Child protection or child trafficking? A Norwegian nightmare (CBN - 700 Club, 2019)

Profiteering from Pain: When Child Welfare Mimics a Criminal Enterprise

Behind Norway’s scenic beauty lies a controversial network of 400 child protection offices known as Barnevernet[cite: 417, 428]. [cite_start]While the government defends the agency, an increasing number of international observers, legal experts, and human rights counsel describe a "monster" functioning without control[cite: 419, 423].

A System Under International Scrutiny:

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• The Case for Trafficking: Human rights counsel Marius Reika Ross alleges the system has become a form of child trafficking, driven by the billions of dollars put into the industry each year[cite: 423, 424].
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• Punishing "Normal" Families: Experts note that children are being removed from well-functioning families for reasons unrelated to abuse, such as a child being one pound underweight or parents choosing to homeschool[cite: 418, 421, 422].
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• Religious and Cultural Targeting: Foreigners and families with strong religious convictions appear especially at risk, with one high-profile case involving allegations of "Christian indoctrination"[cite: 418, 419].
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• The Erasure of Identity: Reports of children being moved between multiple foster homes and having their names changed at least twice highlight a systemic disregard for a child’s origins[cite: 422].

[cite_start]"There is something severely wrong going on in Norway... we are talking about normal families that have all the capabilities to provide care for their children." [cite: 420, 421]

With dozens of cases pending before the European Court of Human Rights, the international community is beginning to demand accountability[cite: 420]. [cite_start]This report examines the staggering human cost of a bureaucracy that critics say is more about punishing parents than protecting children[cite: 417].