all day with no stimulation whatsoever from
anyone. They are filthy, they are washed on average once a week
and literally live and behave like a pack of dogs. They even eat
their own feaces. They have absolutely no dignity and most of
the children are wondering around without pants or shoes or are
topless.
There diets consist of porridge like meals of
bread mixed with water and a small amount of mince and they are
discouraged from drinking water as this means they are more likely
to urinate.
The abuse in the homes is non stop, mostly between
the children themselves. Staff morale could not be lower. The
staff that there are on the equivalent of minimum wage (60 pounds
sterling a month), and hate their job. They should be looking
after no more eight children each, however due to the shortages
of staff are often looking after a room of 16-30 children. I have
seen this and it is an impossible task.
Nearly every child has a chest infection and
cold, even in the 35 degree heat and they are all bruised and
scarred all over there bodies from self abuse and abuse from the
other children and even the staff in the homes.
There are two children in the home who are on
the verge of death and are skeletal and covered in flies in a
boiling hot room which is visited once day by a staff member with
a bottle or a liquid meal of some sort. They are just waiting
for them to pass away.
One of the most shocking aspects of the institution
is that not every child is mentally or physically disabled. They
are children, who are like any others, however, have been mixed
in a system that will eventually see them end up like the children
and adults surrounding them. They are weak and terrified and simply
begin to adopt the behavior of those around them in order to survive.
I understand that you cannot change the mentality
of a country; however, you can change infrastructures and help
to put models in place that could be followed by the government
and child protection offices. Certain models have been put in
place in Romania that are working, are supported by the government
and are having positive results. There is absolutely no reason
why these plans cannot be implemented in Bulgaria and I urge you
to help put pressure on the Bulgarian government to address the
shocking child and adult institutions within its country and try
to introduce or develop social models that can benefit the children
for eventual integration within society (in some cases). Bulgaria
is part of the EU and therefore has to follow guidelines—these
guidelines are not being followed and I think we all have a social
responsibility as human beings to try and help in any way possible
with this situation.
Lastly, I am a 26 year old British citizen and
I am one of very few British volunteers working permanently in
this country and the only one working in the vast area of Bulgaria
I am based in. I ask you as a to support me in my appeal and fight
with me for the rights of these children.
With kindest regards and thanks in advance.
23 September 2008
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