11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
Stop Gender Discrimination! Campaign: Lecture on Feminism/Femininity, June, 28
[Ljava.lang.String;@52b6b508
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
Domestic Violence Statistics for Oxford, Miss.
To contact us Click HERE
By: Katie Ridgeway
Domestic Violence Stats for 2011
Domestic Violence Stats for 2012 January to April 2012
By: Katie Ridgeway
Domestic Violence Stats for 2011
Domestic Violence Stats for 2012 January to April 2012
Could Judge Peter McBrien Have Prevented Madeline's Murder?
To contact us Click HERE
Controversial Judge at the Center of A Tragic Death: Citizens Protest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2011
CONTACT: Anne Hart 916-715-5243
Sacramento, CA - On Thursday, September 22, 2011, community members will hold a protest from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Sacramento Superior Court, 720 9th Street, Sacramentoregarding the abject failure of Sacramento family court to protect children in custody disputes. The protest will begin on the corner of 9th and H Streets.
One judge, Sacramento Family Court Judge Peter McBrien, has been a focus of community scrutiny for over a decade for his lack of judgment and destructive decisions. He destroyed ancient oak trees on a nature preserve to obtain a better view from his home which earned him the moniker of "Chainsaw" and resulted in a felony charge that he pled down to a misdemeanor. Additionally, he received a public reprimand from the Commission on Judicial Performance. He then became personally embroiled in the divorce case of Ulf Carlsson, and went far out of his way to destroy Mr. Carlsson by ensuring he was fired from his job. Judge McBrien committed numerous ethical violations along the way and earned another reprimand. Battered mothers report that he consistently places children with substantiated molesters, batterers, violent alcoholics, and drug addicts. Now, Judge McBrien failed to protect a toddler, who was then murdered.
After a statewide AMBER Alert, two-year-old Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay was found near Placerville, CA in her father's vehicle. She and her father Mourad Samaan were both dead.
Samaan had a pattern of not returning his daughter Madeline from visits and had told her mother that he was taking the child to Oregon against the court order. Prior to the toddler's death, Judge McBrien had refused to grant an ex parte request by Madeline's mother to order law enforcement to locate the father and child, and to place Samaan on supervised visits. Judge McBrien had a perfect opportunity to prevent this tragedy, but refused to assist the mother Marcia Fay, a California Deputy Attorney General, in locating and protecting her child.
California judges have a pattern of not believing women and children, and are trained to minimize concerns of mothers, according to Judge DeAnn Salcide (Ret), founder of Judicial Action Watch Society. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judicial-Action-Watch-Society/219653241395520
The United States has a pattern of not protecting women and children. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has sharply rebuked the United States for failing to protect women and children in the Gonzalez v. United States decision in August 2011, stating that the U.S. practices discrimination and violation of the right to equality.
http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2011/92-11eng.htm
We can begin changing these destructive patterns by demanding that Judge McBrien be removed from family court and from any position that gives him authority over vulnerable children.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2011
CONTACT: Anne Hart 916-715-5243
Sacramento, CA - On Thursday, September 22, 2011, community members will hold a protest from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Sacramento Superior Court, 720 9th Street, Sacramentoregarding the abject failure of Sacramento family court to protect children in custody disputes. The protest will begin on the corner of 9th and H Streets.
One judge, Sacramento Family Court Judge Peter McBrien, has been a focus of community scrutiny for over a decade for his lack of judgment and destructive decisions. He destroyed ancient oak trees on a nature preserve to obtain a better view from his home which earned him the moniker of "Chainsaw" and resulted in a felony charge that he pled down to a misdemeanor. Additionally, he received a public reprimand from the Commission on Judicial Performance. He then became personally embroiled in the divorce case of Ulf Carlsson, and went far out of his way to destroy Mr. Carlsson by ensuring he was fired from his job. Judge McBrien committed numerous ethical violations along the way and earned another reprimand. Battered mothers report that he consistently places children with substantiated molesters, batterers, violent alcoholics, and drug addicts. Now, Judge McBrien failed to protect a toddler, who was then murdered.
After a statewide AMBER Alert, two-year-old Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay was found near Placerville, CA in her father's vehicle. She and her father Mourad Samaan were both dead.
Samaan had a pattern of not returning his daughter Madeline from visits and had told her mother that he was taking the child to Oregon against the court order. Prior to the toddler's death, Judge McBrien had refused to grant an ex parte request by Madeline's mother to order law enforcement to locate the father and child, and to place Samaan on supervised visits. Judge McBrien had a perfect opportunity to prevent this tragedy, but refused to assist the mother Marcia Fay, a California Deputy Attorney General, in locating and protecting her child.
California judges have a pattern of not believing women and children, and are trained to minimize concerns of mothers, according to Judge DeAnn Salcide (Ret), founder of Judicial Action Watch Society. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judicial-Action-Watch-Society/219653241395520
The United States has a pattern of not protecting women and children. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has sharply rebuked the United States for failing to protect women and children in the Gonzalez v. United States decision in August 2011, stating that the U.S. practices discrimination and violation of the right to equality.
http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2011/92-11eng.htm
We can begin changing these destructive patterns by demanding that Judge McBrien be removed from family court and from any position that gives him authority over vulnerable children.
###
Happy New Year! Make Your Voice Heard in 2010
To contact us Click HERE
Happy New Year! I hope that you enjoyed your winter holiday and have welcomed 2011 full of energy and good thoughts. I would like to share with you the final evaluation of the activities implemented within the “Make Your Voice Heard!” project, and I welcome your feedback and proposals for new projects and activities.
During the first Stop Gender Discrimination! Campaign, six different activities were organized on the following topics:
- Women’s rights / human rights (info session “Women’s Rights. Legislation and Activism”)
- Gender identities construction (movie screening "Tough Guise. Media, Violence and the New Crisis in Masculinity")
- Intersectionality: gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status (movie screening “Red Poppies”)
- Combating gender stereotypes (workshop “Femininity - Masculinity”);
- Activism for gender equality (flashmob)
- Feminism in theory and practice (lecture “Feminism/Femininity”)
The second part of the awareness raising and info campaign, “Stop Gender Discrimination!” (November, 19-30), focused mainly on combating gender violence within the society. Activities included:
- Information and awareness raising street campaign on rights granted under law for the following situations: domestic violence, harassment, discrimination
- Round table with Turda mass-media representatives: “The mass-media role in reducing gender inequalities”
- Film screening: Austria – The Red Card (2008); episode of the “Women on the frontline” – legislative alternatives in the field of violence against women
- Film Screening: “Children of the Decree” – ideological violence and the issue of reproductive rights violation during the Ceausescu regime (in Targu Jiu)
- Workshop: “Combating domestic violence”
400 direct beneficiaries learned how gender stereotypes and inequalities are constructed and how they can be deconstructed through our awareness raising and info campaigns and also through our participatory action research (developed during January – June 2010). Also, the youth involved in the project have had the opportunity to observe and acknowledge the role of mass-media and its influence in developing gender attitudes and gender identities. The local and regional mass-media involvement in the “Stop Gender Discrimination!” campaign represented a great opportunity to mobilize and inform the public opinion on gender-related issues.
The Ratiu Foundation for Democracy, through Make Your Voice Heard, actively participated in the activities developed during the “16 Days of Activism against Violence on Women” campaign (November 25 – December 10). In 2010, during the 16 Days campaign, we organized the workshop “Combating Domestic Violence” – the silence witnesses were exposed, and the participants analyzed their situation and proposed solutions for combating domestic violence. We also participated in the flashmob and round tables organized by the coordinating organization of the campaign, PATRIR.
The impact of our activities was monitored through different methods: interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and round tables. To get participants interested involved in free discussions on gender, we utilized non-formal gender education methods. The handbook Making Rights a Reality. Gender Awareness Workshops. (published by Amnesty International Publications) was used in research and the above mentioned methods were applied.
Based on the results, the project successfully reached its purpose and objectives. The participants were guided in recognizing economic, institutional and domestic discrimination in their community and how to combat those forms of discrimination by using the current legislation. Also, the communities become more aware of the specific problems women face in society.
We await your feedback!
During the first Stop Gender Discrimination! Campaign, six different activities were organized on the following topics:
- Women’s rights / human rights (info session “Women’s Rights. Legislation and Activism”)
- Gender identities construction (movie screening "Tough Guise. Media, Violence and the New Crisis in Masculinity")
- Intersectionality: gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status (movie screening “Red Poppies”)
- Combating gender stereotypes (workshop “Femininity - Masculinity”);
- Activism for gender equality (flashmob)
- Feminism in theory and practice (lecture “Feminism/Femininity”)
The second part of the awareness raising and info campaign, “Stop Gender Discrimination!” (November, 19-30), focused mainly on combating gender violence within the society. Activities included:
- Information and awareness raising street campaign on rights granted under law for the following situations: domestic violence, harassment, discrimination
- Round table with Turda mass-media representatives: “The mass-media role in reducing gender inequalities”
- Film screening: Austria – The Red Card (2008); episode of the “Women on the frontline” – legislative alternatives in the field of violence against women
- Film Screening: “Children of the Decree” – ideological violence and the issue of reproductive rights violation during the Ceausescu regime (in Targu Jiu)
- Workshop: “Combating domestic violence”
400 direct beneficiaries learned how gender stereotypes and inequalities are constructed and how they can be deconstructed through our awareness raising and info campaigns and also through our participatory action research (developed during January – June 2010). Also, the youth involved in the project have had the opportunity to observe and acknowledge the role of mass-media and its influence in developing gender attitudes and gender identities. The local and regional mass-media involvement in the “Stop Gender Discrimination!” campaign represented a great opportunity to mobilize and inform the public opinion on gender-related issues.
The Ratiu Foundation for Democracy, through Make Your Voice Heard, actively participated in the activities developed during the “16 Days of Activism against Violence on Women” campaign (November 25 – December 10). In 2010, during the 16 Days campaign, we organized the workshop “Combating Domestic Violence” – the silence witnesses were exposed, and the participants analyzed their situation and proposed solutions for combating domestic violence. We also participated in the flashmob and round tables organized by the coordinating organization of the campaign, PATRIR.
The impact of our activities was monitored through different methods: interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and round tables. To get participants interested involved in free discussions on gender, we utilized non-formal gender education methods. The handbook Making Rights a Reality. Gender Awareness Workshops. (published by Amnesty International Publications) was used in research and the above mentioned methods were applied.
Based on the results, the project successfully reached its purpose and objectives. The participants were guided in recognizing economic, institutional and domestic discrimination in their community and how to combat those forms of discrimination by using the current legislation. Also, the communities become more aware of the specific problems women face in society.
We await your feedback!
Domestic Violence – Definitions, Statistics, Forms of Manifestation
To contact us Click HERE
Welcome back! I recently read different Romanian sites and blogs covering the pros and cons of the existence and manifestation of gender equality. I observed, unfortunately, that within Romanian society there is a strong tendency towards toleration of the violation of women’s rights. The main activities and programs of the Ratiu Center for Democracy aim to promote human rights and tolerance (ethnic, religious, gender), more specifically, the program Make Your Voice Heard!
Therefore, within our future posts, we will analyze the specific problems faced by women to encourage discussion (with you) whether gender equality represents an achieved goal or is still desired.
In this post, we will analyze one of the most critical problems that women face on the international and national level, the problem which represented the focus point for most of this program’s activities: violence against women. I ask that, today, you speak about the manifest forms of domestic violence, and tomorrow we will discuss the effects of domestic violence and which institutions can be used in these situations.
Violence takes on many forms including physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, emotional and financial. Any form of violence has severe repercussions on the victim’s health, specifically mental health – victims often relive violent moments through memories and/or nightmares, while the inner fear and shame lead to acute psychological imbalance. Domestic violence can be identified in the following facts and actions (we will exclude physical violence from our description):
• Psychological violence appears when the victim is treated condescendingly with violent and obscene language aimed at denigration. Blaming the wife for a violent act is another form of domestic violence. Questions such as “You see what you’ve made me do?” make the woman feel guilty for her husband’s aggression and inevitably lowers her self-esteem. Assuming a part of the guilt, the woman will feel discouraged to address her friends or to seek public authorities responsible in the field. Intimidation and threats are also part of psychological violence.
• Economic violence is manifest through the prohibition of women from employment and the deprivation of a specific monthly allowance. Housewives are, in my opinion, the most vulnerable category to domestic violence because household work is underestimated and unappreciated not only by husbands, but also through the social politics which offer no advantage or protection / social security to housewives.
• Sexual violence represents any sexual relations against the will of a woman, or more specifically, spousal rape and sexual abuse of children.
• Social violence confines a woman’s independence through the prohibition of family visits, time with friends and even walking alone.
[For further information on domestic violence classification, please consult Pence, E., Duprey, M., Paymar, M., McDonell, C. (1985). The Justice System's Response to Domestic Assault Cases: A Guide for Policy Development. Duluth, Minnesota: Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, p. 20]
Gender violence and domestic violence manifest in different degrees in all societies; the social hierarchy of power (regardless of its sphere) with respect to gender represents the accelerator principle of female discrimination through physical, psychological, economic and social violence. National, European and international statistics reveal that mostly women are the victims of domestic violence; thus, in concordance with UN reports, 20% - 50% of women are victims of domestic violence, around 11,400 annually in Romania.
The violence against women definition, theorized during the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, aims to classify all the gender-based violent acts that result or are likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty; domestic violence is defined as it follows: “any voluntary action form or omission of an action exerted on a family member (or any other form of cohabitation), causing him/her harm, that manifests taking advantage of his/her incapacity of defense, decide or seek help” [Roth, M (2003) Gen È™i Violență în Magyari-Vincze, E & MîndruÈ›, P (ed) Gen , Societate È™i Cultură, Editura FundaÈ›iei Desire, Cluj-napoca, p. , p. 485, 505].
Therefore, within our future posts, we will analyze the specific problems faced by women to encourage discussion (with you) whether gender equality represents an achieved goal or is still desired.
In this post, we will analyze one of the most critical problems that women face on the international and national level, the problem which represented the focus point for most of this program’s activities: violence against women. I ask that, today, you speak about the manifest forms of domestic violence, and tomorrow we will discuss the effects of domestic violence and which institutions can be used in these situations.
Violence takes on many forms including physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, emotional and financial. Any form of violence has severe repercussions on the victim’s health, specifically mental health – victims often relive violent moments through memories and/or nightmares, while the inner fear and shame lead to acute psychological imbalance. Domestic violence can be identified in the following facts and actions (we will exclude physical violence from our description):
• Psychological violence appears when the victim is treated condescendingly with violent and obscene language aimed at denigration. Blaming the wife for a violent act is another form of domestic violence. Questions such as “You see what you’ve made me do?” make the woman feel guilty for her husband’s aggression and inevitably lowers her self-esteem. Assuming a part of the guilt, the woman will feel discouraged to address her friends or to seek public authorities responsible in the field. Intimidation and threats are also part of psychological violence.
• Economic violence is manifest through the prohibition of women from employment and the deprivation of a specific monthly allowance. Housewives are, in my opinion, the most vulnerable category to domestic violence because household work is underestimated and unappreciated not only by husbands, but also through the social politics which offer no advantage or protection / social security to housewives.
• Sexual violence represents any sexual relations against the will of a woman, or more specifically, spousal rape and sexual abuse of children.
• Social violence confines a woman’s independence through the prohibition of family visits, time with friends and even walking alone.
[For further information on domestic violence classification, please consult Pence, E., Duprey, M., Paymar, M., McDonell, C. (1985). The Justice System's Response to Domestic Assault Cases: A Guide for Policy Development. Duluth, Minnesota: Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, p. 20]
Gender violence and domestic violence manifest in different degrees in all societies; the social hierarchy of power (regardless of its sphere) with respect to gender represents the accelerator principle of female discrimination through physical, psychological, economic and social violence. National, European and international statistics reveal that mostly women are the victims of domestic violence; thus, in concordance with UN reports, 20% - 50% of women are victims of domestic violence, around 11,400 annually in Romania.
The violence against women definition, theorized during the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, aims to classify all the gender-based violent acts that result or are likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty; domestic violence is defined as it follows: “any voluntary action form or omission of an action exerted on a family member (or any other form of cohabitation), causing him/her harm, that manifests taking advantage of his/her incapacity of defense, decide or seek help” [Roth, M (2003) Gen È™i Violență în Magyari-Vincze, E & MîndruÈ›, P (ed) Gen , Societate È™i Cultură, Editura FundaÈ›iei Desire, Cluj-napoca, p. , p. 485, 505].
Domestic Violence Effects on Victims
To contact us Click HERE
As I promised in the previous post, today we will speak about the effects of domestic violence and those institutions responsible for the protection and assistance of victims. You can find more information on institutions and organizations in the brochure “Stop Gender Discrimination!” The brochure is available on this blog. Additional information regarding the brochure: ANES (The National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men) no longer exists and the agency website is not available anymore; to institutions and organizations from Cluj county working in the field, I would like to add the Counseling and Shelter Center for Domestic Violence Victims (Turda, str Avram Iancu, nr 12, TEL .VERDE 0800 817 171, email: centrudeconsiliere@yahoo.com) and ARTEMIS – Center of Counseling against Sexual Abuse and Violence (Cluj-Napoca, str Rene Descartes, nr 6, Tel/fax: 0040 264 598155, email: afiv-artemis@cluj.astral.ro, secretar_afiv_titkar@yahoo.com, www.artemis.com.ro.
The following describes the severe effects of domestic violence and why/how violence against women (and others) represents a serious violation of numerous fundamental human rights, among which we can mention the right to health and the right to life. Violence has traumatic effects on its victims, the trauma being “the event of the subject’s life which is defined through its intensity, the subjects’ incapacity to adequately respond, disorder and long lasting pathogen effects caused to psychological organization (…)” [Laplanche, J., Pontalis, J.B. (1994) Vocabularul Psihanalizei, București: Humanitas, p. 444).
The following list describes the severe effects of violence against women:
- mental health: depression, anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, sexual disorders, sleep and eating disorders, obsession, compulsive acts, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, suicide attempts
- physical health: harm, temporary or permanent invalidity, physical pain of different organs, headaches, asthma, colitis, alcohol or drug addictions, unhealthy behavior (smoking, unprotected sex), death
- reproductive health: unwanted pregnancy, gynecological problems, low weight of child at birth, abortion, vaginal diseases and pains, child death at birth, birth defects [accordingly to UNICEF (1999) Women in Transition. Monee Project. Regional Monitoring Report, Chapter 4]
Researchers also noted that domestic violence victims can develop disorders which “can evolve in acute disorders which hinders victim’s ability to carry out her/his daily tasks”:
- sleep disorders due to nightmares or recurrent thoughts
- memory problems, obsessive memories with the effect of making victims relive the suffered abuses (memory problems are noted to be memory loss connected with aggressive moments)
- hyper-excitability and/or idleness in behavior
- problems focusing in daily activities, lack of interest, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder
- suicidal thoughts due to low self-esteem and pessimistic ideas
- auto-mutilation behavior (from the desire to take control of one’s own body)
- obsessive-compulsive behavior - “the victim feels obliged to commit some actions, with no opportunity to oppose”
- hot temper, explosive behavior
- dissociative disorders, losing contact with reality
- reactive sexual behavior, sexual disorders
[For further details please consult Roth, M (2003) Gen si Violenta in Magyari-Vincze, E & Mîndrut, P (ed) Gen , Societate si Cultură, Editura Fundatiei Desire, Cluj-napoca, p. 543]
The consequences of domestic violence are very severe, and in the absence of specialized help, they can easily develop further.
Health problems from domestic violence perpetuate gender stereotypes such as women being irrational, impulsive, predisposed to mental diseases – pathological femininity idea.
The following describes the severe effects of domestic violence and why/how violence against women (and others) represents a serious violation of numerous fundamental human rights, among which we can mention the right to health and the right to life. Violence has traumatic effects on its victims, the trauma being “the event of the subject’s life which is defined through its intensity, the subjects’ incapacity to adequately respond, disorder and long lasting pathogen effects caused to psychological organization (…)” [Laplanche, J., Pontalis, J.B. (1994) Vocabularul Psihanalizei, București: Humanitas, p. 444).
The following list describes the severe effects of violence against women:
- mental health: depression, anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, sexual disorders, sleep and eating disorders, obsession, compulsive acts, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, suicide attempts
- physical health: harm, temporary or permanent invalidity, physical pain of different organs, headaches, asthma, colitis, alcohol or drug addictions, unhealthy behavior (smoking, unprotected sex), death
- reproductive health: unwanted pregnancy, gynecological problems, low weight of child at birth, abortion, vaginal diseases and pains, child death at birth, birth defects [accordingly to UNICEF (1999) Women in Transition. Monee Project. Regional Monitoring Report, Chapter 4]
Researchers also noted that domestic violence victims can develop disorders which “can evolve in acute disorders which hinders victim’s ability to carry out her/his daily tasks”:
- sleep disorders due to nightmares or recurrent thoughts
- memory problems, obsessive memories with the effect of making victims relive the suffered abuses (memory problems are noted to be memory loss connected with aggressive moments)
- hyper-excitability and/or idleness in behavior
- problems focusing in daily activities, lack of interest, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder
- suicidal thoughts due to low self-esteem and pessimistic ideas
- auto-mutilation behavior (from the desire to take control of one’s own body)
- obsessive-compulsive behavior - “the victim feels obliged to commit some actions, with no opportunity to oppose”
- hot temper, explosive behavior
- dissociative disorders, losing contact with reality
- reactive sexual behavior, sexual disorders
[For further details please consult Roth, M (2003) Gen si Violenta in Magyari-Vincze, E & Mîndrut, P (ed) Gen , Societate si Cultură, Editura Fundatiei Desire, Cluj-napoca, p. 543]
The consequences of domestic violence are very severe, and in the absence of specialized help, they can easily develop further.
Health problems from domestic violence perpetuate gender stereotypes such as women being irrational, impulsive, predisposed to mental diseases – pathological femininity idea.
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
Press Release: HISTORIC CASE FILED IN THE US SUPREME COURT IN THE US SUPREME COURT IN WASHINGTON DC
To contact us Click HERE
May 6, 2011
In a landmark case, the Sacks v. Sacks case was accepted today at the US Supreme Court in Washington DC. Linda Marie Sacks, a Florida Mother was beaming, as she walked to hand deliver her 40 Petition for Certiorari, all wrapped in Red, White, and Blue American Flag ribbon. She said “This is an historic moment for all of America’s children and their “Protective Parents” who are not being protected by the “official avenues” who are supposed to protect them, judges, police and the Dept. of Family and Children. I am truly the all American Mom, and never did I ever imagine, that I could lose custody of my children for believing them and trying to protect. The Family Court system is giving pedophiles and batterers custody, and the safe, fit “protective parents” rights are terminated, or like me are placed on supervised visitation for years without a case plan or reunification plan”.
She is a pro se litigant, and many years ago was quoted in the Momlogic.com article that she had her sights on the US Supreme Court if the family court did not return her children to her, as they were “legally kidnapped in April 2007 by Judge Shawn L. Briese. His ruling was REVERSED and REMANDED in 08/08 due to her constitutional rights to due process being violated, but this rare reversal provided no relief as Judge Briese refused to vacate the supervised visitation order or protect the minor children.
The last time a case similar to this was presented was the Wendy Titelman case. Wendy wrote a book titled “A Mothers Journal” Let my Children Go! And it’s all about child placed in the custody of their abusive parent and the failure of Cobb County GA to protect her children. The book is included in the Sacks Cert Petition, on page 38 and it quotes Hon. Sol. Gothard when he says “the problems expressed in Wendy’s book are epidemic and widespread.
These types of case and outcomes are noted by the DOJ, and OVW, as well as national advocates and Mothers all over the US.
Sacks is only allowed to see her children for 2 hours a month at the local visitation center the 2nd and 4th Saturday for 1 hour. This has only amounted to 82 hours in 4years and 2months.
Sacks, is a “squeaky clean”, mom, and before the April 2007 ruling by Judge Briese, she was her daughter’s primary care giver, and a loving caring Mother, as well as their class mom, soccer mom, car pool Mom, community volunteer, with no drugs, no alcohol, no abuse, no infidelity, and she lost physical custody of her children, and all she did was try to protect them. The trial court dismissed, ignored, and suppresses credible evidence of child sexual and physical abuse.
The Fifth District Court of Appeals with Judge Evander, Judge Torphy and Judge Cohen, affirmed Judge Briese’s ruling and now this is an historical case being presented to the US Supreme Court. Her daughter’s teacher said “America better wake up, and you of all Mothers can lose custody, it can happen to anyone”. This crisis is noted by the Dept. of Justice.
Eric Holder, the US Attorney General, at the DOJ, Dept. of Justice is quoted on page 37 of the Sacks Petition for Certiorari, as she notes his speech to the National Summit on Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment and asks the question, “Why are battered mothers losing custody of their children to the courts or child protective services”. (http://justice.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090602.html).
The Sacks case is a Justice for Children case and they advocate for children when “official avenues have failed to protect them”, judges, police, Department of Children and Family, (www.justiceforchildren.org)
The Leadership Council, states that 58,000 are court-ordered to live with a sexually or physically abusive parent after a divorce in the U.S. and considers this a “public health crisis” for America’s children.(www.leadershipcouncil.org) and is also included on page 24.
The CPPA, California Protective Parent Association, Connie Valentine and Karen Andersen, site case studies where a pattern is evident and have asked for Congressional Hearings to address this crisis.( www.protectiveparent.com) CPPA is on page 34 and 35 of the petition before the US Supreme Court.
On March 2, 2011, Peter Jamison from the SF Weekly published an article “ILLEGAL GUARDIANS” When Judges Give Custody To Abusive Parents the Family Court System is broken. This article documents child sexual abuse cases and the identified perpetrator/ pedophile will get Sole Physical Custody of the minor child(ren), and the safe protective parent, will be restricted to supervised visitation or all contact will be terminated. It’s on page 24 and 25 of the Cert as well. (sf.weekly.com) This national case clearly shows how fit parent’s all over the U.S. are being be deprived of a relationship with their children, and this case exposes the national crisis for America’s children who are victims of child sexual abuse and or physical abuse, and the failure of family courts to protect them.
This is a liberty right protected by the United States Constitution, for a parent-child relationship, but not protected by family courts or CPS all over the U.S.
The National Organization for Women, NOW and the NOW Ad Hoc Law Committee are addressing this issue and in their Spring 2011, “and explore what can happen to a protective mother and her children when she does nothing more than to protect her children”, as quoted on page 36 of the Petition for Certiorari.
The Petitioner, in the US Supreme Court case, Linda Marie Sacks, has been chosen as the “Poster Mother” of the Family Court Crisis, is interviewed for the article.(www.now.org) Click on the Family Law Spring Newsletter.
O Magazine, by Oprah, 10/06 article by Jan Goodwin, “Please Daddy No”, Stopping Court Ordered Parental Child Sexual Abuse is quoted on page 37. (www.jangoodwin.com/articles/pleasedaddyno.pdf)
Dr.Phil has also addressed this crisis on 04/14/10, “America’s Family Courts System Failing It’s Citizens”. (http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1442/) and Sacks references this on page 37 in the case before the US Supreme Court.
This latest research is available in the book “Domestic Violence, Abuse and Child Custody, Legal Strategies and Policy Issues” by Editors: Dr. Mo Therese Hanna Ph.d and Barry Goldstein, J.D. and is included in the Sacks petition on page 34 (www.domesticviolenceabuseandchildcsutody.com)
Catherine Pierce, then Acting Director of the Office of Violence Against Women, in 2008 is quoted on page 12 and 13 of the Sacks Cert Petition, in her speech to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary It was “The Importance of the Violence against Women Act”. Pierce states “the complicated issue of child custody presents another challenge involving the intersection of children and domestic violence. Battered women losing custody of the children is a serious and growing problem”. http://tinyurl.com/3qbx91c
In the Sacks case, the “Court appointed” psychologist, Dr. Deborah O. Day of Psychological Affiliates is quoted on page 5 as she stated “that it is this examiner’s opinion that this child is experiencing a significant mental health crisis, likely to pediatric bipolar, and therefore that negates any child sexual abuse”. Then she thwarted the investigation by the police department and DCF, Dept. of Children and Family. The child never had pediatric bipolar, but yet Dr. Day falsely labeled her, and provided false and misleading information to the court, and failed to protect the minor children.
Linda Marie’s daughter in April 2007, said “Mommy fight for us, and do something every day to get us back, and don’t ever stop”. This Florida Mother has kept her promise to her daughter’s and now is speaking on behalf of America’s children and their “protective parents”.
In a landmark case, the Sacks v. Sacks case was accepted today at the US Supreme Court in Washington DC. Linda Marie Sacks, a Florida Mother was beaming, as she walked to hand deliver her 40 Petition for Certiorari, all wrapped in Red, White, and Blue American Flag ribbon. She said “This is an historic moment for all of America’s children and their “Protective Parents” who are not being protected by the “official avenues” who are supposed to protect them, judges, police and the Dept. of Family and Children. I am truly the all American Mom, and never did I ever imagine, that I could lose custody of my children for believing them and trying to protect. The Family Court system is giving pedophiles and batterers custody, and the safe, fit “protective parents” rights are terminated, or like me are placed on supervised visitation for years without a case plan or reunification plan”.
She is a pro se litigant, and many years ago was quoted in the Momlogic.com article that she had her sights on the US Supreme Court if the family court did not return her children to her, as they were “legally kidnapped in April 2007 by Judge Shawn L. Briese. His ruling was REVERSED and REMANDED in 08/08 due to her constitutional rights to due process being violated, but this rare reversal provided no relief as Judge Briese refused to vacate the supervised visitation order or protect the minor children.
The last time a case similar to this was presented was the Wendy Titelman case. Wendy wrote a book titled “A Mothers Journal” Let my Children Go! And it’s all about child placed in the custody of their abusive parent and the failure of Cobb County GA to protect her children. The book is included in the Sacks Cert Petition, on page 38 and it quotes Hon. Sol. Gothard when he says “the problems expressed in Wendy’s book are epidemic and widespread.
These types of case and outcomes are noted by the DOJ, and OVW, as well as national advocates and Mothers all over the US.
Sacks is only allowed to see her children for 2 hours a month at the local visitation center the 2nd and 4th Saturday for 1 hour. This has only amounted to 82 hours in 4years and 2months.
Sacks, is a “squeaky clean”, mom, and before the April 2007 ruling by Judge Briese, she was her daughter’s primary care giver, and a loving caring Mother, as well as their class mom, soccer mom, car pool Mom, community volunteer, with no drugs, no alcohol, no abuse, no infidelity, and she lost physical custody of her children, and all she did was try to protect them. The trial court dismissed, ignored, and suppresses credible evidence of child sexual and physical abuse.
The Fifth District Court of Appeals with Judge Evander, Judge Torphy and Judge Cohen, affirmed Judge Briese’s ruling and now this is an historical case being presented to the US Supreme Court. Her daughter’s teacher said “America better wake up, and you of all Mothers can lose custody, it can happen to anyone”. This crisis is noted by the Dept. of Justice.
Eric Holder, the US Attorney General, at the DOJ, Dept. of Justice is quoted on page 37 of the Sacks Petition for Certiorari, as she notes his speech to the National Summit on Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment and asks the question, “Why are battered mothers losing custody of their children to the courts or child protective services”. (http://justice.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090602.html).
The Sacks case is a Justice for Children case and they advocate for children when “official avenues have failed to protect them”, judges, police, Department of Children and Family, (www.justiceforchildren.org)
The Leadership Council, states that 58,000 are court-ordered to live with a sexually or physically abusive parent after a divorce in the U.S. and considers this a “public health crisis” for America’s children.(www.leadershipcouncil.org) and is also included on page 24.
The CPPA, California Protective Parent Association, Connie Valentine and Karen Andersen, site case studies where a pattern is evident and have asked for Congressional Hearings to address this crisis.( www.protectiveparent.com) CPPA is on page 34 and 35 of the petition before the US Supreme Court.
On March 2, 2011, Peter Jamison from the SF Weekly published an article “ILLEGAL GUARDIANS” When Judges Give Custody To Abusive Parents the Family Court System is broken. This article documents child sexual abuse cases and the identified perpetrator/ pedophile will get Sole Physical Custody of the minor child(ren), and the safe protective parent, will be restricted to supervised visitation or all contact will be terminated. It’s on page 24 and 25 of the Cert as well. (sf.weekly.com) This national case clearly shows how fit parent’s all over the U.S. are being be deprived of a relationship with their children, and this case exposes the national crisis for America’s children who are victims of child sexual abuse and or physical abuse, and the failure of family courts to protect them.
This is a liberty right protected by the United States Constitution, for a parent-child relationship, but not protected by family courts or CPS all over the U.S.
The National Organization for Women, NOW and the NOW Ad Hoc Law Committee are addressing this issue and in their Spring 2011, “and explore what can happen to a protective mother and her children when she does nothing more than to protect her children”, as quoted on page 36 of the Petition for Certiorari.
The Petitioner, in the US Supreme Court case, Linda Marie Sacks, has been chosen as the “Poster Mother” of the Family Court Crisis, is interviewed for the article.(www.now.org) Click on the Family Law Spring Newsletter.
O Magazine, by Oprah, 10/06 article by Jan Goodwin, “Please Daddy No”, Stopping Court Ordered Parental Child Sexual Abuse is quoted on page 37. (www.jangoodwin.com/articles/pleasedaddyno.pdf)
Dr.Phil has also addressed this crisis on 04/14/10, “America’s Family Courts System Failing It’s Citizens”. (http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1442/) and Sacks references this on page 37 in the case before the US Supreme Court.
This latest research is available in the book “Domestic Violence, Abuse and Child Custody, Legal Strategies and Policy Issues” by Editors: Dr. Mo Therese Hanna Ph.d and Barry Goldstein, J.D. and is included in the Sacks petition on page 34 (www.domesticviolenceabuseandchildcsutody.com)
Catherine Pierce, then Acting Director of the Office of Violence Against Women, in 2008 is quoted on page 12 and 13 of the Sacks Cert Petition, in her speech to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary It was “The Importance of the Violence against Women Act”. Pierce states “the complicated issue of child custody presents another challenge involving the intersection of children and domestic violence. Battered women losing custody of the children is a serious and growing problem”. http://tinyurl.com/3qbx91c
In the Sacks case, the “Court appointed” psychologist, Dr. Deborah O. Day of Psychological Affiliates is quoted on page 5 as she stated “that it is this examiner’s opinion that this child is experiencing a significant mental health crisis, likely to pediatric bipolar, and therefore that negates any child sexual abuse”. Then she thwarted the investigation by the police department and DCF, Dept. of Children and Family. The child never had pediatric bipolar, but yet Dr. Day falsely labeled her, and provided false and misleading information to the court, and failed to protect the minor children.
Linda Marie’s daughter in April 2007, said “Mommy fight for us, and do something every day to get us back, and don’t ever stop”. This Florida Mother has kept her promise to her daughter’s and now is speaking on behalf of America’s children and their “protective parents”.
ERA for Protective Moms: Time to Shape Up!
To contact us Click HERE
On January 21, 2012 I will be running in the Warrior Dash in support of the Equal Rights Amendment.
I can think of no group that is more in need of an equal rights amendment than that of protective mothers.
The proposed amendment simply reads "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state, on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification."
Barry Goldstein stated in his Times article that 40 states have determined that gender bias exists in their family court systems and are attempting to address the problem. An Equal Rights Amendment would not be a quick fix but would demand that laws be passed to stop this illegal discrimination against women, and by extension against children, in our family court systems.
The Warrior Dash is described as a 3.2 mile race from hell, a physical challenge to say the least, and I am out of shape. 55 years old and out of shape.
But it is time to shape up.
For all of us.
Most of us have allowed ERA to become what many would call an outdated issue. But it is not. It was and remains a vitally important issue. House Joint Resolution 47 was introduced on March 8, 2011 to remove the arbitrary time limit Congress imposed on the ratification of ERA.
America is just three states away from ratifying an amendment that would guarantee Constitutional equality for all of its citizens, not just its male citizens. Please support this.
By all means, sign the petition , but don't stop there. Talk about it, blog about it. Link to this article on your websites. Write to your politicians. Find things to do that will draw media and public attention to, and hopefully garner support for, the Equal Rights Amendment. That is why I am running in the Warrior Dash, a physical challenge I am painfully discovering that I am in no shape for at this present time. But that can and will change! And so can our awareness of the need for ERA be heightened. And so can our fitness to support ERA be improved. And so can our capabilities to raise awareness of the need for an Equal Rights Amendment be developed and enhanced.
It is time to let those who are in positions to extend the time limit and even ratify the amendment know that we not only support the Equal Rights Amendment, but that we will not continue to support those who continue to deny women constitutional equality.
I can think of no group that is more in need of an equal rights amendment than that of protective mothers.
The proposed amendment simply reads "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state, on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification."
Barry Goldstein stated in his Times article that 40 states have determined that gender bias exists in their family court systems and are attempting to address the problem. An Equal Rights Amendment would not be a quick fix but would demand that laws be passed to stop this illegal discrimination against women, and by extension against children, in our family court systems.
The Warrior Dash is described as a 3.2 mile race from hell, a physical challenge to say the least, and I am out of shape. 55 years old and out of shape.
But it is time to shape up.
For all of us.
Most of us have allowed ERA to become what many would call an outdated issue. But it is not. It was and remains a vitally important issue. House Joint Resolution 47 was introduced on March 8, 2011 to remove the arbitrary time limit Congress imposed on the ratification of ERA.
America is just three states away from ratifying an amendment that would guarantee Constitutional equality for all of its citizens, not just its male citizens. Please support this.
By all means, sign the petition , but don't stop there. Talk about it, blog about it. Link to this article on your websites. Write to your politicians. Find things to do that will draw media and public attention to, and hopefully garner support for, the Equal Rights Amendment. That is why I am running in the Warrior Dash, a physical challenge I am painfully discovering that I am in no shape for at this present time. But that can and will change! And so can our awareness of the need for ERA be heightened. And so can our fitness to support ERA be improved. And so can our capabilities to raise awareness of the need for an Equal Rights Amendment be developed and enhanced.
It is time to let those who are in positions to extend the time limit and even ratify the amendment know that we not only support the Equal Rights Amendment, but that we will not continue to support those who continue to deny women constitutional equality.
Could Judge Peter McBrien Have Prevented Madeline's Murder?
To contact us Click HERE
Controversial Judge at the Center of A Tragic Death: Citizens Protest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2011
CONTACT: Anne Hart 916-715-5243
Sacramento, CA - On Thursday, September 22, 2011, community members will hold a protest from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Sacramento Superior Court, 720 9th Street, Sacramentoregarding the abject failure of Sacramento family court to protect children in custody disputes. The protest will begin on the corner of 9th and H Streets.
One judge, Sacramento Family Court Judge Peter McBrien, has been a focus of community scrutiny for over a decade for his lack of judgment and destructive decisions. He destroyed ancient oak trees on a nature preserve to obtain a better view from his home which earned him the moniker of "Chainsaw" and resulted in a felony charge that he pled down to a misdemeanor. Additionally, he received a public reprimand from the Commission on Judicial Performance. He then became personally embroiled in the divorce case of Ulf Carlsson, and went far out of his way to destroy Mr. Carlsson by ensuring he was fired from his job. Judge McBrien committed numerous ethical violations along the way and earned another reprimand. Battered mothers report that he consistently places children with substantiated molesters, batterers, violent alcoholics, and drug addicts. Now, Judge McBrien failed to protect a toddler, who was then murdered.
After a statewide AMBER Alert, two-year-old Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay was found near Placerville, CA in her father's vehicle. She and her father Mourad Samaan were both dead.
Samaan had a pattern of not returning his daughter Madeline from visits and had told her mother that he was taking the child to Oregon against the court order. Prior to the toddler's death, Judge McBrien had refused to grant an ex parte request by Madeline's mother to order law enforcement to locate the father and child, and to place Samaan on supervised visits. Judge McBrien had a perfect opportunity to prevent this tragedy, but refused to assist the mother Marcia Fay, a California Deputy Attorney General, in locating and protecting her child.
California judges have a pattern of not believing women and children, and are trained to minimize concerns of mothers, according to Judge DeAnn Salcide (Ret), founder of Judicial Action Watch Society. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judicial-Action-Watch-Society/219653241395520
The United States has a pattern of not protecting women and children. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has sharply rebuked the United States for failing to protect women and children in the Gonzalez v. United States decision in August 2011, stating that the U.S. practices discrimination and violation of the right to equality.
http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2011/92-11eng.htm
We can begin changing these destructive patterns by demanding that Judge McBrien be removed from family court and from any position that gives him authority over vulnerable children.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2011
CONTACT: Anne Hart 916-715-5243
Sacramento, CA - On Thursday, September 22, 2011, community members will hold a protest from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Sacramento Superior Court, 720 9th Street, Sacramentoregarding the abject failure of Sacramento family court to protect children in custody disputes. The protest will begin on the corner of 9th and H Streets.
One judge, Sacramento Family Court Judge Peter McBrien, has been a focus of community scrutiny for over a decade for his lack of judgment and destructive decisions. He destroyed ancient oak trees on a nature preserve to obtain a better view from his home which earned him the moniker of "Chainsaw" and resulted in a felony charge that he pled down to a misdemeanor. Additionally, he received a public reprimand from the Commission on Judicial Performance. He then became personally embroiled in the divorce case of Ulf Carlsson, and went far out of his way to destroy Mr. Carlsson by ensuring he was fired from his job. Judge McBrien committed numerous ethical violations along the way and earned another reprimand. Battered mothers report that he consistently places children with substantiated molesters, batterers, violent alcoholics, and drug addicts. Now, Judge McBrien failed to protect a toddler, who was then murdered.
After a statewide AMBER Alert, two-year-old Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay was found near Placerville, CA in her father's vehicle. She and her father Mourad Samaan were both dead.
Samaan had a pattern of not returning his daughter Madeline from visits and had told her mother that he was taking the child to Oregon against the court order. Prior to the toddler's death, Judge McBrien had refused to grant an ex parte request by Madeline's mother to order law enforcement to locate the father and child, and to place Samaan on supervised visits. Judge McBrien had a perfect opportunity to prevent this tragedy, but refused to assist the mother Marcia Fay, a California Deputy Attorney General, in locating and protecting her child.
California judges have a pattern of not believing women and children, and are trained to minimize concerns of mothers, according to Judge DeAnn Salcide (Ret), founder of Judicial Action Watch Society. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judicial-Action-Watch-Society/219653241395520
The United States has a pattern of not protecting women and children. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has sharply rebuked the United States for failing to protect women and children in the Gonzalez v. United States decision in August 2011, stating that the U.S. practices discrimination and violation of the right to equality.
http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2011/92-11eng.htm
We can begin changing these destructive patterns by demanding that Judge McBrien be removed from family court and from any position that gives him authority over vulnerable children.
###
Author of, Woman this is WAR!, Petitions Legislative Delegation to Ratify ERA
To contact us Click HERE
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2011
CONTACT: Jocelyn Andersen (863)206-8639
On Tuesday, Jocelyn Andersen, Author of, Woman this is WAR!, petitioned the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Florida. Following is a transcript of her two minute speech:
I am here on behalf of the Equal Rights Alliance supporting the Equal Rights Amendment. Only three states are needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and Florida should be one of them.
Women are guaranteed only one right under the United States Constitution, and that is the right to vote. This should be unacceptable to all Americans.
The 14th Amendment is often cited as giving women equal rights. It does not. It does not mention women at all but does specify that only men can vote. It is rather antiquated has been suggested that it be repealed.
American women enjoy many privileges today, but they are just that, privileges—not rights. Privileges are easily revoked while rights, on the other hand, are not.
American Women are forced to accept revocable privileges in exchange for rights because we do not enjoy the same level of protection under the United States Constitution that American men do.
Barry Goldstein stated in his Times article that 40 states have determined that gender bias against mothers exists in their family court systems. We need an Equal Rights Amendment to stop this discrimination against women and their children in our family court systems.
Florida Senate Committees have overwhelmingly passed the Equal Rights Amendment, but it is my understanding that the House has never granted even one hearing or vote. I am asking you to support this by granting hearings and by voting to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the state of Florida.
America is just three states away from ratifying an amendment that would guarantee Constitutional equality for all of its citizens, not just its male citizens.
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of "Woman This Is WAR! Gender, Slavery and the Evangelical Caste System," co-founder of the Freedom for Christian Women Coalition and Central Florida director for the national organization Equal Rights Alliance. She is available for comment.
CONTACT: Jocelyn Andersen (863)206-8639
On Tuesday, Jocelyn Andersen, Author of, Woman this is WAR!, petitioned the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Florida. Following is a transcript of her two minute speech:
I am here on behalf of the Equal Rights Alliance supporting the Equal Rights Amendment. Only three states are needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and Florida should be one of them.
Women are guaranteed only one right under the United States Constitution, and that is the right to vote. This should be unacceptable to all Americans.
The 14th Amendment is often cited as giving women equal rights. It does not. It does not mention women at all but does specify that only men can vote. It is rather antiquated has been suggested that it be repealed.
American women enjoy many privileges today, but they are just that, privileges—not rights. Privileges are easily revoked while rights, on the other hand, are not.
American Women are forced to accept revocable privileges in exchange for rights because we do not enjoy the same level of protection under the United States Constitution that American men do.
Barry Goldstein stated in his Times article that 40 states have determined that gender bias against mothers exists in their family court systems. We need an Equal Rights Amendment to stop this discrimination against women and their children in our family court systems.
Florida Senate Committees have overwhelmingly passed the Equal Rights Amendment, but it is my understanding that the House has never granted even one hearing or vote. I am asking you to support this by granting hearings and by voting to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the state of Florida.
America is just three states away from ratifying an amendment that would guarantee Constitutional equality for all of its citizens, not just its male citizens.
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of "Woman This Is WAR! Gender, Slavery and the Evangelical Caste System," co-founder of the Freedom for Christian Women Coalition and Central Florida director for the national organization Equal Rights Alliance. She is available for comment.
African American child denied protection because she has a white father
To contact us Click HERE
Below is a copy of a letter mailed to the President today:
Dear President Obama,
I am writing to ask you to intervene onbehalf of Ariana-Leilani, an African-American, German-American child who residesin Washington, D.C., and is being denied medical treatment for Severe ChronicNeutropenia. She has been diagnosed with this potentially fatal disease but todate has received no treatment for it.
An excerpt takenfrom Case 1:11-cv-01124-JSG Document 24 Filed 04/13/12 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CivilAction No. 1:11-cv-001124-JSG to the Honorable Judge James S. Gwin, states that:
3. To date, ALMA has not received independent medical andpsychological examinations, as requested by the German Government through theGerman Embassy for its’ child citizen, ALMA, to determine the underlying causeof ALMA’s life threatening Severe Chronic Neutropenia.
4. To date, ALMA has not received the recommended treatment ofGCSF medicine that boosts the immunity of a person suffering from SevereChronic Neutropenia, leaving her unnecessarily vulnerable to clandestine commoninfection, which can kill its victims within hours sometimes with little or notypical outward warning symptoms.
5. During the course of her four years of unnecessarily suffering with Severe Chronic Neutropenia,ALMA has endured lesions, infections, gingivitis, periodontal disease, loss ofteeth, wetting accident during the day and at night, delayed development, andPost Traumatic Stress Disorder, which all can be attributed to the diagnosedbut untreated Severe Chronic Neutropenia and/or untreated Post Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD).
29. ALMA’s father is a Caucasian GermanCitizen living and working in the US as a neurologist for the United StatesVeterans Affairs Hospital in the District of Columbia on a marriage visa thatexpires in 2012. ALMA’s father formerly worked at Medstar Health GeorgetownUniversity Hospital. ALMA’s Mother and the ALMA’s father remain married, butestranged and living apart. There is now a divorce proceeding pending inBayreuth, Germany, where incidental issues, thereto, related to ALMA has beenraised. There are no custody orders registered or entered in the District ofColumbia, or in Germany, leaving both parents with joint rights in the Districtof Columbia. ALMA’s Father refused to cooperate when requested by the GermanEmbassy in getting the ALMA free medicine to boost her immunity (“GCSF” aka “neupogen”),and a full independent medical and psychologicalexamination.
80. Defendant DC has discriminated against ALMA’s Mother, whois African-American, in favor of Plaintiff’s Child’s father, who is Caucasian.
In 2010, The German Embassy sent arequest to have this child independently tested and to receive medication, but,to date, the father still refuses to allow it, and the Office of Children'sissues, U.S. Department of State has not responded favorably to acting on thischild’s behalf.
Followingis a copy of the letter from the German Embassy sent on August 12, 2010, in regards toAriana-Leilani:
Ariana-Leilani Margarita Alexandra KING-PFEIFFERRef. No, {please cite in response): RK 520, SE King-Pfeiffer
Washington, D.C., August 17, 20I0
Dear Mr. Regan,Please allow me to bringto your attention and seek your assistance in the case of seven year old Ariana-Leilani KING-PFEIFFER,a child with dual German and American citizenship. She is living with herfather, the German national, Dr. Michael Pfeiffer, in Washington, D,C. Hermother, Dr. Ariel King, a U.S. citizen, lives in Germany.
Earlier this year, the NOO Innocence in DangerInternational has brought serious concerns about possible medical mistreatmentand possible sexual abuse of the child by the father to the attention of theEmbassy. The concerns related to medicalmistreatment, based on the child's extensivemedical and school records, and were supported by physicians of the Severe ChronicNeutropenia International Registry and the German NGO Avalon.
The German Embassy so far has had no direct access to thechild nor to information from an independent source. As of today, the Embassyhas received documentation on the child's case consisting ofmedical test records from George Washington University Hospital (GWUH), opinions and school health records. Unfortunately,without the consent of the father, who has sole custody, the Embassyhas no way of verifying the status of the chiId or the information it has beengiven.
In any event, the allegations are of such a seriousnature that we feel that a fully independent medicalexamination of the child should be ordered by the competent U.S. authorities. Adivorce and custody case is currently pending in Bayreuth, Germany. The motherclaims that the father refuses to agree to allow her, or anyone acting on herbehalf; to have direct contact with her child, the child's sole treatingphysician at GWUH, and GWUH itself. The mother is representedby Mr. Roy L. Morris, Esq., Arlington, VA. The father is represented by Mr. SeanW. O'Connell, Arlington, VA.
GWUH health records, which were forwarded to theEmbassy, state that the child suffers from Severe Chronic Neutropenia, a medical condition which consists of severely lowimmunity levels over an extended period of time that leave the child vulnerableto potentially fatal infections.
The Embassy was also provided with opinions frominternational experts in the field of pediatric hematology whoexpressed serious concerns for the child's safety. In the opinion of theseexperts there is a lack of a thorough evaluation of the cause of the medical conditionof the child and a lack of an appropriate treatmentwith a rnedical drug called GCSF which boosts immunity to more normal levels.However, these medical experts have not yet had the possibility to examine thechild in person.
The mother believes that the medical condition of thechild could have been induced by the administration of a particularpsychotropic drug. According to her, the sole treating physician's reports arebiased because he is an associate of Dr. Pfeiffer at GWUH, and his reports showinconsistencies with regard to the medical tests and school reports.
The Embassy was informed that Dr. Pfeiffer has beenworking at GWUH as a physician until 2008. Reportedly he is currently workingfor the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Washington, D.C.
The report from a guardian ad litem in a past child custodycase notes that the child purportedly lives in a one-bedroom apartment with herfather. The representative of the mother, Mr. Morris, forwarded documents whichinclude a statement of a clinical psychologist from Maryland who, based onmedical records, interviews of the mother, and other documentation, utters herprofessional opinion in writing that the child Ariana-Leilani " ...continues to be at risk in her current environment of both physical and medical neglect, and likely sexual abuse."
The German Embassy has a legal obligation under Art. 5of the German Consular Act to support German citizens in need of assistance. Awritten proposal from the Embassy dated March 30, 2010, to let the childundergo a full independent medical examination on a voluntary basis -- andwhich costs the mother's health insurance in Germany would cover – has beendeclined by the father's lawyer, Mr. O'Connell.
So far, the father has refused to communicate with theEmbassy directly.
The possibilities of the Embassy are limited tovoluntary cooperation and have been exhausted.The German Embassy would therefore be grateful if the Departmentof State could take up this matter in order to obtain an independent medicalexamination of Ariana-Leilani King-Pfeiffer. Once her true health status isclarified, optimal medical care for her seemingly serious medical condition canbe ensured.
If you have questions in this matter please do nothesitate to contact me. I am including a listof points of contact, and a copy of a letter from theUniversity of Washington, Department of Medicine, in this matter for your information.
With many thanks for your support.Sincerely YoursKlaus Botzet
Mr. Regan offered no support to eitherKlaus Botzet or to Ariana-LeIlani.
Mr. President, my family has servedthis country for generations. I am the daughter and granddaughter of soldiers, andnow the mother of one veteran and one son actively serving in Germany. MyFather served this country with valor, was awarded a Purple Heart and a SilverStar, and was buried—In the ground—In Arlington National Cemetery with fullmilitary honors in August of 2009. I am proud to possess a document signed byyou honoring the memory of my father, expressing gratitude for his service. I appealto you as my President, as Ariana-Leilani’s President, and as a father to use your influence to helpthis child.
I thank you for your support in thismatter.
Sincerely Yours
Jocelyn Andersen
Additional message to readers: Please sign Ariana-Leilani's petition and consider writing a short follow-up letter to the President
The petition site is: http://www.ariana-leilani.com
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Below is a copy of a letter mailed to the President today:
Dear President Obama,
I am writing to ask you to intervene onbehalf of Ariana-Leilani, an African-American, German-American child who residesin Washington, D.C., and is being denied medical treatment for Severe ChronicNeutropenia. She has been diagnosed with this potentially fatal disease but todate has received no treatment for it.
An excerpt takenfrom Case 1:11-cv-01124-JSG Document 24 Filed 04/13/12 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CivilAction No. 1:11-cv-001124-JSG to the Honorable Judge James S. Gwin, states that:
3. To date, ALMA has not received independent medical andpsychological examinations, as requested by the German Government through theGerman Embassy for its’ child citizen, ALMA, to determine the underlying causeof ALMA’s life threatening Severe Chronic Neutropenia.
4. To date, ALMA has not received the recommended treatment ofGCSF medicine that boosts the immunity of a person suffering from SevereChronic Neutropenia, leaving her unnecessarily vulnerable to clandestine commoninfection, which can kill its victims within hours sometimes with little or notypical outward warning symptoms.
5. During the course of her four years of unnecessarily suffering with Severe Chronic Neutropenia,ALMA has endured lesions, infections, gingivitis, periodontal disease, loss ofteeth, wetting accident during the day and at night, delayed development, andPost Traumatic Stress Disorder, which all can be attributed to the diagnosedbut untreated Severe Chronic Neutropenia and/or untreated Post Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD).
29. ALMA’s father is a Caucasian GermanCitizen living and working in the US as a neurologist for the United StatesVeterans Affairs Hospital in the District of Columbia on a marriage visa thatexpires in 2012. ALMA’s father formerly worked at Medstar Health GeorgetownUniversity Hospital. ALMA’s Mother and the ALMA’s father remain married, butestranged and living apart. There is now a divorce proceeding pending inBayreuth, Germany, where incidental issues, thereto, related to ALMA has beenraised. There are no custody orders registered or entered in the District ofColumbia, or in Germany, leaving both parents with joint rights in the Districtof Columbia. ALMA’s Father refused to cooperate when requested by the GermanEmbassy in getting the ALMA free medicine to boost her immunity (“GCSF” aka “neupogen”),and a full independent medical and psychologicalexamination.
80. Defendant DC has discriminated against ALMA’s Mother, whois African-American, in favor of Plaintiff’s Child’s father, who is Caucasian.
In 2010, The German Embassy sent arequest to have this child independently tested and to receive medication, but,to date, the father still refuses to allow it, and the Office of Children'sissues, U.S. Department of State has not responded favorably to acting on thischild’s behalf.
Followingis a copy of the letter from the German Embassy sent on August 12, 2010, in regards toAriana-Leilani:
Ariana-Leilani Margarita Alexandra KING-PFEIFFERRef. No, {please cite in response): RK 520, SE King-Pfeiffer
Washington, D.C., August 17, 20I0
Dear Mr. Regan,Please allow me to bringto your attention and seek your assistance in the case of seven year old Ariana-Leilani KING-PFEIFFER,a child with dual German and American citizenship. She is living with herfather, the German national, Dr. Michael Pfeiffer, in Washington, D,C. Hermother, Dr. Ariel King, a U.S. citizen, lives in Germany.
Earlier this year, the NOO Innocence in DangerInternational has brought serious concerns about possible medical mistreatmentand possible sexual abuse of the child by the father to the attention of theEmbassy. The concerns related to medicalmistreatment, based on the child's extensivemedical and school records, and were supported by physicians of the Severe ChronicNeutropenia International Registry and the German NGO Avalon.
The German Embassy so far has had no direct access to thechild nor to information from an independent source. As of today, the Embassyhas received documentation on the child's case consisting ofmedical test records from George Washington University Hospital (GWUH), opinions and school health records. Unfortunately,without the consent of the father, who has sole custody, the Embassyhas no way of verifying the status of the chiId or the information it has beengiven.
In any event, the allegations are of such a seriousnature that we feel that a fully independent medicalexamination of the child should be ordered by the competent U.S. authorities. Adivorce and custody case is currently pending in Bayreuth, Germany. The motherclaims that the father refuses to agree to allow her, or anyone acting on herbehalf; to have direct contact with her child, the child's sole treatingphysician at GWUH, and GWUH itself. The mother is representedby Mr. Roy L. Morris, Esq., Arlington, VA. The father is represented by Mr. SeanW. O'Connell, Arlington, VA.
GWUH health records, which were forwarded to theEmbassy, state that the child suffers from Severe Chronic Neutropenia, a medical condition which consists of severely lowimmunity levels over an extended period of time that leave the child vulnerableto potentially fatal infections.
The Embassy was also provided with opinions frominternational experts in the field of pediatric hematology whoexpressed serious concerns for the child's safety. In the opinion of theseexperts there is a lack of a thorough evaluation of the cause of the medical conditionof the child and a lack of an appropriate treatmentwith a rnedical drug called GCSF which boosts immunity to more normal levels.However, these medical experts have not yet had the possibility to examine thechild in person.
The mother believes that the medical condition of thechild could have been induced by the administration of a particularpsychotropic drug. According to her, the sole treating physician's reports arebiased because he is an associate of Dr. Pfeiffer at GWUH, and his reports showinconsistencies with regard to the medical tests and school reports.
The Embassy was informed that Dr. Pfeiffer has beenworking at GWUH as a physician until 2008. Reportedly he is currently workingfor the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Washington, D.C.
The report from a guardian ad litem in a past child custodycase notes that the child purportedly lives in a one-bedroom apartment with herfather. The representative of the mother, Mr. Morris, forwarded documents whichinclude a statement of a clinical psychologist from Maryland who, based onmedical records, interviews of the mother, and other documentation, utters herprofessional opinion in writing that the child Ariana-Leilani " ...continues to be at risk in her current environment of both physical and medical neglect, and likely sexual abuse."
The German Embassy has a legal obligation under Art. 5of the German Consular Act to support German citizens in need of assistance. Awritten proposal from the Embassy dated March 30, 2010, to let the childundergo a full independent medical examination on a voluntary basis -- andwhich costs the mother's health insurance in Germany would cover – has beendeclined by the father's lawyer, Mr. O'Connell.
So far, the father has refused to communicate with theEmbassy directly.
The possibilities of the Embassy are limited tovoluntary cooperation and have been exhausted.The German Embassy would therefore be grateful if the Departmentof State could take up this matter in order to obtain an independent medicalexamination of Ariana-Leilani King-Pfeiffer. Once her true health status isclarified, optimal medical care for her seemingly serious medical condition canbe ensured.
If you have questions in this matter please do nothesitate to contact me. I am including a listof points of contact, and a copy of a letter from theUniversity of Washington, Department of Medicine, in this matter for your information.
With many thanks for your support.Sincerely YoursKlaus Botzet
Mr. Regan offered no support to eitherKlaus Botzet or to Ariana-LeIlani.
Mr. President, my family has servedthis country for generations. I am the daughter and granddaughter of soldiers, andnow the mother of one veteran and one son actively serving in Germany. MyFather served this country with valor, was awarded a Purple Heart and a SilverStar, and was buried—In the ground—In Arlington National Cemetery with fullmilitary honors in August of 2009. I am proud to possess a document signed byyou honoring the memory of my father, expressing gratitude for his service. I appealto you as my President, as Ariana-Leilani’s President, and as a father to use your influence to helpthis child.
I thank you for your support in thismatter.
Sincerely Yours
Jocelyn Andersen
Additional message to readers: Please sign Ariana-Leilani's petition and consider writing a short follow-up letter to the President
The petition site is: http://www.ariana-leilani.com
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Domestic Violence Effects Children Too
To contact us Click HERE
By: Molly Rhodes
Domesticviolence does not stereotype. It touches the homes of millionaires to familieswith Medicaid, leaving scars on the children involved. Each year in the UnitedStates, roughly four million children between the ages of 3-17 are exposed todomestic violence. Childrenwho witness domestic violence tend to give off negative emotional, physical,and educational responses in their every day live. Research from The NationalCoalition Against Domestic Violence shows that witnessing domestic violencemeans “the child has seen, heard, observed, or been made a aware of the tensionin the home.” This research also stated “roughly 80 percent of children wholive in a home with domestic abuse are aware of the violence.”
By: Molly Rhodes
Domesticviolence does not stereotype. It touches the homes of millionaires to familieswith Medicaid, leaving scars on the children involved. Each year in the UnitedStates, roughly four million children between the ages of 3-17 are exposed todomestic violence. Childrenwho witness domestic violence tend to give off negative emotional, physical,and educational responses in their every day live. Research from The NationalCoalition Against Domestic Violence shows that witnessing domestic violencemeans “the child has seen, heard, observed, or been made a aware of the tensionin the home.” This research also stated “roughly 80 percent of children wholive in a home with domestic abuse are aware of the violence.”
"Distorted Realities" in Macedonia
To contact us Click HERE
Good afternoon!
Earlier this year we announced that Ratiu Foundation for Democracy , through the program “Make your Voice Heard!”, will have the quality of partner in three European projects within the Youth in Action framework. Alis Costescu, project manager for ‘Make your Voice Heard!’ and Oana Botezan, project coordinator for ‘Not for Sale – Choose for Your Own Good’ (CRD’s program aimed to prevent and fight against human trafficking) have returned to Romania after ending ‘Distorted Realities’, project coordinated by the Quantum non-governmental organization.
“Distorted Realities” took place in Macedonia (Skopje, Bitola and Struga) between the 20th and the 29th of March and aimed at exploring social stigmatization, observing the stigmatization mechanisms and exchanging experiences, illustrating good practices and methods of fighting and eliminating stigmatization. Throughout the 9 days in this project, 20 participants from 10 countries (Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania) visited non-governmental organizations that look into activities related to socially stigmatized groups: HIV infected persons, Roma, LGBT, drug addicts, etc. visits and case studies have been followed by partnerships and intercultural learning activities.
Participation in this project brought about an unprecedented experience due to the fact that we were given the chance to examine the foreign non-governmental organizations’ way of action and approach, as well as the quality of the organization process and of the participating organizations.
Below are the organizations we came to visit:
UNPFA Macedonia - United Nations Population Fund Macedonia (the main UNPFA activities are looking at promoting gender equality, monitoring and promoting human rights, raising awareness and preventing HIV/AIDS etc);
H.E.R.A – Health Education and Research Association (the organization’s activities are focused on promoting and defending reproductive rights);
EGAL – Equality for Gays and Lesbians (HIV prevention campaigns within the LGBT community);
H.O.P.S – Healthy Options Project Skopje (the target groups to whom their projects aim at promoting a healthy lifestyle are drug addicts and sex workers);
Coalition for protection of sexual and health rights of marginalized communities (promotes the right to health and reproductive health among marginalized communities);
Umbrella (the organization implements projects addressed to Roma people, namely promoting gender equality, education and school after school programs);
Sumnal (same as Umbrella, the organization carries out projects addressed to Roma people, education and school-after-school programs);
Youth Educational Forum (carries out activities based on non-formal education, research and debates – useful in personal and professional development of youth and also in promoting their critical thinking);
YMCA, Bitola – Youth Men’s Christian Association (promotes social inclusion and a lifestyle based on social involvement of youth);
Youth Forum, Bitola (the organization involves youth in projects promoting multiculturalism, intercultural dialogue and social involvement through volunteering);
Poraka – Center for improvement the quality of life of the persons with intellectual disabilities (their programs are addressed to persons with low and average intellectual disabilities).
We are waiting for our departure to Portugal and hope that this future project will offer us the same delightful (and useful) experiences and partnerships!
„Re(act) now! Show your Red Card to Domestic Violence” in Portugal
To contact us Click HERE
Good afternoon!
On Wednesday I came back from Portugal but unfortunately I couldn’t post anything about our recent participation in the YiA project (1.1. action, youth exchange), as the Blogger was blocked.
As I already mentioned in the last posts, between 2nd and 10th of May 2011, we have participated as partners in the implementation of the “Re(act) now! Show your Red Card to Domestic Violence” project. The project was organized by Associação Cidadania Viva (Portugal) and it took place in Abrantes, Portugal.
35 participants from 7 countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Romania and Portugal) had the opportunity to identify the factors that influence domestic violence and learn how it can be fought against.
The activities included in the program were very interactive and involved a wide range of non-formal education methods: workshops, seminaries, domestic violence victims’ testimonies, watching movies, experts presenting their opinions considering the domestic violence phenomenon. With the help of the Romanian participants (Andra Cordos-Go Free. UBB Student’s Magazine; Andreea Stroie-UBB; Ovidiu Tudoruta-UBB), the project’s managers Alis Costescu and Doinita Popa organized “Gender and Discrimination” workshop and the Romanian cultural night.
The final activities of the project included the organization of public actions which aimed to raise awareness regarding the domestic violence phenomenon. The public demonstration, the street theatre and the flash mob took place in the center of Abrantes city and had a great impact among the Portuguese citizens.
In July we will participate in another YiA project, this time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In case you are interested to find out more details concerning this project, you are invited to add your comment to this article. Thank you!
Sexism with no boundaries from our officials
To contact us Click HERE
News
June 8 2011 22:21
‘Do you believe that the entire Braila is stupid? Is this what you believe? This Oana is a wanton. An imbecile. She’s probably good at lying with her breasts in the sun and being fondled by mayors. I believe that this is what she’s good at, not at writing in newspapers’, said the president of the Braila County Council, Gheorghe Stancu, about a journalist – Aura Costea – who…criticized him.
Feminism Romania does not comment on this but it’s kindly asking you to do it! By any means.
Source: jurnalul.ro and antena3.ro
By this way I would ask you the same thing the Feminism Romania representatives did: comment, draw the others’ attention, take attitude against sexism and offending approaches encouraged by our own officials!
Domestic Violence Concerns Us All
To contact us Click HERE
This blog was created to inform about the seriousness of domestic violence and to provide help for those in need.
Domestic Violence Has Many Faces
It is also known as intimate violence, family violence, spousal abuse, and dating violence. Domestic violence is a serious problem in our society and around the world. Actually, domestic violence remains the most severe and disturbing family and public health problem around the world. Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, and every year there are people in the United States who suffer because of intimate violence. In fact, in the United States a woman is hit, beaten, or battered every 9 seconds and domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.
Domestic Violence Has Many Faces
 |
| Property of www.ocnjcc.org "It is clear that the way to heal society of its violence... and lack of love is to replace the pyramid of domination with the circle of equality and respect." Manitonquat |
Kaydol:
Yorumlar (Atom)