Prague, Oct 7 (CTK) – Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek 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 Wednesday, 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 Valentova, from the ministry, told CTK.
Valentova 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.
Zaoralek 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.
Zaoralek 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 Michalakova, and reunite the family.
In 2011, Norwegian authorities took the two sons from the Michalak 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.
Michalakova said she would appeal the latest decision.
The boys, David and Denis, 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.
