December marked the 20th anniversary of the end of Ceausescu’s regime in Romania, a communist dictatorship which had lasted nearly 25 years. Yet despite the collapse of communism in Romania and Eastern Europe, a huge legacy was left – that of over 300,000 orphans. Romania’s orphan problem was one of the largest and most publicized of the second half of the twentieth century. They have become known as Romania’s “Lost Children.”
The problem had arisen due to Ceausescu’s 1966 Decree which called for women to have at least four children before the age of 42 to overcome Romania’s then low population and birth rate. Ceausescu therefore banned contraception and abortions, as well as making divorce and separation practically impossible. Consequently there was a huge swell in population and poverty, with many women unable to support themselves, seeking backstreet abortions or just abandoning their children. It brought about a huge strain on Romania’s state structures.
A major condition of Romania’s acceptance into the European Union in 2007 was that it would tackle the problems left by the old regime. The situation was critical when international humanitarian agencies entered Romania in the early 90s, but a BBC undercover report last year and an Amnesty review show that the problems have not been eradicated even now. In fact, now new and difficult challenges are facing Romanian society.
The original orphanages, especially in urban areas of the country, were overstretched. Some of the most famous images that reached Western television screens were of orphans tied to iron bedsteads, ignored, except for minimal attention so to be fed. The medical and childcare professions were over-worked, with inadequate training, resources and staffing to look after the children. Many children lay in their cots in their own faeces for months on end, unwashed, distressed and ill due to their surroundings. Gangrene was rife, leading to an increase in the prevalence of disability with limbs having to be amputated. Mental illness and depression was widespread due to mass institutionalization and lack of mental stimulation, with many children unable to speak or socially interact in their formative years. Homemade strait-jackets were made to stop children harming themselves out of frustration, and sedatives were freely administered even if not beneficial to a child’s health. One of the largest problems was the use of blood transfusions as health supplements. Sharing needles was widespread, causing the number of cases of HIV and AIDS to rocket.
Children’s orphanages, as opposed to adult facilities, were the first to improve, such as that of the notorious Cighid Orphanage in northwest Romania. Foreign aid and the efforts of new directors, in the case of Cighid, Dr Pavel Oarcea, led to many improvements. However, it is those who were not adopted, especially those born disabled, who were the biggest victims of the regime and are still suffering its consequences.
Adoption and fostering children born with disabilities was very rare, especially after the Romanian government closed international adoption in the mid-90s. Now late adolescents and adults, they have been moved from orphanages to adult facilities. The government estimates 20,000 adults are in state care, but admits that due to lack of data this could be more. The European Union injected 100 million Euros into Romania’s institutions to improve the lives of these unclaimed adults. However, the BBC undercover report last year found many were still confined to beds in overcrowded institutions. The dormitories often smelt of sweat and urine, and the patients lay under-dressed, in tatty clothes, without the basics of shoes and socks. Trench foot is still rampant, although easily avoidable with simple investment. Staff running the homes say they don’t know the names or ages of new arrivals, admit to lack of training and have no methods to check illnesses like hepatitis. Repetitive behaviour is a common symptom of institutionalization and poor stimulation, where it has been common practice to leave patients in a bare room with a television on full volume. The suburban and country institutions rely on charity handouts for the basics like heating and clothes. Medical and legal professionals have said this is a clearly a breach of humanitarian legal standards.
Even for those without disabilities, life has been hugely difficult. Due to numbers and resources, once children reached eighteen, they were left to fend for themselves. Many have had little education or skills so are unable to find work, have limited social experience and no money. Large numbers are homeless, sleeping on the streets or by Romania’s huge warm water pipelines. Some have turned to alcoholism and drugs, and prostitution and trafficking is common for funding essentials as well as addictions. Sadly the sex trade is also adding to Romania’s HIV and AIDS problems.
Of the European Union’s total HIV/AIDS victims, 80 per cent of those carrying the virus are Romanian. Romania still has one of the highest rates of abortion in Eastern Europe. The Romanian government claims that these recent reports are not representative of their care system and has assured that “the most appropriate frame is in place in order to meet human
rights in this domain.”
These “Lost Children” have been neglected, subjected to appalling conditions and isolated from society. However, charity and aid organisations say their lives could be drastically improved with the resources and help to assist many to live independently in society, aided by specialist support.
Romania still faces some of the older, but also a new web of more complex challenges. Twenty years may not be long enough to see the major social and cultural transformations necessary to bring the country to the level of its EU neighbours, but unless Romanian and European governments tackle this issue soon, Ceausescu’s terrible legacy will be burdened to a new generation.
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