Author and philanthropist J.K. Rowling recently spoke at the No Child Left Behind conference, calling for alternatives to children's orphanages.
She said that kids' health and development can be harmed even if they're cared for in a well-run institution, BreakingNews.ie reports.
“Children all over the world are being severely harmed, physically and psychologically, because their primary right to a family has been taken away," the mum-of-three said.
Yesterday, in Brussels, I heard a young woman who had been institutionalised describe it as a 'scar across the soul.' Listen to the people who survive the system, sometimes against all the odds. https://t.co/QTe8XgVyra
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) 16 June 2018
“Even those orphanages that are well-run, have good material conditions and qualified staff can’t replace the individual love, support and stability children get from a family.”
The 52-year-old continued. “Donors across the world, many with the best of intentions, continue to fund orphanages that result in lifelong physical and psychological damage to children."
“We need to stop money going to institutions and redirect it towards alternatives that strengthen families and communities – creating a long-term, sustainable system of care.”
Rowling is the founder of Lumos, a children's welfare organisation that seeks to end the institutionalisation of kids.
Inspiring day filled with the voices of young people & @lumos @EU_Commission calling for the end of the horrors of child institutionalisation. A privilege to speak alongside powerful advocates calling for orphanages to be consigned to history #NoChildLeftBehind18 @MimicaEU
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) 15 June 2018
The novelist was joined by Neven Mimica, the European commissioner for international co-operation and development, in calling for international bodies to come together to protect children worldwide from further abuse and neglect in institutions.
Georgette Mulheir, chief executive of Lumos, said, "Children are being traded, mistreated, sexually abused and, in the worst cases, killed for profit as part of the global orphanage industry.
“We must work together urgently to move away from systems that expose children to all forms of abuse and neglect in the name of care and protection.”
