This weekend I was in Berlin. The Stiftung Kindernothilfe had invited me to their yearly media prize award. This prize is for German journalists whose work shows light on the breaching of children’s rights. The reason for my invitation was that the TV movie ‘Search a Child, Pay Cash’ by filmmaker Golineh Atai – and based on my book – was nominated for this year’s award.
Some 400 people had gathered in this festive event. Shortened versions of the three nominated TV documentaries were shown on a big screen. It was interesting to see, or better hear, the reaction of the public when ‘Search a Child, Pay Cash’ was shown. When Colin Powel’s linking of Romania’s accession to NATO to intercountry adoptions was shown, a wave of disapproval could be heard.
The jury decision, to award Golineh Atai the 2010 media prize, was a courageous one. Intercountry adoption is mostly seen as so controversial and emotional that many choose not to deal with it.
But not here in Berlin.
The many reactions I got from both the jury and others give me great hope that indeed things are changing. Children’s rights should prevail and not the desire to have children. Western politicians will need to face that.