Norway has announced it is stripping a Czech mother of parental rights
Prague, Oct 7 (ČTK) — Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek signed a protest note to Norway over the decision to strip a Czech mother of her parental rights to her two sons recently made by Norwegian authorities, and the note will be handed over to the Norwegian Embassy in Prague today, the ministry has said.
In the note, the Czech Republic expressed concern over the decision and challenged that it is in accordance with Norway’s international commitments, Irena Valentová, from the ministry, told CTK.
Valentová said the ministry believes that Norway violated the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Zaorálek met Norwegian Deputy Ambassador Monica Stensland on Tuesday and told her that the Czech government was outraged by the way in which the Norwegian authorities proceeded.
Zaorálek plans to meet Norwegian Deputy Ambassador Siri Ellen Sletner after her return to Prague, the ministry said.
The Czech government has repeatedly called on Norwegian representatives to reassess the case and respect the wish of the boys’ mother, Eva Michaláková, and reunite the family.
In 2011, Norwegian authorities took the two sons from the Michalák family on suspicion of abuse and neglect and placed them into foster care. The suspicion was not proved, yet the adoption of the younger son was recently approved and the mother was banned from contact with both sons.
Michaláaková said she would appeal the latest decision.
Boys are six and ten years old now, respectively. They were born in Norway. In the past years they have been raised separately in different foster families.
