Voices from the Silent Cradles

This book explores what happened to the 'Romanian orphans' of the 1990s, including those who stayed in institutions as well as those who were fostered and adopted domestically and internationally. Looking in detail at their experiences, the book provides valuable new evidence on what is important for children in care today.

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In 1990, disturbing television footage emerged showing the inhumane conditions in which children in Romanian institutions were living. Viewers were shocked that the babies were silent. The so-called ‘Romanian orphans’ became subjects of several international research studies. In parallel, Romania had to reform its child protection system in order to become a member of the European Union.
This book sheds light on the lived experiences of these children, who had become adults by the time the country joined the EU. Uniquely, the book brings together the accounts of those who stayed in institutions, those who grew up in foster care and those who were adopted, both in Romania and internationally. Their narratives challenge stereotypes about these types of care.